As a motorist, being able to identify signs of trouble with your car is a must, such as a blown head gasket. The head gasket is a seal that is found between the cylinder head and the main engine block. The head gasket keeps the cylinders sealed so oil and coolant won't escape from the engine. Signs of a blown head gasket include white or blue exhaust smoke, a white substance in your engine oil, overheating, loss of power and oil or coolant leaks.
Turn off the engine. Remove the gas cap. Open the hood and remove the fuel pump relay from the power distribution center. The power center is a black box located by the battery. Look at the underside of the power distribution cover, and locate the fuel pump relay
Start the engine, cranking the engine for several seconds. Turn the ignition to "Off." Install the fuel pump relay.
Disconnect the negative battery cable. Engage the parking brake.
Place a container under the radiator drain plug. Turn the radiator drain counterclockwise with pliers. Pull the drain plug out. Remove the radiator cap. Let the coolant drain.
Install the radiator drain plug. Tighten the plug using pliers. Move the container under the drain plug on the engine block. Turn the the drain plug counterclockwise using pliers. Remove the drain plug. Let the coolant drain. Install and tighten the drain plug.
Loosen the clamp on the air filter housing intake duct with a flathead screwdriver. Remove the duct from the housing. Disengage the air filter housing clips. Remove the housing mounting nuts with a socket and ratchet
Lift the housing up. Disconnect the housing from the fresh air intake duct. Remove the air filter housing from the vehicle.
Disconnect the fuel line and vacuum advance hose from the engine. Remove the crankcase ventilation hose and tube from the valve cover. Remove the wire loom clips with pliers
Disconnect the first two cables, on the left of the throttle body, by pulling them back and to the left. Pry the accelerator cable away from the metal stud with a flathead screwdriver. Remove the three bolts with a socket and ratchet. Remove the control cable bracket.
Remove the valve cover retaining bolts with a socket and ratchet. Remove the valve cover. If the valve cover is stuck, use a rubber mallet to tap gently on the surface.
Clean the seal surface, on the valve cover, with lacquer thinner or acetone and a clean rag.
Start at the front of the cylinder head. Remove the rocker arm mounting bolts in pairs with a socket and ratchet. Remove the rocker arms' bridges and fulcrums. Store each set of rocker arm components in a marked plastic bag to ensure they are reinstalled in the original location.
Remove the push rods. Store the push rods separately to ensure installation in their original location.
Unbolt the power steering pump bracket with a socket and ratchet. Set the pump aside. Do not disconnect the hoses.
Apply penetrating oil to the threads of the exhaust manifold attaching studs and exhaust pipe-to-manifold attaching bolts.
Label and disconnect all vacuum and electrical lines from the intake manifold.
Disconnect the fuel lines from the fuel rail by removing the safety clip from the quick-connect fitting. Use a fuel line spring-lock tool to disconnect the line. Tape off the open ends.
Loosen the power steering lock nut and lock bolts with a wrench. Turn the adjusting bolt counterclockwise with a socket and ratchet to loosen the drive belt.
Detach any wiring harness retainers from the fuel rail. Disconnect the fuel injector electrical connectors. Remove any debris around the fuel injectors. Remove the fuel rail mounting nuts/bolts with a socket and ratchet. Rock the fuel rail gently to loosen the injectors. Remove the assembly.
Remove the intake manifold bolts/nuts with a socket and ratchet. Pull the manifold away from the engine slightly to disengage the manifold from the dowels in the cylinder head. Lift the manifold out of the engine compartment.
Remove the exhaust manifold bolts and nuts from the exhaust pipe with a socket and ratchet. Remove the pipe from the manifold. Discard the exhaust manifold seal ring. Remove the exhaust manifold.
Remove the support bracket bolts from the cylinder head that supports the idler pulley for the air conditioner compressor drive belt. Remove the alternator bracket/cylinder head mounting bolt with a socket and ratchet.
Disconnect the wiring harness and unbolt the air-conditioner compressor with a socket and ratchet. Do not disconnect the refrigerant hoses. Set the compressor aside. Remove the two upper bolts from the mounting bracket with a socket and ratchet.
Label and remove the spark plug wires. Disconnect the coil wire from the distributor cap. Loosen the distributor cap mounting screws with a Phillips screwdriver. Disconnect the electrical connector from the distributor. Remove the distributor cap with the plug wires still attached.
Disconnect the primary wiring electrical connector and high-tension lead from the ignition coil. Remove the ignition coil mounting bolts with a socket and ratchet. Remove the coil from the coil bracket.
Remove the spark plugs with a deep well socket and ratchet. Disconnect the wire from the coolant temperature sensor on the thermostat housing.
Unclip the heater hoses on the passenger side of the valve cover. Remove the cylinder head mounting bolts with a socket and ratchet. Lift the head off the engine. Bolt No. 14 cannot be entirely removed until the head is moved forward. Pull the bolt up as far as possible. Apply masking tape around the bolt. Pull the head forward and remove the bolt.
Stuff rags into each cylinder to keep out debris. Peel the head gasket away from the surface. Clean each gasket mating surface with a gasket scraper.
Place the new head gasket on the engine block with the word "Top" facing up. Do not use any sealing compound on the gasket.
Remove the rags from the cylinders. Thread the No. 14 bolt through the cylinder head. Install the cylinder head on the engine. Remove the tape from the bolt.
Coat the threads of bolt No. 11 with Loctite. Install the head bolts hand tight. Tighten the head bolts starting with Nos. 1 through 14 with a torque wrench to 22 foot-pounds. Tighten again to 45 foot-pounds, then to 110 foot-pounds except on bolt No. 11, which is 100 foot-pounds.
Connect the heater hoses to the valve cover. Connect the coolant temperature sensor to the thermostat housing. Install the spark plugs with a socket and ratchet.
Install the ignition coil in the coil bracket. Tighten the bolts with a socket and ratchet. Connect the high-tension lead and primary wiring electrical connector to the coil.
Install the distributor cap. Tighten the screws with a Phillips screwdriver. Connect the coil wire.
Install the two upper bolts on the compressor bracket. Install the compressor. Tighten the bolts with a socket and ratchet. Connect the wiring harness.
Install the alternator/cylinder head mounting bolt. Install the bracket bolts, for the air-conditioner compressor idler pulley, with a socket and ratchet.
Clean the gasket mating surfaces on the intake and exhaust manifolds with a gasket scraper. Place the new gasket on the cylinder head. Install the exhaust manifold. Hand-tighten the nuts. Position the intake manifold loosely on the cylinder head. Install the retaining bolts. Tighten all fasteners.
Install a new exhaust manifold seal ring at the exhaust pipe. Attach the exhaust manifold to the pipe. Tighten the bolts and nuts with a socket and ratchet. Install the manifold to the engine. Tighten the nuts and bolts with a socket and ratchet.
Install the fuel rail assembly on the intake manifold. Make sure the injectors are fully seated. Tighten the fuel rail nuts/bolts with a socket and ratchet. Connect the fuel lines and electrical connectors. Install the power steering bracket and pump. Tighten the bolts with a socket and ratchet.
Turn the adjusting bolt, on the power steering pump, clockwise with a socket and ratchet to tighten the drive belt. Tighten the locknuts and bolts with a socket and ratchet. Connect the fuel supply and return lines to the fuel rail.
Connect the vacuum lines and electrical connectors to the intake manifold.
Lubricate the lower end of each push rod with clean engine oil. Seat the push rod in the lifter socket. Apply clean engine oil to the ends of the valve stems and upper ends of the push rods.
Apply clean engine oil to the fulcrums. Install the rocker arms, fulcrums, bridges and bolts in their original location. Tighten the bolts with a torque wrench to 21 inch-pounds.
Install the valve cover and bolts. Tighten the bolts to 85 inch-pounds. Install the fuel pipe and vacuum advance hose on the top of the engine.
Attach the air filter housing to the air intake duct. Tighten the mounting nuts with a socket and ratchet. Install the clips. Attach the air duct hose to the housing cover. Tighten the clamp with a flathead screwdriver.
Install the spark plug wires. Remove the tape as the wires are installed. Refill the radiator. Connect the negative battery cable. Start the vehicle. Look for oil or coolant leaks.
