Is installing heads a DIY project?

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Mar 2, 2007 | 04:02 PM

jjohn918

Thread Starter

Drifting

Joined: Jul 2003

Posts: 1,625

Likes: 0

From: Fountain Inn SC

Is installing heads a DIY project?

I've never put new heads on a car and wanted to know if it was a DIY kind of job. I am fairly mechanically inclined and do a lot of work on my cars myself (water pumps, alternators, brakes, headers and exhaust etc...). I'm not really afraid to do the job myself, but since I've never done it before, I wanted to find out if it was something that could be accomplished in the typical home garage, or is it something that I should farm out.

Thanks for the help!

Josh

Mar 2, 2007 | 04:15 PM

Zig

Safety Car

Joined: Dec 2004

Posts: 3,565

Likes: 5

From: stafford country, va. Avatar: Me on turn 3 @ Bristol (The World's Fastest Half-Mile)

in short, yes.

Mar 2, 2007 | 04:21 PM

cbrf4i1

Drifting

Joined: Jul 2005

Posts: 1,533

Likes: 0

From: az

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zig

in short, yes.

Mar 2, 2007 | 04:27 PM

timd38

Race Director

Joined: Aug 2005

Posts: 13,592

Likes: 187

From: Hudson WI

NCM Sinkhole Donor

I would give it a try. I have done it, so it must be doable.

Mar 2, 2007 | 04:59 PM

jjohn918

Thread Starter

Drifting

Joined: Jul 2003

Posts: 1,625

Likes: 0

From: Fountain Inn SC

Any idea on how long of a process it is. I know that once you do something, you can do it faster in the future, but what's a ballpark figure on time for a first attempt?

Mar 2, 2007 | 05:12 PM

Miaugi

Le Mans Master

Joined: Dec 2002

Posts: 7,588

Likes: 6

From: Montreal Qc

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjohn918

Any idea on how long of a process it is. I know that once you do something, you can do it faster in the future, but what's a ballpark figure on time for a first attempt?

I would say plan a day or two for the job. Just getting everything off and out of your way takes time, not that it's so hard, but you want to do it right and not break/force anything. Sure enough it might take you less time, but better to plan on more time then not enough!

Make sure you have all the required torque settings for assembly, in fact a shop manual would be a great asset!

Mar 2, 2007 | 05:30 PM

baf2000_1

Racer

Joined: Aug 2005

Posts: 449

Likes: 68

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjohn918

Any idea on how long of a process it is. I know that once you do something, you can do it faster in the future, but what's a ballpark figure on time for a first attempt?

Not at all dificult on a Pushrod engine. There is one pesky bolt on the Alternator that takes 20 min to take out. The rest is cake, really ! Since you have to take the exhaust manifolds off anyway you may want to consider headers at the same time.

Mar 3, 2007 | 12:14 AM

jjohn918

Thread Starter

Drifting

Joined: Jul 2003

Posts: 1,625

Likes: 0

From: Fountain Inn SC

I already have LG's on the car, but have thought about doing a cam swap too (never done that before either). I'm assuming that this is the best time to do this as well?

Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Michael S. Palmer

10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Joe Kucinski

5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Michael S. Palmer

2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

Joe Kucinski

10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

Joe Kucinski

5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!

Joe Kucinski

2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!

Joe Kucinski

10 Things C8 Corvette Owners Hate (But Won't Tell You)

Joe Kucinski

10 Best Corvettes Coming to Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach 2026!

Brett Foote

Every Corvette Grand Sport Explained! (C2, C4, C6, C7, & C8)

Joe Kucinski

Mar 3, 2007 | 12:19 AM

SpinMonster

Tech Contributor

Joined: Mar 2003

Posts: 12,094

Likes: 197

From: Colorado Springs, CO

St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11

Heads are 15-20 hours working comfortably. I think the only thing you can do to mess it up is scraping the old gasket material off. Use cometic multi-layer steel gaskets from then on. Clean the bolt holes with compressed air. The alternator bracket is your only resistant new friend. It all comes together.

Mar 3, 2007 | 03:23 AM

#10

Tommy D

Le Mans Master

Joined: Aug 2004

Posts: 5,259

Likes: 16

From: Monroe Township New Jersey

St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16

St. Jude donor in memory of jpee '14

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjohn918

I already have LG's on the car, but have thought about doing a cam swap too (never done that before either). I'm assuming that this is the best time to do this as well?

The stock rockers are not adjustable and get torqued to spec, so if you have the service manual and follow directions the R&R of the heads is straight forward. It might be a good idea to replace the stock push rods with HD ones while you are changing the heads.

The R&R of the cam is another matter. You have to move the steering rac, as well as remove the damper which is tightened to approminately 240 foot pounds. It has to be marked in relation to its position on the crank so that you can re-install it correctly. The oil pump will have to be primed ...... and etc. There are many items that can cause problems......... Then of course any cam should be checked with a degree wheel to make sure that it is installed correctly. It is a bit more challenging than changing the heads.

I suggest that you shoot Spinmonster a PM as he has much more experience than most of us

Reply Subscribe

Reply Share

First
Prev
1 / 1
Next
Last

Forum Jump