ARG! Head Bolts!

[JP]

I woke this morning to find antifreeze all over my driveway, typically this would be the start of a "challenging" day, you know a hose or something stupid. But apon further inspection I found that the "leak" was coming from the rear of the head at the freeze plug, which is about 3 inches from the firewall. Took a very chilly ride on the motorcycle to get parts, Now I'm in the process of trying to pull the head to pop the new one in (day just got muuuch better ) My problem is that I'm afraid of snapping the head bolts & creating larger issues. I've already doused them with PB Blaster, tapped, torqued, cursed, etc... cant seem to break them free with a nominal amount of force. Any suggestions? My new thought is to pull the engine for 5 minutes to swap it out. That sounds worse to me though (more to go wrong) HELP!! I need Ideas!

BTW, I used to post here, and fell off from posting, but I do read the posts almost daily. Boss caught me cuz I type too slow !

 

[judge09]

I would just say keep working the bolts. I snapped a few off in my day and its no fun. just keep adding lubricant and working the bolt.

 

[jeepin916]

more lube and a cheater pipe on your breaker bar.... there normally on really tight and after years of heating an cooling they get tighter...

 

[jay79cj7]

Good luck man. I just had to tug REALLY hard.

 

[west747]

why do you have to take the head off? Is it the anit-freeze leaking from the frost plug? cant you just replace the frost plug with a block heater? i am sorry if i missed something really obvious i cant see having too take the head off to get at it. i know it was a hard place to get at when i put a block heater in my YJ but it is asscessiable.

 

[JP]

West- where would I get a block heater? I really dont want to resort to pulling it, but I dont see how it can be done. I think I might try a different approach in the morning, I may be able to drive a screwdriver into the plug from the transmission tunnel... OR, how about a 3" hole saw through the firewall :lol:

Does any one have any suggestions on how to get a 2" freeze plug out of a head, 6" down with the firewall 3" away?????

 

[west747]

oops.my bad. i thought the plug was just leaking. i didnt know it had fallen in. i am not sure how you would get it..maybe a strong magnet!

i was able to get at mine from underneath on the driver side. the exhaust manafold was the only thing in my way..wasnt too hard to get at just VERY ackward

i am pretty sure you can get a block heater from any auto parts store. they are pretty cheap too. 10-20 dollars.

 

[JP]

It was just the plug that was leaking.

After considering yanking the head or pulling the engine, I decided to do the hack thing and make a 3 inch hole in the firewall. got it out & the new one in in about 30 minutes. now I just have to rivet a panel to cover my butchery & I'm done. I'm so ashamed that I took this option BUT... its done, :lol: I'm still somewhat sane, :twisted: & now I can go to work

wish I had a camera to show everyone what NOT to do in a case like this...

Thanks for the responses!

 

[jeepin916]

the hack way hehehe its ok as long as you get the job done and fix up what you hack hehe iv done lots of hack jobs b4 and they all turn out good

 

[dingus]

dude, just disconnect the motor mounts and lower it down to where you can work with it!