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HELP: SAI Trouble During Head Gasket Repair

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  #1  
Old 05-16-2021 | 02:27 PM
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Default HELP: SAI Trouble During Head Gasket Repair

Hey guys,

im pretty deep into my first ever head gasket repair. So far there hasn’t been too much trouble, aside from not being able to get the fan off.

We were able to continue without removing the fan - but now we cannot get to a few of the head bolts because the SAI is on the way.

we have tried removing the SAI, but the metal line keeps bending as we turn the bolts.

any advice? Do I need to remove SAI to get to these head bolts? If so, how do I remove them without snapping the SAI? Or can I delete the SAI entirely (I’m in a non inspection state)?

Thanks




 
  #2  
Old 05-16-2021 | 03:39 PM
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A metric ton of penetrating oil, around the outside edge of the outer nut where the pipe goes in and a bit of heat. The you need to grab the inside bolt and external bolt, it is a 2 wrench job and be very gentle
 
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  #3  
Old 05-16-2021 | 03:59 PM
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Originally Posted by Richard Gallant
A metric ton of penetrating oil, around the outside edge of the outer nut where the pipe goes in and a bit of heat. The you need to grab the inside bolt and external bolt, it is a 2 wrench job and be very gentle
Update: a light torching with the propane tank was enough to use the 2 wrench method and get it unstuck
 
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  #4  
Old 05-16-2021 | 04:15 PM
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Yeah, the system is a **** show. Holding the head adapter with an open ended 18mm or 19mm (can't remember) is a must. And like Richard says...soak the living daylights out of the nuts.

Yes, you can eliminate the system, but you will get a check engine light ever few days, saying the system is not working properly. Cut the tubes on my old 01 and disabled the bulb, made working on engine ten times nicer...plus...l knew it was never getting sold...it was scrapped when l was done with it. After cutting tubes, removed head adapter and hold it in a vice, then removed large nut, might require heat, once a part, remove the rest of the tube and install a nickel between nut and adapter, tighten up and re install adapter in head. You'll have an extra 20 cents involved in the job. Pull cluster, remove front plastic and gauge bezel, pull bezel forward and send black silcone down the hole for check engine light. No more light, just check codes once in a blue moon or whenever you notice a difference in performance.

Now, l'm not recommending you do this...this is just sometime l did...lol...so...



 
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Old 05-16-2021 | 07:04 PM
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Originally Posted by The Deputy
Yeah, the system is a **** show. Holding the head adapter with an open ended 18mm or 19mm (can't remember) is a must. And like Richard says...soak the living daylights out of the nuts.

Yes, you can eliminate the system, but you will get a check engine light ever few days, saying the system is not working properly. Cut the tubes on my old 01 and disabled the bulb, made working on engine ten times nicer...plus...l knew it was never getting sold...it was scrapped when l was done with it. After cutting tubes, removed head adapter and hold it in a vice, then removed large nut, might require heat, once a part, remove the rest of the tube and install a nickel between nut and adapter, tighten up and re install adapter in head. You'll have an extra 20 cents involved in the job. Pull cluster, remove front plastic and gauge bezel, pull bezel forward and send black silcone down the hole for check engine light. No more light, just check codes once in a blue moon or whenever you notice a difference in performance.

Now, l'm not recommending you do this...this is just sometime l did...lol...so...

nice.... I may consider doing that, but right now I have to consider my next steps with the engine. Got the first head off and found metal shavings all over the pistons. I’m thinking it might be blown piston rings.

trying to find more info on whether it’s worth pursuing a rebuild at this point
 
  #6  
Old 05-16-2021 | 07:21 PM
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Post pics of the shavings
 
  #7  
Old 05-16-2021 | 07:28 PM
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He



here are some pics. You can see a little build up around the pistons, and I scraped some onto my finger for a close up.
 
  #8  
Old 05-16-2021 | 07:47 PM
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Pistons don't seem to be centered in bore, could be the picture though. Are you sure that isn't gasket material on your finger?

How many miles on the engine?


 

Last edited by The Deputy; 05-16-2021 at 07:50 PM.
  #9  
Old 05-16-2021 | 09:11 PM
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109,000 miles on the engine.

not 100% sure it’s not the gasket. I’m going to remove the oil pan and disconnect a rod so I can push one of the pistons up and check the rings.
 
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  #10  
Old 05-17-2021 | 06:04 AM
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Is it magnetic? Piston rings are steel/iron, so they would be magnetic.
 
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