im trying to remove my cylinder heads but all the bolts are stuck, the 8 at the bottom and the ones on top.. its an 88 engine and it looks like the bolts actually bonded or fused together...??? i used a whole can wd40 on each side but they wont budge! im using a 5/8" socket with a 3/8" adapter but it seems like its gonna break. is there any other way to remove the bolts? what else can i use besides wd40 to help loosen em' ??? someone told me to torch em slightly but not sure....

 

No wonder...

Get the right tools. Makes all the difference in the world.

Go to Sears (they're cheap, work fine for a weekend mechanic if you don't expect too much) and pick up their long ½" drive breaker bar and a 5/8" impact (air tool) socket. You won't BELIEVE how much easier it is with the right tools.

 

so just get a bigger socket and bar?? ill ask the salesman for 5/8" with 1/2" hole??? what about penetrating stuff like wd40??? thanks

 

what he means is get a 1/2" drive set up...1/2' drive socket with a 1/2" breaker bar... the breaker bar will have a longer handle which will allow more torque to break the bolts free and or get a 1/2" impact gun and zip them off...much easier than using a 3/8" drive set up... understand.?

 

dont have air tools, all hand stuff, so sears does make 1/2" sockets in 5/8?? i think i have a bar already..... thanks again

 

Dang, I wish I lived closer, I'd bring my 1/2" breaker bar with a set of sockets and extensions and we'd crack it open in no time.

Ask the salesman for a 5/8" socket with a 1/2" drive and a 1/2" drive 2-ft breaker bar. That's gonna do it for ya.

Lou

 

No; no such thing as 5/8" drive; but they do make 5/8" sockets with ½" drive.

Don't bother with whatever you've already got. It isn't enough. Just go to Sears, look in the tools; go to the air tools section; get a 5/8" impact socket with ½" drive (thick walls, black finish, VERY heavy duty compared to the regular chrome thin-wall hand tool stuff, which will split if you use it on head bolts very many times); and a 24" long ½" drive breaker bar.

Those bolts are WAY WAY WAY tighter than what you're going to get with some little weenie 3/8" ratchet. You might as well try to take your lug nuts off with a nutdriver. In fact they're tightened roughly the same tightness as your lug nuts; so if you know what it takes to get a tire off, that's about how much mojo you need to put on those head bolts.

 

im not trying to be sarcastic, but it doesnt sound like you have been around tools too much. you should consider an air compressor at some point. an impact gun 1/2 drive and first then add a 3/8 drive gun. they will make your life much easier. that 3/8 drive handle with 1/2 drive adaptor will never be enough to reasonably remove or replace a tire. blow guns are great for cleaning, drying, and unplugging things. if you invest in an air compressor you should buy 20 gal+. i bought a 21 gal air compressor from harbor frieght for 125 bucks. harbor frieght has allot of tools at reasonable prices(quality is fair, not the greatest but will get the job done). you also should if you dont have already a wrench set. start out with a 6 point combination wrench set metic and standard sets. you can get them at sears or harbor freight. sears is usually better quality, dont overlook autozone for tools even. i bought a 3/8 drive rachet from autozone, a very nice tool. they are sold under a brand "duralast". sears rachets dont last very long. also make sure you have a good screwdiver set different shapes and sizes. make sure you have a pliers set, vice grip sets, extensions for your socket sets, air cut-off tools to cut rusted bolts and exhuast, air chisel. jacks and jack stands are also a must. air rachets are also nice to take apart smaller items very quickly. you will spend alot of money, but tools will pay back every penny and much the jobs much easier. dont forget the tool box. i would invest in the sears with ball bearing drawers. its a little expensive but the quality is much better. my tool box with around 400 bucks for the top and bottom. stay away from the "cheap home-owners model" they are not suited for heavy mechanics tool and are a waste of money. buy it once and if you dont loose it you will have it a lifetime.

 

thanks for all the advice, but i've been around tools for years and i have everything except the air stuff... your right, i do need to invest in air supplies but i managed to completely disassemble my entire car on hand tools ( il post pics later...) and arm strength, nothing was hard until i got to the old heads.... but, i will try the 1/2" bar, etc tonite, thanks again...
btw, harborfreight does have good stuff, thats where im going to get my stand and cherry picker, $85 on sale til july, 24, orig price is 149, thanks again all....

 

You don't need air tools for this. All you need, is just the heavy-duty socket that's made to withstand air impact usage, and a breaker bar.

Personally I refuse to do any more business than I absolutely have to with Harbor Freight, for the same reason I avoid Wal-Mart. Their stuff is the cheeeeepest that can possibly be built anywhere in the world by anybody out of anything. That usually means it's made in China, out of recycled chinesium. I don't feel like I'm doing neighbors (my country as a whole) any good by exporting their jobs, by buying offshore low-bid stuff like that.

But this is not the place for political or economic or ethical statements, or for advertising cheeeeeep Chinese stuff for its outlet. So I'll just leave it at that.

 

yeah, im gonna use the 1/2" bar, as far as the cherry picker, i cant pass up $85 for it.... sears is my favorite spot..

 

i only mention harbor freight becuase it is a source of tools when you dont have any money to really buy much anything else. most of my hand tools are craftsman. my wrenches, chrome sockets, breaker bar, and tool box are all sears. the only reason why i bought an air compressor and harbor freight is becuase it was reasonable and it has held up very well for what i paid. it is oil lubricated, which i also like. sears needs to build more oiled air compressors, i dont like oilfree at all. i bought impact sockets from harbor frieght becuase everyone else is so expensive. i got my impact sockets for a "steal" and ive pounded the crap out of them, havent broken one yet. and one more thing. sears craftsman air tool are crap. look at the label on the box "imported" which means that you arent getting anything any better or worse than harbor freights discount line. i have had my craftsmen wrenches a long time very durable. excellent quality. dont waste your money on a air chisel from harbor they are awfull. alot of noise no cutting ability. all im saying is that i get my tools from a number of sources. sears and harbor freight are both places to buy tools reasonably.

 

Actually,I've beat the crap out of my Sears Craftsman stuff and they have held up very well.Impact,rachets,etc.All have held up as well as my MAC,MATCO,Snap-On tools.All yopu need to do is get beefy enough tools to do the job you are intending to do.You really need 1/2" drive minimum...Air impact would be much better..............BILL

 

i got the bigger 5/8" socket and some PB blaster, and viola!!! the heads are off... sprayed them b4 dinner, ate, went to the garage with a full belly and arm strenght.... and they came right off... thanks again guys.
i attached two pics of my new best friends ( sorry wd40..... u just didnt make the cut... )

 

here are a few pics of the 60 lb heads! they weigh more than my kids!