Thanks for the advice. I will probably do the hoses at the same time. I saw the throttle body heater in the picture of the kit. I just replaced it too, hah.

 

Ok bro, I take it back. Looks like you are getting it together. I understand how pissed you must have been at the start of this whole thing. Half the value of the truck is hard to stomach.

I haven't done this job, but from what I've read, get or borrow a torque wrench as well and follow the specs in the Rave.

GOOD LUCK and post pics!

 

update- i'm almost done with disassembling. j.dstasio was right! the first headbolt in the sequence(closest to firewall) is indeed a big pain in the ***. i broke a craftsman wobble extension, and a socket(it was cheap though, used it because the craftsman was too long). So i'm going to make a trip to sears tomorrow, exchange the broken wobble, get a better 5/8 socket and get a shorter extension. For some reason, I only had a long 1/2" extension and I think it's adding to the difficulty. I'm terrified I'm going to round off a headbolt, even using a 5/8 because it wants to slip off the bolt! it may be impact wrench time. bleah

 

There are cheaper sources for the common parts. I use AB only for the "special" parts. I bought a complete head gasket kit from fap99.com and even with purchasing the "right" head gaskets from AB, I was considerably under the AB cost.

Hoses, belts and such are not a good deal at AB. I bought everything I need for a fraction of the cost elsewhere.

I am in the middle of my own head gasket replacement right now. I know Mike is a great resource but feel free to email me as well.

 

Bigger, for a better look...

notice the rocker shaft, soaked half in Purple Power - cleans stuff good! I will still disassemble but this makes the process a bit less messy.



Don't let this scare you. You will have taken it all apart, you'll now where it goes.

 

Oh, this is what can happen if you had kept driving it.

 

thanks for the pics and info. How did you get a better deal from fap99.com? I checked but the gasket set is actually more than the 1 I already ordered from AB. Plus it doesn't come with the upper intake manifold gasket or the throttle body heater kit. I'm not sure if their prices went down or what but AB is a lot cheaper once I added everything up.


The stuff I ordered arrived today but I still have not gotten the head bolts off. What the heck can I do if I round a 1 off? The first 1 does not want to budge and there's already a small amount of wear on 2 corners the bolt from breaking the socket. I'm cringing at the thought of messing a bolt head up that's so tight that I'm breaking tools.

 

Mike would know better as he has seen everything working on these Piles of you know what... I would first try a impact gun with impack socket. They are less prone to rounding.. try PB Blaster and dont skimp ..let it sit over night. There is probably a bunch of carbon stuck to it. Try seafoam also....you have nothing to loose.You can also try a impact socket and a 5' pipe on a breaker bar. Sometimes giving it a tighten stroke and then a loosen stroke will do the ticket. 3 feet of pipe just doest seem to do it. If you end up rounding the top off, cut it on 2 sides with a cutting wheel to make a 2 sided head bolt and use a pipe wrench.. with a big 5' pipe... One way or the other it should come loose. Dont forget the beer

Good luck, Chris

 

Sorry man, My D1 gasket set was much cheaper - I didn't consider you had a D2. I guess the point here is shop around!

As far as the head bolts - you really need a breaker bar on an impact socket with a cheaper pipe. IF you feel it slipping stop and regroup. You may be able to pick up a single 5/8 impact socket at the local auto parts store. 5/8 is actually a bit smaller than the 16mm and it fits. I am not really sure what the "real" size is - I used both when removing mine.

If one does round off - don't fret - I bought the $25 IRWIN bolt extractor kit and it worked wonderfully (recommended by Danny I think). I had a front head bolt round off, a back one would be more of a b!tch.

Take your time - I actually had the rad out and sat inside the engine compartment to get the rear bolts.

I almost have my block pressure testing kit ready. I hope to check mine tomorrow. You are welcome to borrow it (if it works well) to check you block. It's not a bad idea - watch the video, kind of scary.

As I said - email me with questions, I'll give you my cell in case you get stuck.

GL my man!