Cylinder Head Assembly: Service and Repair

V6-231 & 252
Prior to reinstalling cylinder head bolts, coat the head bolts with a suitable heavy body thread sealer. This is to prevent coolant leakage, as the head bolt holes extend into the water jacket.
An accurate torque wrench should be used when installing head bolts. Uneven tightening of the head bolts can distort the cylinder bores, causing compression loss and excessive oil consumption.
1. Drain coolant and disconnect battery.
2. Remove intake manifold as outlined previously.
3. When removing right cylinder head, remove alternator and/or A/C compressor with mounting bracket and position aside. Do not disconnect hoses from A/C compressor.
4. When removing left cylinder head, remove oil dipstick and power steering pump, and secure pump aside leaving hoses connected.
5. Disconnect exhaust manifold from head to be removed.
6. Remove rocker arm shaft and lift out pushrods.
7. Remove cylinder head.

Fig. 4 Cylinder head tightening sequence. 1982---83 V6-231 & 252:

Fig. 5 Cylinder bolt tightening sequence. 1984 V6-252 & 1984---87 V6-231:

8. On 1982-85 engines, reverse procedure to install and tighten bolts gradually and evenly in the sequence shown, Figs. 4 and 5.
9. On 1986-87 V6-231, reverse procedure to install and note the following:
a. Install cylinder head, then apply a suitable sealant to bolt threads.
b. Insert cylinder head bolts, then torque to 25 ft. lbs. in sequence shown, Fig. 5.
c. Torque each bolt an additional 1/4 turn in tightening sequence. If 60 ft. lbs. of torque is obtained during above step, stop, do not complete 90° turn.
d. Again torque each bolt an additional 1/4 turn in tightening sequence. If 60 ft. lbs. of torque is obtained during above step, stop, do not complete 90° turn.