Cylinder Head Removal

[Bobby]

I broke a spark plug and ceramic fell into the cylinder, which means I get to pull the head off. Has anyone done this and what difficulites can I expect with the fuel injection system if I do it myself?

I have a workshop available to me with all the right tools to do it. I'm wondering if it's worth the headache to do it myself or try to find a mechanic in OKC who can do it but they don't seem to exist.

[core-rider]

Was it just the ceramic, or did the center electrode break off with it? If the electrode is still there I would try using a small magnet on the end of a flexible wand to help remove it before going through the trouble of removing the cylinder head.

Basically you will have to remove the upper intake to access the vacuum lines, fuel lines, etc. The the fuel lines can be removed from the fuel rails and injector harnesses removed from the injectors. That way the rails and injectors could stay in place on the lower intake. Of course the throttle cable and other misc. items will have to be removed so that you could then unbolt and remove the lower intake. From there its similar steps to any engine to remove the cylinder head.

[NCH2oSki]

Uuhhhgg What a pain, that will be no fun at all. Hope it turns out well.

[Paxdad]

Why not try and used compressed air and a shop vac to evacuate the cylinder. I would think you could easily remove with a vacuum.

[jkallen21]

Buy/borrow a borescope. The have all levels and prices that allow you to see what's in there. You need one small enough to fit your plug hole.

[Bobby]

Electrode broke off and i put a boroscope in it last weekend to take a look around. There are small chunks of ceramic along with it.

I tried the magnet and couldn't get anything to come up. Also rigged up a small enough vacuum hose to a shop vac and came up empty. I guess before I pull the head I'll try the air compressor/vacuum combo.

[kend]

get the barrell of a ball point pen and duct tape it to a shop vac hose; find one that fills about 3/4 of the spark plug hole so air can still get in while vacuuming. (don't ask how I know)

[Bobby]

get the barrell of a ball point pen and duct tape it to a shop vac hose; find one that fills about 3/4 of the spark plug hole so air can still get in while vacuuming. (don't ask how I know)

Why not try and used compressed air and a shop vac to evacuate the cylinder. I would think you could easily remove with a vacuum.

you guys are gentlemen and scholars. Tried a modified version of this trick using some clear vacuum hose roughly the diameter of a ballpoint pen duct taped to a shop vac and an air compressor. Shot it full of air while vacuuming and I'll be ****ed if I didn't see ceramic chunks sucked through the hose. Next I stuck a small magnet that was wedged in a 1/4" hose down the cylinder and out came the anode. To anyone repeating this - I did it with the piston at the bottom of the cylinder. Then I put the vacuum hose through the cylinder again to just try to clean up anything else that might be in there. Stuck the scope in after that and everything looks clean. Let's hope any other remnants get shot out of the exhaust port. Thanks for the advice. Saved me a real headache... for now....

[Paxdad]

Glad to hear and thanks for letting us know how it turned out!!