Quick question!!..taking head off

bobtodd · 09-13-2002, 12:49 PM

How many bolts hold a head down?? I've taken all the nuts off of the studs and its not budging.....do I have to take out the studs that the rockers are on also? I've got 289 heads so I'm not sure how different they are from most 5.0 heads. I've never done this before. ANy info. would be great. Thanks!

mpj76 · 09-13-2002, 01:21 PM

I've only taken heads of a 5.0 motor once a long time ago. I had to take the rockers off. Other than all the other stuff on top of the motor, the only thing holding the heads down were the head bolts. I would recommend replacing them while you're at it. When I was putting mine back in, one broke in half when I began torqing it down. Don't try to clean your pistons. It's bad. Keep in mind that the heads will be kind of stuck to the block. Iron heads are pretty heavy/undweildy when trying to move them around at arms length. Also, the cooling passages stick out of the block a little so you can't slide the head off. You must lift up. Most important of all...clean all the old gasket material off. After you think it's completely clean, use a razor blade to get the last bit of residue off the heads and block. Gasket remover mixed with old gasket material creates a really smooth waxy feel thats sometimes hard to distinguish from bare metal, especially in low light with greasy fingers. Use some kind of solvent for a final wipe down. Use proper torque and tightening sequence during reassembly or you'll be doing the job again. I think my heads had 10 head bolts each. I may be off...but isn't the 289 block the same as the 302 block? I think the heads are interchangeable as well then. Is it your 91 LX that you're working on? That should be 302 if its the original motor.

bobtodd · 09-13-2002, 01:23 PM

Got it off!! Thanks for all the info.!

USMC302 · 09-13-2002, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Don't try to clean your pistons. It's bad

What is bad about cleaning them? I sanded down the top of all of mine lightly to get rid of all of the build up when I replaced the rings.

09-13-2002, 12:49 PM	#1
bobtodd Registered Member Join Date: Dec 1998 Location: WI, U.S Posts: 255	Quick question!!..taking head off How many bolts hold a head down?? I've taken all the nuts off of the studs and its not budging.....do I have to take out the studs that the rockers are on also? I've got 289 heads so I'm not sure how different they are from most 5.0 heads. I've never done this before. ANy info. would be great. Thanks! __________________ 91 LX - 10.5:1 pistons, ported 289 heads, Ultradyne 588 cam, Cobra upper/lower, MSD, JBA long tube headers, Flowmaster, Richmond 4:10, roll cage, monster tach...FUN!! 95 SHO - K&N filter

09-13-2002, 01:21 PM	#2
mpj76 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 158	I've only taken heads of a 5.0 motor once a long time ago. I had to take the rockers off. Other than all the other stuff on top of the motor, the only thing holding the heads down were the head bolts. I would recommend replacing them while you're at it. When I was putting mine back in, one broke in half when I began torqing it down. Don't try to clean your pistons. It's bad. Keep in mind that the heads will be kind of stuck to the block. Iron heads are pretty heavy/undweildy when trying to move them around at arms length. Also, the cooling passages stick out of the block a little so you can't slide the head off. You must lift up. Most important of all...clean all the old gasket material off. After you think it's completely clean, use a razor blade to get the last bit of residue off the heads and block. Gasket remover mixed with old gasket material creates a really smooth waxy feel thats sometimes hard to distinguish from bare metal, especially in low light with greasy fingers. Use some kind of solvent for a final wipe down. Use proper torque and tightening sequence during reassembly or you'll be doing the job again. I think my heads had 10 head bolts each. I may be off...but isn't the 289 block the same as the 302 block? I think the heads are interchangeable as well then. Is it your 91 LX that you're working on? That should be 302 if its the original motor. Last edited by mpj76; 09-13-2002 at 01:27 PM..

09-13-2002, 01:23 PM	#3
bobtodd Registered Member Join Date: Dec 1998 Location: WI, U.S Posts: 255	Got it off!! Thanks for all the info.! __________________ 91 LX - 10.5:1 pistons, ported 289 heads, Ultradyne 588 cam, Cobra upper/lower, MSD, JBA long tube headers, Flowmaster, Richmond 4:10, roll cage, monster tach...FUN!! 95 SHO - K&N filter

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