Need help removing/reinstalling head...

[sk8runeg]

Hey guys...

I am in the process of removing the drivers side head of my 98 trans am to replace a broken pushrod... So far I have gotten all the head bolts out, but the fucking bolts holding the grounds into the back of the head wont budge, and neither will the bolts holding the P/S pump on. I have been working on the car for 4 days now and I am completely losing faith, and I am past the point of ebgine able to throw it back together and get it to a mechanic, not that I would pay some guy 1500$ to do this.

I am just wondering if anyone has any tips for me, or if anyone is in the lowell area and would be willing to stop by and gimme a hand, cause I just dont know what to do at this point...

Thanks
-Scott

[227HAWK]

???? why are you pulling the head? Did you lose the broken pushrod?
Just trying to find out and figure why the head removal? What sockets
6 or 12 point? Remove the head with the PS not the best but still doable??
Hawk:Popcorn:

[Ed Blown Vert]

I used a 15 mm ratcheting wrench for the head bolts and a 15 mm stubby for the one PS bolt.

[LS1What]

Do you really have to pull heads to change out smushrods on LS1's??? Anyway, I wish I lived close I'd come gave ya hand.. Worst come to worst you can always cut the ground strap and get a new one (better too), and impact the bolt out when the heads out. Can't fit a impact up under the PS pump anywhere...? Ed you took head bolts off with a racthening wrench? How long was it? You brute monster!! :lmao:

[sk8runeg]

Good News!

I got the head off! What I did was unbolt all the head bolts, then lift the head twist it a little, then unbolted the P/S pump. Then I pulled it foprward more and got to the ground bolts, which were very tight. One the the wires' connector broke off so I will have to replace those.

And yes, I got the head bolts out with a ratchet, but My very large friend helped me ;-).

Ok thanks guys
-Scott

[sk8runeg]

Well got everything back together last night/this morning. Took it for a drive at 3:00 AM when I finished, runs better then it did when I first got it.

Only thing I see that is odd is the oil pressure seems a little low. It stays between 20 and 40 unkess I bring the revs very high, but mostly from 20-30 now. It used to always stick around 40 unless i drove the car for a while. Im not sure if theres something wrong now, or there was something wrong before and now its fixed, but everything else seems fine, and no more tapping I can finally sleep without hearing tap tap tap tap lol.

Thanks
-Scott

[SeVeReDiStOrTiOn]

You could of just removed the valve covers and rockers....but yea, least you solved the prob.

[sk8runeg]

no I couldnt have. See the pushrod broke and went down further into the head, not float around the top. Believe me if I could have done that and sved myself all that i would have.

Thanks
-Scott

[Ed Blown Vert]

A magnet wouldn't have gotten it out??

[sk8runeg]

no, the pushrod was going perpedicular to the direction it should ahve been lol. Trust me on this one the only way was removing the head. Its all good tho cuz the car runs so much better now.

Thanks
-Scott

[stangslayer98]

smushrod's:haha: im guessing that your mustang has the real pushrod's???