RE: [alfa] stuck cylinder head

["Jeff Greenfield" <alfaguy@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Ed -

Yup, the factory tool does in fact screw into the spark plug hole.

It's usually the head gasket that keeps the head stuck to the block, but in
some cases there is corrosion around the studs. Soaking them with
penetrating oil will help.

You can make a decent facsimile of the factory tool pretty easily. I made
one years ago that still works. Take an old spark plug and break the top off
it. Weld a length of threaded rod to it.

Cut a steel plate such that it will just cover 4 of the head studs at once,
and drill a hole in the middle of it.

Screw the plug/rod into one spark plug hole, place the plate over it, and
apply a little pressure to it. Go slow and it should move. You may have to
move the tool between different positions to work it off evenly. If it is
really stuck, move it a little at a time while applying liberal amounts of
penetrating oil such as PB blaster or marvel mystery oil. Contrary to
popular belief, WD-40 is not a penetrating oil.

HTH,

Jeff

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-alfa@domain.elided [mailto:owner-alfa@domain.elided] On Behalf Of Ed &
Marsha Prytherch
Sent: Sunday, March 14, 2004 10:22 PM
To: alfa@domain.elided
Subject: [alfa] stuck cylinder head

I am having a hard time removing the cylinder head from a 74 GTV engine. The
engine is on an engine stand. I have removed the 10 dome nuts and the 2
screws at the front. I have tried rope in two cylinders and a breaker bar on
the pulley bolt. I have tried a 4 ton hydraulic puller between the sump and
the boss for the timing chain adjuster and I have used a copper hammer on a
couple of solid parts of the head, but it will not budge. I assume that
adhesion is between the studs and the holes in the head that they pass
through. They are now soaking in penetrating oil. The AR manual shows a
special puller that appears to screw into a spark plug hole and has a plate
that pushes on the dome nuts. I suppose that I could make one, but I worry
that the threads in the spark plug hole would strip. What should I try next?

Thanks,
Ed Prytherch, Columbia SC
79 Spider
73 GTV
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