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Old 20th March 2020, 17:50   #1
Fred Byrne
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Default Replacing cylinder heads on your own

Replacing the rear cylinder head is very difficult if not impossible to do on your own. This is my solution.
You suspend the head complete with exhaust and inlet manifolds from the ends of the inlet camshaft. You can do this either with the engine hoisting bracket as I have done in the picture or you can simply tie a piece of suitable cord between the two camshaft ends and hook on to that. You line everything up by eye and lower gently until the head is about two inches from the block face. You now make final alignment adjustments. Notice that the faces of block and head are almost parallel. (I’m sure Rover didn’t plan that!) You enter the two top centre cylinder head bolts. If alignment is correct they will enter both head and block. These are meant as a guide only at this stage. Now lower the block a fraction until the bolts catch their threads. Then tighten the bolts with your fingers. This brings the faces of head and block parallel. Lower very gently until the dowels enter their allotted holes. That’s it! You can do the same with the front head.
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Old 20th March 2020, 20:10   #2
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Very good tip , Fred
It is indeed a long reach for a heavy piece of engine .
Not having an engine hoist , I had to call in my brother and then pay him in beer
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Old 20th March 2020, 20:20   #3
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If he is anything like my brother that must have been expensive! On the other hand what are brothers for otherwise; it's the thickness of blood that counts. You should look into persuading him to buying you an engine hoist though. I don't think they're all that expensive.
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Old 21st March 2020, 09:52   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Fred Byrne View Post
You should look into persuading him to buying you an engine hoist though. I don't think they're all that expensive.
I don't know whether it's still the case but the last time that I was in need I was able to hire one.

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Old 21st March 2020, 12:21   #5
Fred Byrne
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I needed to change the engine in my wife's citroen ZX years and years ago. The hiring fee was £50 so I looked on Ebay and you could buy one for £150. I argued that in the rest of my life I might use such a thing more than 3 times so I bought. My decision proved to be correct and after rupturing a muscle moving a 150llb gearbox + overdrive I never lift heavy weights without the assistance of Mr. Hydraulic anymore. I see that hoists are still round about £150. Probably chinese and loaded with corona virus Chain blocks are even cheaper and better in some ways.

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Old 21st March 2020, 21:27   #6
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I changed the front head on my Freelander a couple of years ago although I did it with the manifolds removed.
You don't realise just how heavy they are until you try to gently lower it those last couple of inches! The rear would be much more difficult.
Good idea using your hoist! I have put my engine hoist to use many times, not always for engines.


TR7 Gearbox swap...………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………...…………... MG ZA Magnette Engine......…………………….............................. .......................................….MGF Gearbox swap
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Last edited by Rich in Vancouver; 22nd March 2020 at 17:01..
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Old 22nd March 2020, 01:27   #7
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Nice supercharger on the motor there, Rich.
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Old 22nd March 2020, 16:42   #8
Rich in Vancouver
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Cheers guys!
I got quite carried away with my ZA, and truth be told I never should have sold it. It was the old story, I did just about everything I wanted to it and got bored.
I bought the car out of San Diego and it was absolutely rust free which was a treat.
It ended up with a .060 bored and balanced 3-main 1800 from an early MGB with an alloy head and an Eaton/Moss supercharger. An MGB overdrive gearbox and MGB rear end gearing. The best part was the wheels and brakes. Genuine MGA Twin-Cam knock off wheels with 4 wheel disc brakes, MGB front, MGF rear. The Twin-Cam guys were horrified!
It was quite fast for a 1950's saloon and surprised quite a few other drivers who thought they could outrun it.

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Last edited by Rich in Vancouver; 22nd March 2020 at 16:57..
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Old 22nd March 2020, 19:52   #9
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That looks fantastic! What a motor
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Old 22nd March 2020, 19:57   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rich in Vancouver View Post
Cheers guys!
I got quite carried away with my ZA, and truth be told I never should have sold it. It was the old story, I did just about everything I wanted to it and got bored.
I bought the car out of San Diego and it was absolutely rust free which was a treat.
It ended up with a .060 bored and balanced 3-main 1800 from an early MGB with an alloy head and an Eaton/Moss supercharger. An MGB overdrive gearbox and MGB rear end gearing. The best part was the wheels and brakes. Genuine MGA Twin-Cam knock off wheels with 4 wheel disc brakes, MGB front, MGF rear. The Twin-Cam guys were horrified!
It was quite fast for a 1950's saloon and surprised quite a few other drivers who thought they could outrun it.

Impressive restoration with equally impressive mods.
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