Pulling Heads?

[keithminn]

I'm trying to solve a question about removing the heads on the eight cylinder engine while the engine is in the car. Can one or both heads be removed without dropping the engine? The engine has the spun cams and the car's owner wants to inspect the engine to see what kind of internal damage has occurred. Starting with the front head and then seeing if the sprockets have spun in the rear. Thanks for your help on this.

 

[St Louis SHO]

Negatory. The front cover has to be removed.

 

[keithminn]

By front cover do you mean timing chain cover? Consequently the timing chain cover has to come off when the engine when it is out of the car because the cover is obstructed and cannot be removed when the engine is in the car.

 

[ThatShoGuy]

you CAN remove the front cover while the motors in the car and you CAN remove both heads while the motors in the car.. now it might not be the easiest route but it can be done..

i would just remove the sub frame if i had the tools to do so other wise it CAN be done in the car

 

[E1 v2]

Negatory. The front cover has to be removed.

Yes, one CAN replace either head with the engine still in the car. I have a 97 idling in the driveway right now which I just replaced the rear head on.

Whether it is the rear or front head, the front cover still has to come off. No big deal with the right tools and normal sized hands.

Rear head is a bit more of a PITA because the alternator bracket has to come off too, but I've done it a few times now. It IS 'Do-able'.

 

[St Louis SHO]

Sorry, I'd rather not waste 10 hours doing something I can do in 6....

 

[E1 v2]

Sorry, I'd rather not waste 10 hours doing something I can do in 6....

Huh?

You said it 'couldn't' be done (Negatory).

NOW you say you can do it FASTER another way. Hmmmm.

That wasn't the question, Sir.

Maybe a better answer would be "For those who DON'T have a lift, etc., the possibility exists for the V8 SHO to have EITHER head replaced, while the subframe is still in the car.
I've done both, several times, YMMV.

 

[ThatShoGuy]

Huh?

You said it 'couldn't' be done (Negatory).

NOW you say you can do it FASTER another way. Hmmmm.

That wasn't the question, Sir.

Maybe a better answer would be "For those who DON'T have a lift, etc., the possibility exists for the V8 SHO to have EITHER head replaced, while the subframe is still in the car.
I've done both, several times, YMMV.

but you dont need a lift? ive done it with out but did have a engine picker but i feel if you had enough jacks you could do with out that.

 

[St Louis SHO]

Ok, let me make myself more clear. I would rather tell this guy to save himself 4 hours or more. I'd rather not do things the hard way. Which is why I said no......

I do not have a lift either, I use floor jacks and roll arounds for the SF. No problems here.

Carry on.

[/******* Match]

 

[E1 v2]

Ok, let me make myself more clear. I would rather tell this guy to save himself 4 hours or more. I'd rather not do things the hard way. Which is why I said no......

I do not have a lift either, I use floor jacks and roll arounds for the SF. No problems here.

Carry on.

[/******* Match]

Then you did it WRONG.

He said "Can I?"

You Said "No."

If no one said otherwise, then it must be fact, which it is clearly NOT. YOU WERE WRONG IN YOUR POST.

/******* match? Puh-Leeze. Go back to your corner and LEARN, Jr. When you get hit with a ******* match, you'll know the difference. This was just a minor correction by a couple of members. - E1 v2 and ThatShoGuy.

Some of the old time V8 SHO guys go CRAZY about DIS-Information....

ThatShoGuy - Yes, you can do it without an engine picker. Just a jack and a jackstand. You have to pull the two bolts off the rear exhaust downpipe and I haven't found a way to get those off without the car in the air.
Also helps to get the two lower bolts off the oil pan to front cover too.
Other than that, it can all be done on the car without pulling the subframe.

 

[TwistedD85]

Then you did it WRONG.

He said "Can I?"

You Said "No."

If no one said otherwise, then it must be fact, which it is clearly NOT. YOU WERE WRONG IN YOUR POST.

/******* match? Puh-Leeze. Go back to your corner and LEARN, Jr. When you get hit with a ******* match, you'll know the difference. This was just a minor correction by a couple of members. - E1 v2 and ThatShoGuy.

Some of the old time V8 SHO guys go CRAZY about DIS-Information....

ThatShoGuy - Yes, you can do it without an engine picker. Just a jack and a jackstand. You have to pull the two bolts off the rear exhaust downpipe and I haven't found a way to get those off without the car in the air.
Also helps to get the two lower bolts off the oil pan to front cover too.
Other than that, it can all be done on the car without pulling the subframe.

And some of the new V8 SHO guys go CRAZY when they think they finally bested the old dogs :theyareontome:

I thought the era forum friction was over.

 

[KickerBeast]

It's really not that bad to take the front cover off in the car. I put new timing chain, tensioners, and guides on mine at 75K cuz it would slap when it started up. Didn't fix it, but I did it under warranty, so I got paid to work on my own car. Anyway, Ford paid around 20 hours to R&R the engine and install the parts. I did the whole job in 8, in the car. I didn't find out until I was done that they wanted you to remove the engine first. once you get the accessories out of the way, there isn't must more to taking the cover of than any other Modular motor that Ford has.

 

[SHOZ123]

I tried it once. It a total pain in the butt. Yes it can be done but it is too much hassle. Taking the engine out is easier, at least the third or fourth time.......

To take the motor out you need two sets of jack stands, two jacks (preferably) and a very stout dolly to set the subframe on.