taking off the cylinder head, how could it be this hard?

[tstkl]

ok so we bought a parts car and we are trying to take the head off. the car is at someone elses house, but I took my deep socket kit over there, and a breaker bar. we used a 10mm socket on a 3/8ths allen hex key thingy, and we were taking out the 10 cylinder head bolts. we BROKE my 10mm socket, and I don't know what tool we could really use. I can't find a 10mm hex thingy anywhere, and it BROKE THE DAMN SOCKET.

I mean honestly, who breaks a socket? Im not that strong, am I?

we had the key, then the socket, with the breaker bar attached to it. any suggestions on what we should really do. Haynes mentions no tools... whats the right tool to use?

 

[92redman]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000E1Q2LQ/002-1696397-0805646?v=glance&n=228013
Not sure what you are trying to describe but that is what you need. I have a Snap-on hex bit socket similar to that and I got it used with a bunch of tools and have personally removed and installed about a dozen heads with it. You just need to make sure it's a reputable brand and it isn't too long.

 

[theSicKness]

I lucked out when i did it i had a star bit that fit in perfect and worked. But if you want advance sells single allen sockets.I belive you need a T-10

P.s Dont for get the Inake mani stay...mine was a pain


Jesse

And yea ive killed a couple of sockets...and extensions

 

[BUCK]

Make sure you remove them in Reverse Installation Order ~ BUT - Sometimes you have to retighten one that broke loose to loosen the one next to it, then go back & get in reverse order - I always reccommended 1/2 Drive Breaker Bar & an IMPACT grade 10MM bit for this job - after I tore up some 3/8 stuff...

 

[tstkl]

ok shit, first off, reverse order, second off, intake manifold already off. I could put it back on, but how does that make it any easier. I knew to leave it on, but after it broke the socket I figured the chance we would get the head off was slim, so I took it off so the person buying the rolling chassi doesnt get a free head and a free intake manifold. should I put it back on?

 

[autronicDSM]

You don't have to put it back on. It's easier to take the head out of the car with manifolds attached if you have somebody helping you. Otherwise take the head off by itself.

Do yourself a favor and get good quality 10mm hex drive socket. Make sure it's short one too, long ones snap too easily under a lot of torque.

 

[gSx_r1der]

same thing happend to me, I broke two ratchets trying to remove the head off of my junkyard 2.4 shortblock I found. it was a b1tch, plus I broke some of my tools. didnt matter though cause like a month later someone broke into my car and stole all my tools anyway.

 

[beating4g63s]

good luck I broke 3 ratchets on a starter and altenator install one day.

 

[Turbo Shogun]

I broke about 2 3/8 drive 10mm sockets trying to get mine off. I even royally screwed one of my big 10mm allen wrenches, but that usually did the trick, combined with a 1/2 breakerbar and a cheater-extension (came off my floor jack).

One of them was very hard to remove, and I was rounding the hex off, so I went out and bought a craftsman Bolt-Out impact socket set (~$60 give or take at your local Sears) and that did the trick (although I used the cheaterbar again - my snap-on electric impact gun wouldn't budge any of those headbolts out ). Although now I need a new 17mm bolt-out socket (bolt ground the bolt-out socket 'prongs' flat). Luckily Craftsman has a lifetime warranty on their tools.

 

[seefour]

You need a good 10mm allen head socket -5$ Advance Auto. A decent breaker bar-10$ Advance Auto, and a good torque wrench to put them back on with.
I've broken many many crappy sockets, its not that hard to do.

 

[wishihadatalon]

I lucked out when i did it i had a star bit that fit in perfect and worked. But if you want advance sells single allen sockets.I belive you need a T-10

P.s Dont for get the Inake mani stay...mine was a pain


Jesse

And yea ive killed a couple of sockets...and extensions

We broke one when we were doing my friends specv head and we got the one from advanced and never looked back. Its a good piece and works great.