How to remove stuck head
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,642
Likes: 450
From: Texarkana Texas
How to remove stuck head
Helping a friend remove the heads from his 02 Z06. It has PRC heads on it. Passenger head came right off. Driver side head seems to be stuck. Pry'd on it, hit it with a rubber hammer, nothing. All bolts are removed, we checked 4 times to make sure. Any ideas?
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
That's really strange, with the MLS gaskets they usually just pop right off. Did you count the removed bolts (including the little guys on top)? Every one that I have done have come off with minimal effort.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 6,835
Likes: 302
From: Columbia SC
You probably need to use a little more impact than a rubber hammer. Try a heavier hammer and just use a piece of hard plastic or wood to avoid direct damage to the head.
You might want to leave two bolts lightly in place so when it releases it does not fly off.
You might want to leave two bolts lightly in place so when it releases it does not fly off.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 257
Likes: 0
From: Plano IL
Agreed... The ones I have done came off with almost no effort at all.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,642
Likes: 450
From: Texarkana Texas
We triple checked to make sure all bolts are out, including the little ones on top. We are getting some water dripping out the bottom of the head.
The passenger side head just lifted right off with no effort. Driver side head is really stuck for some reason.
Driver side does not have bolts, they are studs. All nuts have been removed. Could a stud be corroded to the head? If so, how to break loose?
Passenger side had head bolts. This is very strange.
The passenger side head just lifted right off with no effort. Driver side head is really stuck for some reason.
Driver side does not have bolts, they are studs. All nuts have been removed. Could a stud be corroded to the head? If so, how to break loose?
Passenger side had head bolts. This is very strange.
Last edited by LMB-Z; Feb 6, 2015 at 10:58 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 936
Likes: 8
From: England United Kingdom
Sounds like a pita , penetrating oil down the studs ? , is there any way you can remove the studs , two nuts or is there not enough thread .
Do the studs have a small hex head built into them .
Do the studs have a small hex head built into them .
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We triple checked to make sure all bolts are out, including the little ones on top. We are getting some water dripping out the bottom of the head.
The passenger side head just lifted right off with no effort. Driver side head is really stuck for some reason.
Driver side does not have bolts, they are studs. All nuts have been removed. Could a stud be corroded to the head? If so, how to break loose?
Passenger side had head bolts. This is very strange.
The passenger side head just lifted right off with no effort. Driver side head is really stuck for some reason.
Driver side does not have bolts, they are studs. All nuts have been removed. Could a stud be corroded to the head? If so, how to break loose?
Passenger side had head bolts. This is very strange.
... sounds like there were some previous issues and they tried to patch it up... to break the studs loose you can thread 2 nuts onto the stud then jam them together and you should be able to use the bottom nut to loosen the stud
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 5,278
Likes: 539
From: Kelowna BC
Double nut the studs and then just crack the studs open. Should be enough I'd think, as I'm guessing the head is stuck to a stud, not to the block/gasket.
I agree with the other poster though; studs on one side only?
I agree with the other poster though; studs on one side only?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,642
Likes: 450
From: Texarkana Texas
We have no idea who previously worked on the car. Supposedly some shop in San Antonio. Very pitiful work.
Thanks for all the replies. It was greatly appreciated.
