A few HG questions (2.5 DOHC)

[Navig8r]

OK.. so I gotta tear it down and do the HGs.... Gonna do it in the car, as I dont see the point in removing it if not necessary. Any tips/pointers/thoughts on removing the heads with the engine in the car?

Also... anything else I should do at the same time?
Timing belt, and idlers, were new in July '07.. only about 7,000 miles ago.

Any good sources for gaskets? (Fel-Pro preferred)

Any other thoughts / tips ???

Thanks for any help!

[decke48]

i believe the rear head bolt are to long to pull out the heads in car. im not sure never tried to do one in car. alldata gives you 9.6hrs to do both heads so i believe you need to pull the motor...

[Reason]

Theres a list in a sticky here that tells you what to do if you do HG's. You can do the HG's with the engine in the car. It will save you a lot of time. You need to jack up the engine some to pull off the heads.

[Navig8r]

I saw the sticky with the list and the pics.... but the pics show the motor being pulled, so I wanted to get info/advice from anyone who's done them w/o removing the motor.

[Reason]

It can be done, my friend did it to his. It took him a few hours saturday and sunday and had it running. He has a user name here but never comes on anymore.

[Navig8r]

Actually decided to pull the motor...... gonna give me more room to work.... keep the stress level lower.
Also, I am gonna have to do this in my spare time over a couple weeks, so the car wont have to be inside, in the way.

[decke48]

well if you going to pull the motor do a clutch if you have a m/t

[Navig8r]

Gonna give the clutch a good once-over at least. It was done at ~50k... has 148k on the clock now.
Any recommendations on clutch/parts if necessary. Budget is a consideration, but not overly strict.

[jey]

Any recommendations on clutch/parts if necessary. Budget is a consideration, but not overly strict.

Just go with a stock clutch unless you are planning significant power mods.

[Chicago96GT]

I did this about 3 months ago with no mechanical experience and would like to say this. I thought I was going to do it in the car but it just wasn't enough room and its going to make it a pain for you in the end. I would say rent a engine lift, take it out and do it that way. It was ten times easier then having it in the car. Make sure you have a breaker bar and not something that can be used as a breaker bar. I tried both :smile: . I used Fel-Pro and have not had a problem yet. I would say its pretty good and its complete. Accept they did leave one gasket out. But again some people have done it with the motor in, so if you have experience then go ahead and give that a shot.

[Reason]

Chicago96GT with no mechnical expirence how long about did it take you. This would give people that never done it before a good idea. Maybe a few do's and don't s

[Navig8r]

Took intake manifold, and all accesories off last night... .worked on it today... engine is out. Wow... easy to work on, only one small knuckle scrape, and NO broken/frozen bolts.
I take it all apart tomorrow.. woohoo!

[Navig8r]

So.... been workin in my spare time the last couple weeks.... its together.. and it runs.. really well!!!
Glad to have her back!