Any Tips On Pulling The Head?

john · 03-02-2004

I will be pulling the head off my 92 talon tsi this weekend and next week. I am going to be installing ARP head studs and swapping the head gasket. Any tips for a newbie? So far, my plan is to unbolt the head, and disconnect the thermostat housing, unplug the electrical connectors and hoses I come across, and hopefully I will have it off. Anything major I am skipping? I plan on unbolting the cams while zip tying the cam gears and the belt together. I have power steering and the bracket already removed.

Any other bolts or brackets I am missing that hold the head on? Is it pretty strait forward? what head gastet should I get. I have heard of felpro? Currently I plan on a OEM gasket. Where do I get the copperspray? Napa? Thanks in advance, John.

BTW, the exhaust, turbo, etc are off the front. I plan on pulling the intake manifold off with the head.

**Halon** · 03-02-2004

there is a bracket on the back of the intake manifold that bolts to it and the block. A lot of people overlook that when taking off the head and can't figure out why the hell the head isn't lifting off. The bracket also has 2 electrial plugs on it, so when you're undoing all the electrical plugs and you pull those 2 off, then THAT is the bracked you have to just unbolt from the intake mani, and then you'll be cool. Also to speed up the process, just undo the 4 bolts that hold the turbo to the manifold, and take the head off with the exhaust many still attached, that way you don't gotta drop the turbo like i did my first time. saves a little bit of time! Hmm... Don't forget to label everything so u know where it goes when you put it back on. I trimmed one of the motor mounts after the head was off. There is a vfaq on it, it just makes it easier when you put the head back on when you're using ARP headstuds. Um... that's all I can think of at the moment, if I think of anything more I'll let you know!

just remembered another thing i almost messed up once. my car was a california model so it had this little sensor thingy-ma-jig that kinda screwed into the back of the intake manifold kinda by the egr. If you have one, don't forget to disconnect it like i did once!

oem composite headgasket and arp's is just fine!! Shouldn't need the copperspray if your using the composite gasket

**Shane@DBPerformance** · 03-02-2004

Don't get the Felpro.

You will need to keep some tension on the cam gear to keep it from skipping on the bottom. You will probably need a tensioner tool to relieve some of the tension on the cam gears or else you might not be able to get them back on. Put everything at TDC before you start and then check and your marks when your done.

**JET** · 03-02-2004

Quote:

Originally posted by me612@Mar 2 2004, 08:54 PM
The bracket also has 2 electrial plugs on it, so when you're undoing all the electrical plugs and you pull those 2 off, then THAT is the bracked you have to just unbolt from the intake mani, and then you'll be cool.

Nope, that is not the correct bracket. The bracket is under the intake manifold by the firewall. The 2 bolts are on the upper 2 corners. You will find the bracket easily, it is huge. The bracket me612 is talking about would be the bracket that holds on the ignition transistor and that can stay on. I just finished up mine 10 minutes ago, so if you have any more questions, now is the time!

slowbubblecar · 03-02-2004

where can we/he get the tensioner tool.

AJ · 03-02-2004

Quote:

Originally posted by JET+Mar 2 2004, 10:16 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (JET @ Mar 2 2004, 10:16 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-me612@Mar 2 2004, 08:54 PM
The bracket also has 2 electrial plugs on it, so when you're undoing all the electrical plugs and you pull those 2 off, then THAT is the bracked you have to just unbolt from the intake mani, and then you'll be cool.

Nope, that is not the correct bracket. The bracket is under the intake manifold by the firewall. The 2 bolts are on the upper 2 corners. You will find the bracket easily, it is huge. The bracket me612 is talking about would be the bracket that holds on the ignition transistor and that can stay on. I just finished up mine 10 minutes ago, so if you have any more questions, now is the time! [/b][/quote]
Yup, I just did one today and I must say I love doing it with the complete motor out fo the car :bowdown:

**Halon** · 03-03-2004

Quote:

Originally posted by JET+Mar 2 2004, 10:16 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (JET @ Mar 2 2004, 10:16 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-me612@Mar 2 2004, 08:54 PM
The bracket also has 2 electrial plugs on it, so when you're undoing all the electrical plugs and you pull those 2 off, then THAT is the bracked you have to just unbolt from the intake mani, and then you'll be cool.

Nope, that is not the correct bracket. The bracket is under the intake manifold by the firewall. The 2 bolts are on the upper 2 corners. You will find the bracket easily, it is huge. The bracket me612 is talking about would be the bracket that holds on the ignition transistor and that can stay on. I just finished up mine 10 minutes ago, so if you have any more questions, now is the time! [/b][/quote]
umm.... i will have to go look when i get off work, but i swear to holy jesus i am right about that bracket. Yes its on the back of the intake manifold by the firewall. There are 2 bolts holding it onto the intake manifold, and one holding it to the block. And between the 2 bolts on the intake manifold are 2 electrical plug harnesses that go to i dunno where. I will look once i get off work and take pictures. Plus it'll look goofy on my car because i didn't bolt it back onto the intake manifold, so its kinda crooked

john · 03-03-2004

I am not sure who is right but a pic would be awsome.

**JET** · 03-03-2004

I am right. :razz2:

**Halon** · 03-03-2004

I am right

. As you can clearly see in the picture, there is a bracket which is not attached to my intake mani anymore because I think it just makes life easier when removing the head. You can see that all your emissions lines are attached to this bracket, and there are also two electrical connectors on it. So make sure to unbolt that from the intake mani or else you'll be sitting there wondering why it seems like the head is stuck on there!

**Halon** · 03-03-2004

**Halon** · 03-03-2004

john · 03-03-2004

Thanks alot for the pic. I will probly start this weekend. The only thing I am really worried about is the timing. I may just undue the cam caps and put the cams back in when I am done and bolt it all back together. I don't want to have to worry about adjusting the timing belt tension. After having the head bolted down, the cams should slide in fairly easy right?

**Halon** · 03-03-2004

personally, i'd say do the timing belt too. It's a great learning experience. Once you've done it once, it won't be so scary anymore. Just try to get someone to help you that's done it before. Good luck man, its not as hard as it seems. The first time i took the head off it took like 3 hours, the second time 2 hours, then the first time it took just barely over an hour! Its scarey now, but after you've done it, its cake!!!

**JET** · 03-03-2004

The 2 connectors are actually on their own seperate bracket. They are for the ignition system. The one with the emission lines in it was the one I was talking about.

john · 03-03-2004

The timing belt, water pump, etc have about 1000 miles on them. I had them replaced in the fall and haven't driven the car much since. I am going to try it without touching the t-belt (except zip ties). I don't have any friends who have done one before. It seems pretty strait forward though. Things usually seem so damn difficult untill you actually do it. A while ago I would have never thought about replacing the turbo myself.
Thanks for the help.

**Halon** · 03-03-2004

Quote:

Originally posted by JET@Mar 3 2004, 09:30 PM
The 2 connectors are actually on their own seperate bracket.  They are for the ignition system.  The one with the emission lines in it was the one I was talking about.

The two connectors are on a tiny lil hunk of metal attached with a singe nut to the intake manifold bracket. They aren't even attached to the actual intake manifold, and i has said to take off the bracket that connects the intake mani to the block, and has 2 plugs on it as well. You're saying you thought I was talking about that little tiny hunk of metal the connectors clip onto? :stick: haha, im just playing man, :toast: i guess i shoulda been more specific, but i figured when i said the 2 bolts on that bracket that attach to the intake manifold, i figured he'd understand. But i guess it may have been slightly confusing. But good luck on it man, you'll be fine

LightningGSX · 03-03-2004

Don't forget the beer, it comes in handy when doing mechanical work.

MATCHBX · 03-04-2004

DON'T try to disconnect the intake manifold from the head before you take it out. Leave it on the head until it's out of the car. It's great for levering the head off of the engine. And you'll never get to the bolts underneath the manifold without cutting the hell out of your hands and throwing wrenches and other parts across the room.

03-04-2004

listen to that guy ^^^ he's right.... I SEEN IT!!!