[DeTomaso] ideas as to removing aluminum head

[Will Kooiman]

Hi Steven,

Listen to Dan and Thomas.  A3 heads are soft.  Every time I've removed mine, I had to remove the studs first.  They very slightly compress and clamp down on the studs.

Jack's suggestions are very good too.  If you don't have a starter handy, you can use a compression tester and an air hose - but be careful.  The pressure will push the piston to BDC.  If you're not expecting it, you might be surprised at the force.  It won't wait for you to get fingers/etc. out of the way.

Will.

On 1/18/21, 3:41 PM, "DeTomaso on behalf of Jack DeRyke via DeTomaso" <detomaso-bounces at server.detomasolist.com on behalf of detomaso at server.detomasolist.com> wrote:

       You can try a trick I used to use on flathead Fords with aluminum
       heads, which had 24 studs and were notoriously difficult to remove. The
       antifreezes in those days didn't always stop aluminum corrosion.
       Add a couple of nuts a few threads back on each head, add spark plugs,
       then hook up the starter. The 120-psi or so of compression pressure
       should lift one or both heads & the nuts will keep them from falling
       off. Keep pulsing the starter until both heads lift.
       Someone probably used paint on the gaskets to increase the sealing.
       Paint works but makes things difficult for the next guy working on the
       engine. And if the PO used epoxy on the studs in the block, they won't
       come loose unless you heat up the engine somehow to soften the
       adhesive.
       Good luck- J DeRyke
       -----Original Message-----
       From: Steven Edwards <gsedwards at cox.net>
       To: detomaso at server.detomasolist.com <detomaso at server.detomasolist.com>
       Sent: Mon, Jan 18, 2021 5:48 am
       Subject: [DeTomaso] ideas as to removing aluminum head
         Need some advice as to removal of the aluminum heads on a Fontana
         block. It looks like it has a Fel Pro head gasket.
         I have all the valve train off, and the nuts on the studs. The heads
         are firmly on. I have pride on them and took a dead blow plastic
       hammer
         to them.
         Nothing has worked and I am afraid to really pry on them, as to not
         damage the block or heads.
         I would appreciate any ideas as to breaking the suctions.
         Steven Edwards
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