Tight cylinder head bolts!!

[ballistic]

Hi guys, so I finally got down to taking off the head that has the miss on the three cylinders. Problem is, the cylinder head bolts are extremely tight. I mean "moer" tight. Is this normal? It's so tight I'm scared they gonna break right off. The problem bolt is the one that sits right at the back of the head, spark plug side. Also, should I use the reversal of the tightening sequence when taking them out.

Cheers.

[MR LR]

Give it a few whacks on the head with a hammer first, might do the trick.

[ballistic]

Thanx man, I'll try it in the morning, I must say, the previous owner never really looked after the motor in any way. Lots of dried out sludge and burnt on oil, all hard already and on most of the engine. Is there anything that I can use in it to clean it out once she's going again?

[PhilipA]

If there is black sludge in the rocker valley and under the rocker covers, it almost certainly means that oil changes have been few and far between.

The normal appearance of a well maintained V8 is a mid brown coating even at say 200KK.

If it is black you will almost certainly need a new cam, chain, and lifters at the very least.

How to clean is to take the heads to a head service place and have them dipped.
Regards Philip A

[ballistic]

Good morning guys, yes everything is covered in that sludge. I have the cash for a new cam, just trying to raise the cash for new lifters and some other small goodies. Just to many things to replace/do at the same time. Damn sad part is, becaue I fell in love with the disco1 v8, I sold my perfect Golf 4 1.6i and bought this one. Drove it home about 2 weeks ago and it's been standing ever since.

My better half aint to happy, as I cant even take her shopping or take the kids for a drive :( :( :( :(

[Boony73]

I did my head gaskets before Christmas, I used a 600mm breaker bar but found I had to put a 400mm extension on it to make the job easier on some of the head bolts. I rounded off one of the head bolts (L/H bank right at the back deep in the head), I found this tool invaluable to get it out

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/tool-time/188475-irwin-bolt-grip.html

[benji]

Make sure you have a 6sided socket to undo the head bolts - I cannot stress that enough!

The head bolts on my 4.6 were locktited in. Dad bent the sidchrome 1/2 inch drive breaker bar, but after a few stern hits with a solid drift and a mallet they all come out with no alloy swarf.

[Hoges]

Make sure you have a 6sided socket to undo the head bolts - I cannot stress that enough!

The head bolts on my 4.6 were locktited in. Dad bent the sidchrome 1/2 inch drive breaker bar, but after a few stern hits with a solid drift and a mallet they all come out with no alloy swarf.

x2 and preferably proper 6 -sided impact sockets