The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Remove hood to remove head?

I'm starting to think about my winter project and looks like it'll be the head to replace/fix the bad valve in #6 cylinder. My question is do you recommend taking off the hood first ? It would seem obvious to do so, but from reading other posts it seems like hood alignment is worse than the hassle of working around it. Any opinions or experiences would be appreciated. :rolleyes:

I took my head off by myself with the hood on. Afterwards I realized how stupid that was and had a buddy help me put it back on. You really don't need the hood removed. But, if you just remove the bolts where the hood is attached to the hinges there will be no aligning involved.

Mainer54,

There is no need to take the hood off in order to take off the head. The one advantage of having the hood off is that you will be less likely to inadvertantly bash your head.

I have found it is helpful to have two people when reinstalling the head and helpful to use a couple "guide bolts" when reinstalling the head. Use two, cheap, long bolts with their heads cut off placed in head-bolt holes in the block. They will serve as guides for exact placement of the head.

Do you have a shop manual?

Good luck,
Tim

I've never removed a hood to pull a head. When I replaced my engine, I did pull and re-install the hood by myself, but I cheated. I used the engine hoist.

I used the engine hoist to pull my head. I left the hood on the truck..Let the hoist do all the work . I rigged up a very short chain and the hoist and the head cleared everything on the way out..I pulled it alone and had a friend help me when I put it back on the engine. The guide bolts are the ticket, use them..

FYI , the shipping weight of a GMC 228 head is about a hundred pounds..

For a GMC head you can easily make a "handle" that helps moving the big lump around. Just drill a couple of holes in a piece of pipe, to match the studs that secure the rocker cover. Slip the pipe over the studs and put on a couple of nuts. Just might save you a hernia.

Bill - I used the hoist to pull my HOOD. One advantage of having a garage with a 12' ceiling.

I misread your post Fred , sorry. I am not sure I would have thought to use an engine hoist for the hood, good thinking there..

I had to pull a head off the 261 in the 51 truck after a rebuild. A valve that was a little tight in the new guide that was "fine" ,siezed in the guide. We used a engine hoist to remove and install the head.I had lowered the head into position, with my wife guiding the lump into place.I said, "get the head bolts ready honey".So Joy says "aren't the spark holes on the right side?" Opps.

And you said Joy was only good for one thing, cooking.

Bill, with my back I used the hoist for everything I could. With the engine on the stand I used it to pull and install the head and the crank. I even put the tranny back in through the cab with the hoist. When I went to the machine shop I used the hoist to put the block, head and crank in the trunk of my Bonneville. Of course, when I got there and the kid asked where my truck was, I looked at the car and he about peeed his pants. Said something about not being able to put an engine in the trunk of a car.

Thanks for all the responses !, I think I'll leave the hood on and have a buddy on hand when I pull it and re-install.