Vauxhall Workshop Service and Repair Manuals

Cylinder Head, Remove and Install

Important : The cylinder head may be removed only when the engine is cold (ambient temperature approx. 20 °C/68 °F).

Disconnect ground cable from battery. Remove air cleaner.

Disconnect lower coolant hose from radiator and drain coolant.

Remove upper coolant hose.

Remove all hoses and lines leading to cylinder head or carburettor.

Remove bolt of alternator tensioning bar.

Remove V-belt and push alternator to one side. Remove toothed belt covering.

Position piston of cylinder 1 at ignition timing - aids installation.

Loosen water pump mounting.

Release tension of toothed belt and remove.

Loosen coolant tube at intake manifold.

Disconnect spark plugs.

Remove distributor.

Unbolt exhaust pipe from exhaust manifold.

Loosen all cylinder head bolts in a spiral from outside to inside - first 1/4, then 1/2 turn.

Unscrew bolts completely.

Lift off camshaft housing and cylinder head.

Clean sealing surface of engine block.

Place new cylinder head gasket on grease-free sealing surface.

Note mark "OBEN/TOP".

Gasket for 12 ST OHC engine has two notches - arrow on right - for identification.

Remove rocker arms and pressure pieces.

Pull out hydraulic valve lash adjuster.

Clean sealing surface of cylinder head to engine block.

Clean sealing surface of cylinder head to camshaft housing and camshaft housing sealing surface.

Insert hydraulic valve lash adjuster.

Install pressure pieces and rocker arms.

Place cylinder head on engine block.

Apply a uniform bead of Locking Compound 15 03 166 (90 094 714) to sealing surfaces of cylinder head and camshaft housing.

Install camshaft housing.

Tighten cylinder head bolts in a spiral from inside to outside.

Torque  cylinder head bolts in a spiral from inside to outside in three stages using Angular Torque Wrench KM-470-A.

See Technical Data at end of this group

Mount toothed belt and tighten.

See operation in this group.

Mount toothed belt covering.

Bolt on V-belt pulley, mount V-belt and tighten.

See operation in this group.

Restore all electrical connections.

Connect carburettor bowden cables.

Connect all hoses and fasten coolant tube to intake manifold.

Install distributor, tighten tensioning bar.

Remove temperature sensor.

Fill coolant at expansion tank until it escapes.

Install temperature sensor.

Fill coolant as far as mark "KALT".

Fasten exhaust pipe to exhaust manifold. Connect ground strap to battery.

Start engine and correct ignition timing.

When engine reaches operating temperature, re-tighten cylinder head bolts in a spiral from inside to outside by an additional 30 to 50°. Further tightening, e.g. after 600 miles/1000 km is not necessary.

Install air cleaner.