Help removing driver side head

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EmersonC

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I gave a '66 273, with power steering. Block number 2465330, head number 2658920. I managed to get the passenger side off with out too much trouble, but this driver side is causing some troubles. My hands are bloody and bruised so before I started breaking things I thought I would ask ya'll for the insider tricks. What is the best way to do this? I think I have to remove the exhaust headers, but it is hard to remove the bolts that hold the headers to the collectors. Any insight?
 
I'm a little confused. If you have the 6 bolts out at the exhaust ports, i'd think there'd be enough clearance pushing the header back out of the way, even though it's connected to the exhaust, to pull the head. Maybe i'm missing something?
 
Yep, take the 6 header bolts out and push the header down. If not enough room to get at all the head bolts, you can take off the one big nut on the motor mount and put a 2x4 board and jack on the oil pan, and raise the motor up a inch or two.
 
I should have been clearer. I can get all the bolts of the heads except for the bottom center head bolt. The exhaust manifold get in the way. Thats the bolt i gotta get off. Its torqued on tight enough and at a strange angle that i just can't get it off. Hoping for some trick to get that bolt off
 
Can you get to it with an impact wrench and some extentions and swivels if needed?
 
That bolt is a bugger with the header flange in the way. I had to loosen the motor mount on that side, raise motor up and still had to use a swivel. I hope that helps... Good luck and have a lot of patience and walk away if need to. You do not want a rounded off bolt to boot!
 
You did take off the header first, didn't you?


doesn't sound like it...

You need to either remove the manifold (if it's on a Y pipe) or unbolt the header from the head and loosen the bolts on the collector. You may also need to unbolt the left engine mount and lift the engine or loosen the steering column to get you room to slide the header off the head studs. Bacially - if it's in the way - move it. If you need other tools - get them. It's not hard to break the 5/16 bolts in the headers or use a die grinder and cut off wheel and cut them in half - electric versions are available.
 
Take long broom,or crow bar wedge it , have buddy pull it toward the driver side fender.then get extension and socket put on bolt use impact to buzz loose. And ur not gonna bend the steering it looks like it but I haven't had a problem ever. Sounds shady but I had to do it on my valiant 3 times...
 
You stated in your 1st post that it has headers, then in your 2nd post it has manifolds. Manifolds with power steering really get up and in the way on a power steering A-body. Like all of us have mentioned, loosen just the drivers side mount and the jack will naturally tilt the engine the way you want it tilted. That header/manifold HAS to be off that head 1st.
 
Thanks for the input, im gonna try at it today after work. Sorry for the mix up I have stock exhaust manifolds, I wish they were headers. And yes the manifold is unbolted from the head. Today I'll try andlooden the manifold at the collector and see if that helps then jack the engine up like a few recommended.
 
If you have stock manifolds on an early "A" v8, the drivers side as you have found is a real b*&^h to get off. Pull the steering column, and loosen the drivers side engine mount, jack it up. The flange of the manifold won't clear the starter, block, and steering column. The manifold mounting studs need to be removed from the head also.

Good luck!
 
Victory! Just when I thought I was going to go on a rampage I managed to get it. We unbolted the exhaust manifold and used a crowbar to lift it up about two inches and that was just enough to get my socket wrench under the manifold and onto the final bolt. Both heads are off and will be at the machine shop Friday or Saturday. In the meantime I want to clean the top of the cylinder heads. I see some ppl say don't bother but since I got the heads off im gonna clean them up a bit anyways. Sounds like brake cleaner is a good way to go. Plus I'll degrease the block the best I can and repaint it. She is gonna be looking good by the end of this.!
 
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