Head Question

[john]

Ok, while racing an SRT-4 last night, I saw smoke coming out the back of my car. Looked white from the rear view mirror. I asked the kids in the neon and they said they were not sure what the color was, not black but it smelled like shit. Today I checked my coolant resivor and noticed that it is dry. I am assuming my headgasket it blown. The resivoir was full 2 days ago when I swapped the alternator.

I have a new headgasket and ARP's which are waiting to go in. I am wondering if it is possible to pull the head without touching the timing belt. Can I unbolt the CAS and remove the half moon and slide the cams out towards the pass side while leaving the cam gears zip tied to the belt? Is it possible? Do I HAVE to relieve some of the timing belt tension to remove the cams? My plan is to do it the way above assuming it works. Seems like it would work. If not, maybe I could get some help from someone more experienced when the time comes???

[Enes]

cough$elite/qpr$cough

;)

-E

[john]

cough$money$cough

It would be nice to know how to do it anyhow. I have pulled a head off a 2g before but it wasn't something I had to put back on. I think it is time to learn. The only way to learn is to do.

[Emcee gsxtc]

your first time and be new and confusing and all these feelings youve neverr had before. :stick:


Its really not that bad. :goodluck:

[unreal808]

Are you sure its the head gasket? try looking at your plugs if coolent is getting in the cylinders the plugs should look clean, I would do a cooling system test to see how much psi it can hold and to find the leak, It could just be a hose. I can test for you-612 501-7676

[unreal808]

And if you just did the Alt, check that you got the water pump bolt tight. :goodluck:

[fmicmatt]

Order the books from the dealer $75-$90 and dig in........only way you'll learn.

And a side benefit is that when your DSM breaks again you might know whats wrong yourself, or what to look for when someone tells you your ISC, EGR, CAS, or TPS sensor is bad. Next time you can change your own clutch, turbo, intake, driveline........as long as you "DO IT BY THE BOOK" with "THE RIGHT TOOLS" and it will come out OK.

my $0.02.........I know it wasn't asked for, Sorry.

-Matt

[Dinkpit]

from my days as a mechanic, white smoke = burning antifreeze, headgasket or a cracked head. blue smoke = burning oil, black smoke = burning carbon from a rich fuel mixture.

[john]

I will check the plugs also but I am going to need to do the head gasket anyhow when installing the ARP's. I didn't have to touch the water pump when replacing the alternator. I don't have AC or power steering anymore. Only one belt ;) . I will check the cooling system over also. I had to remove the radiator when replacing the alternator but I am pretty sure all the hoses were tight.

I have a Haynes manual but they do not tell you any shortcuts. I know that you can remove the head without taking off the t-belt. I am just not sure how. My Haynes manual says "remove the timing belt" as one of the steps. I assume the dealer manual would say the same.

Anyone know if you can remove the head like above???

[Raptor]

You have to relieve the tension on the Tbelt after you ziptie the camgears. I personally would just pull the covers off the side and pull the belt, it is easy to get it off and you are wanting to learn anyway, You don't want it to be a really expensive lesson. Check on HKS's site, I believe they have a quick tech sheet on how to do a cam swap while hanging the cam gears. Since you havn't done it before, if you don't pull the covers and check the timing after, at least rotate the engine by hand after so in case it is way off somehow, you arn't bending valves.