I just changed my oil pan gasket and the leaking hasn't stopped so now I am on to the head gasket. I already have a new MLM head gasket waiting here to be installed and my question is this.

Whats the easiest way to go about taking the head off. Can I get away with just taking off the timing belt tensioner and not actually taking off the belt completly? and can I take the tensioner off without removing the crank pulley?

It seems like if I can get away with not doing those two things I can take off the valve cover. Mark and then remove the cam gears so that I can just kind of push the timing belt cover forward (and maybe throw that stupid thing away). drain the coolent and oil. and then just loosen the head bolts and pull the head off.

Does this sound right?

anyone?

sorry, no way to get to the tensioner with the timing cover on, no way to get the cover off with the crank pulley on. You're stuck taking it all off.



15.9 @ 86.7mph

Injen CAI, 55mm TB, P&P Intake, Crower Cams, Hooker Header, ERT/Catco Cat, GS-T Muffler, AFX UDP, Crane Ign Amp, S-AFC

do you need to pull the engine out to change the HG?

Well, if you were running no front cover, then this would be possible. On the 4G63s, there is a method for detensioning the timing belt without removing the covers, using a special tool. They can then zip tie the belt to the cam gears, and lift the head a bit, and slide the old gasket out. We can't do this, though. I have tried thinking of better ways of doing this, but I haven't come up with anything yet. Ah well...
-=B-=

By the way, you don't need to pull the motor to do a headgasket...

Have you looked at your crank seals lately????????????




Performance: Stuff that makes my car run better or go faster

Looks: Stock because looks doesnt make my car go faster or run better

Weight Reduction: CF Hood, No A/C or Powersteering Accessories, No rear interior

Thanks guys. I guess I'm just going to have to bite the bullet and set a day aside and get this thing done.

Thanks

Dean.

Hey man its probably going to take more then a day to do this for sure if its ur first time. Also make sure u got all the tools u need before u start. I wouldnt recomend doing this urself unless ur good at working on cars there are alot of torque sequences that u have to get right.