Head Gasket Replacement, I've searched....

[RatedR]

1991 240sx LE, 147,000 miles

I was trying to replace the head gasket and did a compression test. I accidentally placed the wrong kind of extension into the spark plug hole. Do I really need to get that part out to take off the head? If so, what are some ways? The sockets arent big enough to get around it, I was hoping more that I could just take the head off anyway.

Are the spark plugs connected to the head or the block??? Would I still be able to take off the head with that adaptor in place? Any help would do, Thanks~!

-R

[Nismo_Freak]

Spark plugs are threaded into the head.

[cnichols]

I accidentally did the same thing....used lock tite and attached a spark plug to the extension (should thread in)...left it overnight and then used a socket around the plug....came right out.

[RatedR]

Cool, I'll try that, I'm really worried that the adaptor might have cross threaded the spark plug hole though....any thoughts on this?

[cnichols]

I believe it's just an extension, or at least in my case it was.

[RatedR]

Uhhh, I'm not entirely certain...guess we'll find out tomorrow~!Anyway, I'll let the loctite sit for the night like you did.

PS - Do I have to take off the EGR valve to remore the head??? As far as I know, its just the intake mani and the exhaust mani, but the EGR is connected to the Intake mani....

-R

[yellow_jacket]

Have the machine shop clean up the threads for the spark plugs while they have the head.

[RatedR]

Cool, but now I have another problem....I cant get those damn cams off~! How the heck do you take them off? I've removed the brackets and the guide for the timing chain, but it seems like the cams are still stuck.....

[DAEDALUS]

By "brackets" I assume you mean the journal bearings. Treat them like fine, just-painted porcelain and don't mix them up! They're probably numbered so that should help. Keep them very clean, since just a little bit of dirt can really screw you over if it gets between the bearings and the camshaft.

As far as removing the shafts I think you're there, they might just be a little "sticky". Look one more time to make sure all bearings are off. Of course if the timing chain is still on you'll need to remove it or rotate the cams up, lowering the chain. If the chain's off then just lift them up. Be very careful to not scratch the cam journals or the lower bearings. And when you put the cams back on make sure they're oriented properly or you could bend a valve when you tighten the bearings down. I assume #1 piston is TDC or 45* from TDC? So long as you're in there take some measurements. Use plastiguage on the camshafts at least...it's cheap stuff and pretty reliable as long as you scrape all the stuff off when you're done.

[RatedR]

I dont really understand what you mean, but I'll try it when I'm out there....I should understand it better with the car in front of me. I'll post again if I need anything else. THANKS EVERYONE~!!!!

-R