Okay Im going to try and do my head gaskets this weekend (probably into next week as well) I have read the Rave on it and would just like to know what I need to take off in order to get down to the heads. If I know the parts in order that have to come off I can I believe figure it out with the help from past post on this forum. Thanks everyone for your help.

Aaron

 

Follow the Rave manual and you should be good to go. Bare minimum you have to take the intake plenum off the top of the engine to access all of the head bolts. You can also remove the front accessories to make it a little easier on yourself as well. This is an excellent time to replace many of the items that can cause you trouble later like the water pump, all the hoses, thermostat, and belt...

Make sure you get the heads checked by a machine shop, as they are most likely warped.

 

IMHO, search for threads started by EricTyrrell. He bought one, HG blew on day 2 of ownership. He decided to DIY, and has done a good job, and provided pix and some video of it. He did complete rebuild, not just heads. You have a D2, will have some more stuff on top, maybe SAI, etc. You would want to look at doing oil pump as well, but it can be done later. At least do mechanical check of it and test the PSI of fuel pump, which will be easier to do when top of intake comes off (exposing schrader valve).

Machine shop charge should be around $200. hh65flyer has recent photos posted of his. Anything over .002 inch out of flat is considered warped. Paper in your printer is .0038 thick, so that is not much. You kit will also include valve seals, machine shop does those as well (but not valve guides, for $200). You've seen trucks and cars spurt out some blue smoke when they take off, thats oil smoke from valve seals.

 

Searched the threads and found him, thanks. What tools will I be needing?

 

I did the full rebuild with all pretty standard tools such as ratchets, wrenches etc. Albeit, I did have to get creative at times! If you're doing the valve seals you'll need a special tool for that and can't remember what it's called :/

You'll need o good breaker bar, that is for sure!

 

machine shop will handle the valve seals, you provide them from your kit of parts.

 

how do I remove the head bolts that are under the valves?

 

Thanks Mike, you answered all my questions and gave me some excellent steps to follow.

 

i am about to start on my head gaskets on a 2000 disco. my only question (for now) is is it really necessary to replace the head bolts?

 

YES. Search for the reason.