Now for an update on the 2.0l Alfa head removal. IT'S OFF finally.
That rascal was stuck on there!! And fought all the way to the top of the
studs.
Step one was to use 2 Alfa tools, rope in the front and rear cylinders with as
much force as I could apply with a big screwdriver in the flywheel teeth and a
hydraulic jack from the block to one intake and one exhaust hole. Wouldn't
move.
Step two was to beat on the Alfa tools with a BFH while maintaining the above
configuration. It moved but not very far nor very fast.
Step three was to install the nuts back on the head studs, tighten the Alfa
tools back down on them, rope still in the cylinders and jacks still in place
and by alternately beating on the Alfa tool plate and backing the head nuts up
against it I could get a quarter turn at a time. Was working until the top of
the studs was reached.
Step four was spacers between the Alfa tool plate and the studs, hard wood
shims cut and inserted overlapping between the head and block, beat with a
hammer and tighten the tool nut. Barely worked and finally pulled the threads
on both tools. Studs 1/2" below the top of the head at this point.
Had a machine shop remove the top threaded portion of the Alfa tool, drill and
tap it and install hardened steel threaded rods with locktite. A real good
fix to remember.
I also made a template and drilled 4 3/8" holes in the plate directly in line
with the studs and inserted threaded rods with nuts and washers below the
plate. I did not thread the holes. Figured at worst the threaded rods were
sacrificial.
Step five and what finally worked was to lay the original head washers over
the stud holes (to keep the nuts on the threaded rod from damaging the head),
install the Alfa tool with my threaded rods inserted in the stud holes in the
head and extending up and thru the Alfa tool with a nut and washer installed
and the Alfa tool nut drawn down tight. Then by turning the nuts up against
the Alfa tool, force was exerted down on the studs and the tool lifted the
head via the spark plug holes. It was a slow process, one flat at a time on
all 8 nuts, thump it with a bfh every so often for good measure and it ever so
slowly started to move.
Of course it didn't come up without cocking. But by not turning the nuts on
the high side, the tool would trap them against the head and stop the force
from being applied to those studs. Only the side where the nuts were being
turned would receive any force and the head would level out.
Those threaded rods produced much more force than the Alfa tool by itself and
it took every inch of them to reach the top of the studs.
Thanks to everyone who sent me tips and ideas. The wooden wedges seemed to
work the best until I modified the Alfa tools.
I took some pictures so if anyone is interested in seeing what I am talking
about feel free to contact me.
Skip Patnode
[email protected]
'67 Duetto
Norfolk, Va
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