Naratechwin Posted May 19, 2016 Share Posted May 19, 2016 Long time stalker, first time poster. Bought an '83 Civic a few weeks ago with a blown head-gasket in Picton for a hundred bucks and proceeded to drive it back to Christchurch (actually made it). Oil was pretty thoroughly mixed with water (also was spat into the air filter, with a little pool of oil collecting there). Anyway, being armed with a Haynes Manual and minimal experience in tearing apart engines I set upon removing the head to replace the head-gasket. This is as far as I've got; Intake Manifold, Exhaust Manifold, distributor, alternator bracket, cambelt and head studs all removed but the head ain't coming off! If anyone could help me out with ideas on what I've missed or tricks to getting heads off would be ideal! Have left all the rocker gear and camshaft in. Cheers! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Threeonthetree Posted May 19, 2016 Share Posted May 19, 2016 Often an engine that has been overheated will be harder to remove the head from. It tends to stick to the block. Camshaft and valvetrain will not cause a problem. I've had a similar issue with a cylinder head on an old Jag which had been overheated. Used an engine crane to finally yank the head off. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UTERUS Posted May 19, 2016 Share Posted May 19, 2016 Hit everything with a soft hammer to loosen it up bruh 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajg193 Posted May 19, 2016 Share Posted May 19, 2016 Probably being held together by some failed head gasket in a can crap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tim13 Posted May 19, 2016 Share Posted May 19, 2016 worth checking for hidden bolts too some heads have some small ones which hide under gunge , been ages since I did one of these so may or may not be the case here ..... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
azzurro Posted May 19, 2016 Share Posted May 19, 2016 Take the block off from underneath... Engine hoist and a good doink with a big soft mallet auta do it. Running for ages on milky oil wont have done the rest of the engine any good either Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KKtrips Posted May 19, 2016 Share Posted May 19, 2016 Its been a long time since I've pulled one of these heads off but from memory there is a couple of random 10mm head bolts hidden the perimeter of the head which you need to undo to get the head off. It's been a long time so I could well be wrong. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tortron Posted May 19, 2016 Share Posted May 19, 2016 flathead trick is to feed some rope down the spark plug hole, then turn it over by hand fo you, you would want to prevent the valves from moving though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phr34kr Posted May 20, 2016 Share Posted May 20, 2016 Did one of these a while ago. Pulled the rockers and camshaft off, cant remember if that was just to do the valves but it was off before i pulled the head. Maybe a hidden bolt underneath it all? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phr34kr Posted May 20, 2016 Share Posted May 20, 2016 Actually it was just the dizzy drive that had to be removed, and i see you have already removed it. Use more force. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naratechwin Posted May 20, 2016 Author Share Posted May 20, 2016 Thanks for the advice guys. Have given it a few knocks with a rubber mellet and no success. Kicked it from the side to try loosen it and that hasn't worked either. The side of the cam sprocket seems lose (can see a slight gap between head and block when pulled up on that side) but the opposite side ain't budging. Might try borrow a crane to see if that'll pull it off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingbrick Posted May 20, 2016 Share Posted May 20, 2016 Definitely have a real good look there. It's amazing how you can stare at something for ages and miss a real obvious fastener that's juuuust hidden from view Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KKtrips Posted May 20, 2016 Share Posted May 20, 2016 You should not need to use an engine crane to pull it off - the only time I've had to do that is on a Jag which is an alloy head on a steel block with steel studs running through the water jackets so the alloy corrodes and swells around the headstuds.I've had a look at some EN1 Civic head pictures tonight but couldn't see any obvious hidden bolts. (see below)PS - tapping it with a claw hammer won't do fuck-all (if that is what you've used) they are made to be lightweight so builders can swing em all day long and won't have any grunt to dislodge a sticking head.You need something with a bit of weight behind it but also soft so you don't damage the alloy..A copper-rawhide hammer if you have one or whack it with a grunty mallet but with a block of wood between your mallet and the head. Looking at your photos I can see a potential problem when you lift the head off, so make sure you get all the washers out that were under the head bolts so they don't slip under the cam and get missed on reassembly then get smashed up on start up - there should be 10 washers (and also check that you have removed 10 head-bolts - just to be sure - LOL) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naratechwin Posted May 20, 2016 Author Share Posted May 20, 2016 Cheers for that! The mallet I had wasn't that grunty, guess I'll go begging for a better one instead of a crane. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crustywhip Posted May 20, 2016 Share Posted May 20, 2016 i did the same and pretty sure theres a couple 10/12mm bolts somewhere random. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RUNAMUCK Posted May 20, 2016 Share Posted May 20, 2016 We once had to slide a trolley jack under a car, and run a bit of 4x2 from ther jack up to the zhorst mani. Jacked the heads off it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cletus Posted May 20, 2016 Share Posted May 20, 2016 big screwdriver or small crowbar, and find a gap between the head and block that doesnt have a sealing function to it, lever it off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickJ Posted May 20, 2016 Share Posted May 20, 2016 I've hit a head with a hammer and block of wood that wouldn't move, darn thing popped off in quite a hurry, I now leave a strategic bolt or two in loosely so the head can't fall off or knock the valves around when things need to get rough Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muncie Posted May 20, 2016 Share Posted May 20, 2016 My preference was to whip all the push rods out and crank it over till it pops its clogs with stubborn heads on blocks. I would wrap a ratchet strap around a rafter in the garage and anchor to the head and put some tension on it a few clicks not to much and go to work should stress the crusty old gasket enough it peels away during the day if it has head studs getting them out will help alot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naratechwin Posted May 24, 2016 Author Share Posted May 24, 2016 Thanks for the help guys, put a piece of 2x4 against the head, gave it a few smacks with beefier hammer and it came loose! 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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