Story so far series 1 resto

[lancianut666]

Hi all
have been working last couple of days but some good news some of the penetrating oil I put on the top of the 4 small studs in the middle of the head has gone so it must have soaked in a bit! just 2 more to go and I will have another try at getting it off . the pics show the issues in using the Aurelia type puller as the rocker shaft mounts are not in the same plane as the head studs
Clarkey

[frankxhv773t]

It's a bit of an engineering exercise but an Aurelia type puller could be made using a plate with a set of suitably heavy metal straps bent to pick up the rocker studs. The straps could be  bolted to the rocker shaft studs at their lower end and to the horizontal plate at their top end. This would lock the plate to the head to allow the pusher bolts to press down on the head studs.

If this is likely to be a recurring problem might it be something for the consortium to invest in and hold as a special tool for hire?

None of my business really. Perhaps I am getting obsessive about the technical challenge!

Frank T

[lancianut666]

Hi Frank
I think it probably is a tool the consortium needs to look into producing. I was having a look at my spare head and mused about a flat top plate with side plates that would hook under the edge of the head and fasten on with the inlet and exhaust manifolds mounting studs. the aim would be to get the head off with the engine still in the car without needing cranes and massive blowlamps. From what Andy says it is pretty undramatic using the one he made.
Clarkey

[lancianut666]

update
after more walloping and easing oil all the studs now can be jiggled about bar one, the big bad one in the middle succumbed to my economy size hub puller hooked on to an exhaust port and under the inlet manifold stud. Will try and free off the last small recalcitrant one tomorrow.After that I can't see what is holding it down??? Just 40 years of not being disturbed I guess
Clarkey

[lancianut666]

Had a go at the head puller

[lancianut666]

Was thinking I should do a quick renovate of the spare head and bung that on when the old one finally comes off...any thoughts on skimming etc. keep the same rocker shafts or use the originals from the head in the car..as always any advice is most helpful
Clarkey

[simonandjuliet]

Watching this with interest !

Do you think that you can find a way to press on the "hidden" bolt at the back ? Probably not necessary if you can press on the other 12

[lancianut666]

re hidden stud
I have included this one in the holes I have drilled and will tap but I might need a longer bolt to reach it
Clarkey

[the.cern]

You will know soon enough what studs you need to provide force on when it starts to lift!! You are very wise to drill and tap for that stud, once you have started you will not want to stop, remove everything and drill and tap for a further stud!!

How will you attach the plate to the head? This is the one variable. I would favour straps to the manifold studs, but if you can come up with an easier way that would be excellent!

Good luck, Andy

[lancianut666]

Hi Andy
Tried some straps over the top of the plate clamped on with the exhaust and inlet manifolds and hooked under the bottom of the head.
Result 13 screw threads 1 metal straps 0...The power of all those screw threads just pulled the strapss till the 90 degree bend I had put in straightened out and the strap just pulled up past the manifolds..

[lancianut666]

on the car .... will investigate refitting the rocker shafts and putting some holes through the plate and using rope to fasten the plate to the head using either the shafts or the shaft mounting block. I'm guessing if I had some thicker flat bar that would have done it but then making the bends in it would be more difficult. My local blacksmith might have some ideas.
Clarkey

[lancialulu]

What about putting it under as much tension as the straps can take then going round tapping the heads of the the bolts in a regular rythmic fashion and seeing if you can contiue to tighten ( use a torque wrench ?) the bolts little by little with copious pentrating fluid.

[the.cern]

I had in mind that you could drill the straps to go onto the manifold studs and bolt them up tight. This would put the manifold studs into shear, but I would hope that the head would not be so tight that it could cause a problem.

I am sure you are very nearly there, keep at it!!

                              Andy

[lancianut666]

Tried the rope thing it just keeps stretching...will now try some spring hangers hooked into some rocker shaft pillars...

[lancianut666]

Holy exploding rocker shaft mountings!!! tried the spring hangers hooked into some rocker shaft mounts method seemed to be going OK till one of the mounts failed and flung a rather heavy spring hangar across the workshop...thing is those screws are very powerful as several of the spring hangars had bent even before the mount failed...ray of light at the end of the tunnel, seems the gasket has eased a little as we had a slight weep of water from between the head and block and if you pour some in it comes out at the head gasket join...hmmm...or... I've cracked the blooming thing in half...will have another go tomorrow....
I was thinking of using the rocker shafts with some U clamps two each side, drill some holes in the puller plate and off we go..what could go wrong?
Clarkey