How likely will I succeed?

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Kroze

Diamond Member
Apr 9, 2001
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Just wondering what is the consensus on how likely I will succeed in the task of replacing the head gasket?

My skill level included:
- Replacing alternators
- Starter
- AC Compressor
- Spark plugs/wire/cap/rotors
- Oil changes/Transmission fluids
- Brakes/rotors.

I have a all the socket & wrenches from 1/4 to 1/2 inches in standard & metric. I just recently bought torque wrench & flare nut wrenches set. *I have the Factory Service Manual*

Do you think changing the head gasket is something I can do or should I leave it to the pro before seriously mess up the engine?

Changing the head gasket would mean that I will also have to replace the timing belt, water pump, valve cover gasket, cam seals, thermostat just to be on the safe side.


I don't know what special tools will I need.

I don't have any air tools so removing the crank pulley is going to be tough?


The car is a 1995 Acura Integra LS
 

thedarkwolf

Diamond Member
Oct 13, 1999
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Even my manly impact gun couldn't loosen the crank pulley bolt on my neighbor's honda. We broke several sockets and extensions using breaker bars on it. Finally he just cut the timing belt cover off and man handled the belt around the crank pulley without removing it. Changing the head gasket other than that was easy. I would take it to a shop and have them loosen the crank pulley bolt and just snug it back up for you so you can get it off.
 

Kadarin

Lifer
Nov 23, 2001
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Originally posted by: thedarkwolf
Even my manly impact gun couldn't loosen the crank pulley bolt on my neighbor's honda. We broke several sockets and extensions using breaker bars on it. Finally he just cut the timing belt cover off and man handled the belt around the crank pulley without removing it. Changing the head gasket other than that was easy. I would take it to a shop and have them loosen the crank pulley bolt and just snug it back up for you so you can get it off.

On my old '83 Mustang, we found that the crank bolt wouldn't break loose even with a 3ft breaker bar. Yikes... So we ended up using the starter motor by placing the breaker bar in such a way that the socket was on the bolt, and the bar was against the garage floor. We disconnected the coil wire, and cranked the engine over, and the bolt broke loose.

Good times....
 

NutBucket

Lifer
Aug 30, 2000
27,138
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Its not too bad. For the crank pulley you should heed everyone's warnings. It most likely will not want to come off. Be prepared with a torch (last resort IMHO), or perhaps taking it to a shop and having them loosen it with a LARGE impact gun. To make your life a little easier, get one of these:

http://www.amazon.com/Powerbui...-Removal/dp/B0000TMLWQ

It makes life MUCH easier. I see that you plan on replacing many seals. This is a must. Use OEM for these parts. As you'll find out, they're not easy to get to and certainly not worth saving a few bucks on Chinese seals. I've also had bad experiences with parts store seals when I had an H22.

You may also want to buy the front main seal and the balance shaft seals ahead of time in case you find that they leak. Even if they aren't leaking, it may be worthwhile to replace them. Also, pay close attention to the condition of the timing belt tensioner. Make sure the bearing spins freely and that the assembly moves easily. You may want to replace the spring at a minimum; the whole tensioner if you feel its necessary.
 

exdeath

Lifer
Jan 29, 2004
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If you can do all that other stuff, pulling a head isn't much harder.

Make sure to drain the coolant from both the radiator petcock AND check for a plug high up in the block or head. You also might want to leave it sitting a day or two (with the oil cap open) to make sure as much oil is drained out of the head as possible, DOHC heads can hold quite a bit of oil. It will be messy. You'll also want to have means to remove remnants of the old gasket and clean the block and head surfaces without damaging them.

Biggest pain will be removing all the stuff attached to the head, but most of the Honda's I believe have the engines upright and not slanted, so it's probably easier than most. Try to leave as much stuff on the head as you can (intake manifold, etc).

You might need a special socket for the head bolts. They typically aren't standard 6 pt or 12 pt sockets but can be star shaped or even require a star allen socket. Consult your manual to see what special service tools (SST) are required. In fact go through the whole process in your head with the manual step by step beforehand and think about any complications that could arise (eg: how do I remove that pulley bolt when the pulley turns?). Little tools like mirrors and flashlights that you might not even think about are a must.

Another pain might be that you could be required to remove the cams in order to have access to the head bolts. You'll want to loosen them slowly and evenly in a star pattern (pairs of opposite sides in both directions) and make sure each bolt and bearing cap goes back exactly in the same place in the same orientation. If it's DOHC, you might have issues aligning both cams with respect to each other when you go to reinstall, sometimes you need a special tool to lock both cams in place. If you don't have to remove cams, check for a cam angle you can set that keeps all the valves approximately closed so you don't have anything protruding. If it's high mileage, you might consider replacing valve seals as long as you have the head apart and checking lash if it's manually adjustable.

Take your time, keep things clean and free from dirt/dust, remove and retorque things evenly and slowly as your manual probably describes so you don't warp anything, take care not to scratch or mar things like cam lobes or bearing surfaces with tools, etc. Take time to clean all your bolts and LIGHTLY (as in still dry) coat the threads and bolt head undersides with motor oil or an appropriate thread lubricant/sealer (again consult manual).

Also check that your bolts are reusable and not TTY or torque to yield, or you'll also need a new set of head bolts (same goes for cam bearing cap bolts). TTY bolts stretch permenantly when torqued and are thus not reusable (manual should indicate parts that are non reuseable). Torque directions that have you torque everything , back off a specified angle, then torque again or turn a final angle after final torque value are usually single use TTY bolts.

As for the crank pulley? Just disconnect the coil or ignition module so the engine wont start, brace a breaker bar against the ground (or a jack of it's in the air and cant reach), and bump the starter. You might have a problem torquing it back down though without a pulley holder. Pulling the balancer might also be tricky without a claw type puller and/or slide weight (watch your fingers and don't put them between the balancer and body when you pull on it!!).

Make sure there is no debris or coolant in the cylinders when you reassemble. Blot up coolant but do not wipe down the bores or use solvents or abrasives. Bringing the pistons to the surface one at a time and scrubbing them down with a wire brush if they are bad is ok, just don't mess with the bores or the machined surface that the head contacts. And don't drop bits of gasket or bolts or any other junk in coolant or oil passages.

You definately need a complete head gasket set, not just the head gasket (includes intake and exhaust manifold gaskets, and gaskets and o rings and seals for anything that has one and requires removal.

Also know if your engine is interference or not, as this will affect if you can freely turn the cams or crank independently once the timing belt is off.

If there is a distributor involved that you have to remove, you'll need a timing light (or you can dab a bit of paint between the distributor housing and head).

And of course when you're all done and eager to crank it up again and be proud of your work, don't forget to check and double check everything, look around and make sure you don't have extra parts and bolts laying around that didn't go back on, things like refilling coolant and burping the cooling system, turning the crank by hand through a few cycles and double checking valve timing before you tighten down the tension and things like that.


It's really not that complicated, just a lot of little details that can be overlooked and set you back a day if you're not prepared and have to order something or wait till morning to rent or borrow a tool. I'm probably forgetting a few things here. If you take your time and familiarize yourself with every nut and bolt, you'll be fine. It helps to not rush things especially if this is not your only transportation and you can afford to have it sit for a few days.

Have fun :)
 

exdeath

Lifer
Jan 29, 2004
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It would also be invaluable to check out various Honda forums or online communities and find someone who has pulled a head and made a thread about it. Enthusiasts make online step by step photo or video documentaries on this kind stuff all the time, and the B18 engine and head swaps are *extremely* popular.
 

thedarkwolf

Diamond Member
Oct 13, 1999
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We tried everything from the starter method, 12ft pipe/breaker bars, heat, using a hydraulic jack on the breaker bar and all we did was break sockets. Trust me honda didn't screw around when they installed those crank pulley bolts. Have never came across another crank pulley bolt like it. Go to a shop close by and pay them a couple bucks to break it loose and and save yourself a lot of frustration. Maybe some of Honda's engines aren't as bad but this was a mid 90s 4 banger and from what I hear they are all pretty much a pita.
 

bruceb

Diamond Member
Aug 20, 2004
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exdeath pretty much covered all the bases. Only things I would do is after the head is off, have a machine shop check it for cracks and flatness. Do a valve seat job, with new valve seals since it is all apart. Flush the cooling system and be sure any oil passages in the head are clear. Follow torque diagram and procedure in shop manual. Since cooling system is open, new T-Stat and hoses. And if there are any parts that can't be gotten to without taking parts off that you need to remove to get the head off, check them as now would be good time to fix them.
 

BlackTigers

Diamond Member
Jan 15, 2006
4,491
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The local Napa here will resurface a head for $40, and I know that there are machine shops that will do it for cheaper. Definitely check that out to ensure you're not throwing a warped head back onto your block.
 

exdeath

Lifer
Jan 29, 2004
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Originally posted by: thedarkwolf
We tried everything from the starter method, 12ft pipe/breaker bars, heat, using a hydraulic jack on the breaker bar and all we did was break sockets.

What cheap ass sockets are you using?

The starter method never fails, that bolt WILL come off.

Also make certain whether or not it's reverse threaded before you go through all that :)
 

exdeath

Lifer
Jan 29, 2004
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Originally posted by: bruceb
exdeath pretty much covered all the bases. Only things I would do is after the head is off, have a machine shop check it for cracks and flatness.

Not really necessary unless the reason for replacing the gasket is due to overheating or if the reason for doing the gasket is "blind" (ie: burning coolant and THINK it's the head gasket).

You can check the straightness yourself with a machinists straight edge (eg: metal ruler) or a very flat surface (eg: a granite counter top)
 

fleabag

Banned
Oct 1, 2007
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Originally posted by: exdeath
Originally posted by: thedarkwolf
We tried everything from the starter method, 12ft pipe/breaker bars, heat, using a hydraulic jack on the breaker bar and all we did was break sockets.

What cheap ass sockets are you using?

The starter method never fails, that bolt WILL come off.

Also make certain whether or not it's reverse threaded before you go through all that :)

Yeah I'm wondering if he knows that honda engines spin backwards :laugh:
 

thedarkwolf

Diamond Member
Oct 13, 1999
9,030
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Originally posted by: fleabag
Originally posted by: exdeath
Originally posted by: thedarkwolf
We tried everything from the starter method, 12ft pipe/breaker bars, heat, using a hydraulic jack on the breaker bar and all we did was break sockets.

What cheap ass sockets are you using?

The starter method never fails, that bolt WILL come off.

Also make certain whether or not it's reverse threaded before you go through all that :)

Yeah I'm wondering if he knows that honda engines spin backwards :laugh:

Wasn't my car and I can't remember from two years ago. I didn't do most of the work on it. Let the dude that owned it use my garage.
 
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