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31 Essex Cylinder Head?
  • OttobethereOttobethere
    Posts: 92Senior Contributor
    I must be a knuckle head. I am not able to remove the cylinder head on the Coupe. I've spent hours trying to use a putty knife to get it to budge. I've removed the coil wire and left a couple of nuts on the head turned over the engine and still no luck. It seems that someone before me has super glued the head to the block. Any idea's on how to remove the cylinder head in one piece?
  • 5433HET5433HET
    Posts: 171Expert Adviser
    I've just had fresh experience! I thought I would end up using Dynamite, but cooler "heads" prevailed and we worked it up and off using wood wedges, driving them in as shims down the side of the block, gradually lifting up the head.
  • OttobethereOttobethere
    Posts: 92Senior Contributor
    I used two putty knifes put one on top of another and then attempted to drive a wedge in the middle of the them still no luck. Thanks!
  • Lee ODellLee ODell
    Posts: 1,838Platinum Member
    we worked it up and off using wood wedges, driving them in as shims down the side of the block, gradually lifting up the head.

    Sounds like it takes multiple wedges to put even pressure between head and block. That might do it.
  • OttobethereOttobethere
    Posts: 92Senior Contributor
    Off to the store I go! Thanks
  • Jon BJon B
    Posts: 4,761Moderator
    Have you tried simply turning the motor over with the bolts unloosened (and the spark plug in, of course). If super glue can resist THAT kind of force, maybe the car companies should replace cylinder bolts with glue.
  • Geoff C., N.Z.Geoff C., N.Z.
    Posts: 2,267Platinum Member
    There are specific areas along each side of the head where the head gasket is cut away to enable you to get a lever in and lever the head up. Something like a pinch bar or chisel should do the trick.
    If you're stuck in a hole, stop digging.
  • OttobethereOttobethere
    Posts: 92Senior Contributor
    At last 3 days and hours of labor. I finally got it to budge. What ever they used 80 yrs ago was good stuff. The wedges worked. Now for the fun part (inspection). Thanks everyone for your feedback.
  • OttobethereOttobethere
    Posts: 92Senior Contributor
    Cylinder head is ready to be installed. I pulled off the pan and found a couple inches of sludge. I cleaned out the screen and sludge now I'm ready to put her back together. Couple of questions? Can the gaskets on the pan be installed dry with out any gasket glue? What would be a recommended oil to run, detergent or non detergent? Thanks!
  • Geoff C., N.Z.Geoff C., N.Z.
    Posts: 2,267Platinum Member
    I have found just a smear of grease is suitable for the gaskets to seal. Remember to fill the troughs before you fit the sump, otherwise the bearings will be burned out before the oil gets up to them. Definitely use detergent oil to prevent the future build-up of sludge.
    If you're stuck in a hole, stop digging.
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