cylinder head removal V8
Discussion
Hello Niclas,
Well, Lotus generally show removing the engine for cylinder head work. If I might ask, why do you think you need to remove the cylinder head?
In any case, you can remove a cylinder head without removing the engine. I strongly suggest you obtain the Service Notes before attempting any of this, but here would be a general flow:
1- take the approach of doing a full cambelt service which would have you remove the cambelt covers, intake plenum and camcover as well as the air filter housing.
2- Be certain to park the crankshaft in the "safe" position as outlined and lock the cams in place using either positioning pins or camlocks (which replace the two center camshaft bearing caps. Note that the cams will cog over once you remove the cambelt if they are not locked in place.
3- Remove the exhaust from the turbo as well as the lines for coolant and oil returns. Remove the cambelt tensioner and cambelt.
4- Drain the coolant and remove the fuel rail and other bits that attach to the intake side of the head. Also remove the rear bolts/clamps which hold the wire looms in place, etc.
5- Once you have this done, you can perform the releasing sequence on the head bolts per the book spec and remove the cylinder with the exhaust manifold intact (as you'll never be able to get the 9 nuts removed with the engine insitu). Note that the headbolts are very long and you will not be able to remove them all due to the proximity of the frame and body, but should allow removal with the bolts dropping down once you lift head so be careful.
Hope this helps....
Regards, KM
2000 V8
Well, Lotus generally show removing the engine for cylinder head work. If I might ask, why do you think you need to remove the cylinder head?
In any case, you can remove a cylinder head without removing the engine. I strongly suggest you obtain the Service Notes before attempting any of this, but here would be a general flow:
1- take the approach of doing a full cambelt service which would have you remove the cambelt covers, intake plenum and camcover as well as the air filter housing.
2- Be certain to park the crankshaft in the "safe" position as outlined and lock the cams in place using either positioning pins or camlocks (which replace the two center camshaft bearing caps. Note that the cams will cog over once you remove the cambelt if they are not locked in place.
3- Remove the exhaust from the turbo as well as the lines for coolant and oil returns. Remove the cambelt tensioner and cambelt.
4- Drain the coolant and remove the fuel rail and other bits that attach to the intake side of the head. Also remove the rear bolts/clamps which hold the wire looms in place, etc.
5- Once you have this done, you can perform the releasing sequence on the head bolts per the book spec and remove the cylinder with the exhaust manifold intact (as you'll never be able to get the 9 nuts removed with the engine insitu). Note that the headbolts are very long and you will not be able to remove them all due to the proximity of the frame and body, but should allow removal with the bolts dropping down once you lift head so be careful.
Hope this helps....
Regards, KM
2000 V8
Thanks for then INFO KM!!!
Ok hear is the deal. I have dropped something
in the spark plug hole without takeing any notice.
I can't get it out of there, it's stucked!
That's why I have to remove the cylinder head!
I have reed in the service manual that you have to remove the engine from the car first.
But It's maybe only a recommendation from Lotus??
"KM" in your replay you said that it's possible to do this without remove the engine from the car, that's good!!I have to now before starting this operation!
Other questions:
1.Must I remove the turbo from the exhaust manifold?
2.Regarding the cambelt, I don't have any positioning pins or camlocks, can I just mark the position with a penn or something simular!??
Regards Niclas
Ok hear is the deal. I have dropped something
in the spark plug hole without takeing any notice.
I can't get it out of there, it's stucked!
That's why I have to remove the cylinder head!
I have reed in the service manual that you have to remove the engine from the car first.
But It's maybe only a recommendation from Lotus??
"KM" in your replay you said that it's possible to do this without remove the engine from the car, that's good!!I have to now before starting this operation!
Other questions:
1.Must I remove the turbo from the exhaust manifold?
2.Regarding the cambelt, I don't have any positioning pins or camlocks, can I just mark the position with a penn or something simular!??
Regards Niclas
In that case, if it hasn't caused any damage yet then I would investigate all other ways to get it out before resorting to taking the heads off, because taking the heads off will be a long and expensive job. Amazing what you can achieve with a flexible adhesive/magnetic probe if you have patience. What sort of thing was it that got dropped in?
On the other hand if you've already lunched the engine then you probably don't have many options ...
On the other hand if you've already lunched the engine then you probably don't have many options ...
If the engine has internal damage then you can't really avoid dismantling it, and taking the heads off may only be the first step. But your comments seem to imply you've just lost something down the bore and no immediates signs of damage. If that's the case then there's a good chance that you can retrieve it without taking the heads off, this would be vastly easier and cheaper than taking the heads off.
blueV8 said:
Thanks for then INFO KM!!!
Ok hear is the deal. I have dropped something
in the spark plug hole without takeing any notice.
I can't get it out of there, it's stucked!
That's why I have to remove the cylinder head!
I have reed in the service manual that you have to remove the engine from the car first.
But It's maybe only a recommendation from Lotus??
"KM" in your replay you said that it's possible to do this without remove the engine from the car, that's good!!I have to now before starting this operation!
Other questions:
1.Must I remove the turbo from the exhaust manifold?
2.Regarding the cambelt, I don't have any positioning pins or camlocks, can I just mark the position with a penn or something simular!??
Regards Niclas
Hello!
I think the thing I dropped is stucked in there so I must remove the cylinder head!
Please can anyone give me an answer to my questions above!?
Regards Niclas
When you remove the cambelt, the cams will cog out of position due to the lobes and spring tension. You can get some standard 3/16-inch steel stock rod from places like Home Depot and simply spin them in a drill with sandpaper to take them down a bit and that will work as positioning pins. I did this over a year ago before I purchased the set of cambelt tools. As for the turbo, pretty sure you can leave it on, if not you'll need to disconnect the oil/water feed lines before removing the bolts that hold it... one small omission from before, remove the wastegate pressure line.
Regards, KM
2000 V8
Regards, KM
2000 V8
hello again!
Ok i reed in the manual that you need to have following tools:
Posisoning pins
tolerance pins
clamping tool for the camshaft
crankshaft locking tool
timing disc
timing pointer
KM you said that I should only use the posisoning pins, (the pins which looks the camscafts, you stick them true the front cam bearings right)
If I shuld remove the cylinder head must I for exampel look the crankscaft in a save place or is it enugh with posisoning pins to secure the camshafts.
No cambelt replacement just removing the cylinder head, just to make it clear!
Another question where could I bay looking tools to the esprit, price?
Regards Niclas
Ok i reed in the manual that you need to have following tools:
Posisoning pins
tolerance pins
clamping tool for the camshaft
crankshaft locking tool
timing disc
timing pointer
KM you said that I should only use the posisoning pins, (the pins which looks the camscafts, you stick them true the front cam bearings right)
If I shuld remove the cylinder head must I for exampel look the crankscaft in a save place or is it enugh with posisoning pins to secure the camshafts.
No cambelt replacement just removing the cylinder head, just to make it clear!
Another question where could I bay looking tools to the esprit, price?
Regards Niclas
bluev8 said:
hello again!
Ok i reed in the manual that you need to have following tools:
Posisoning pins
tolerance pins
clamping tool for the camshaft
crankshaft locking tool
timing disc
timing pointer
KM you said that I should only use the posisoning pins, (the pins which looks the camscafts, you stick them true the front cam bearings right)
If I shuld remove the cylinder head must I for exampel look the crankscaft in a save place or is it enugh with posisoning pins to secure the camshafts.
No cambelt replacement just removing the cylinder head, just to make it clear!
Another question where could I bay looking tools to the esprit, price?
Regards Niclas
Well, always realize that taking things apart is much easier than putting them back together. The idea of parking the crank in the safe position as outlined by the manual is to ensure you can easily put things back together and time the cams properly without risking additional damage. Note that you will have to retension the cambelt and check timing once you put things back together... so essentially you are removing the cambelt on the one bank, unless you're a magician and can get the head off without removing it. You'll also need a tensioning tool to adjust the cambelt tensioner. You don't really need to lock the crankshaft for the job, just make sure it's positioned properly and use the pins to keep the cams from turning once you release belt tension as they WILL cog over from the valve spring tension against the camlobes.
You can buy the tools from any Lotus dealer... I purchased mine from Symbolic Motors in California. I also did a cambelt tensioning using 4 pins I made from steel stock and a tensioning tool I made from steel stock but opted to purchase a full set to future use which has been great to have as I've since done a belt replacement at 40K miles and a retension at 50K miles.
As with all things, if you're really not comfortable doing this level of work, have someone who is do the job instead. If you don't get the cams timed correctly and/or the cambelt tensioned properly you can trash half the motor quickly.
Regards, KM
2000 V8
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