Vauxhall Workshop Service and Repair Manuals

Cylinder Head, Remove and Install

Cylinder head may only be removed with engine cold (ambient temperature approx. 20 °C/68 °F).

Disconnect ground strap from battery. Remove air cleaner.

Detach exhaust manifold from cylinder head, push out of way and tie in place.

Unscrew coolant drain plug from engine block and drain coolant.

After draining, immediately coat plug with sealing compound and reinstall.

Detach bowden cables and electric cables from carburettor.

Remove carburettor and intake manifold.

Detach upper and lower coolant hoses from thermostat housing and water pump housing.

Detach heater hoses from water pump and cylinder head.

Release alternator tensioning bar and remove V-belt.

Remove valve cover.

Loosen valve adjustment nuts far enough for push rods to be withdrawn. Push rods must be removed without fail before removing cylinder head to prevent them falling into oil pan.

Unscrew cylinder head bolts in spiral from outside to inside.

Remove bolts and cylinder head.

Clean sealing surfaces of engine block and cylinder head.

Manufacture two guide pins (sawn off fillister head screws) as shown in illustration.

Screw guide pins into engine block and position cylinder head gasket.

Mount cylinder head.

Screw in cylinder head bolts finger tight until screws rest firmly on head.

Unscrew guide pins and replace with cylinder head bolts.

Important!

Tighten cylinder head bolts in spiral from inside to outside observe prescribed torque.

Then tighten further in three steps of one angle at a time in the same order.

See Technical Data at end of this group.

Subsequent re-tightening after 600 miles/1000 km is not required.

Insert tappets, mount rocker arms and adjust valve clearances.

To do this, position cylinder 1 at TDC. Adjust clearance of exhaust and intake valves of cylinder 1, intake valve of Cylinder 2 and exhaust valve of cylinder 3.

Turn crankshaft one full turn.

Adjust clearance of exhaust and intake valves of cylinder 4, intake valve of cylinder 3 and exhaust valve of cylinder 2.

Bolt on intake manifold.

Bolt exhaust manifold to cylinder head.

Bolt bracket for exhaust pipe to rear engine bracket.

Mount valve cover. Always use new seal.

Mount carburettor (use new self-locking nuts) and make all connections to carburettor.

Connect ignition cables.

Mount and tension V-belt. Tighten alternator tensioning bar.

Connect heater hose to water pump.

Mount air cleaner.

Fill coolant into expansion tank until it escapes from heater hose connection.

Fasten heater hose.

Fill coolant into expansion tank as far as "KALT" mark.