3.0 V6 cylinder head gasket replacement

[quick_andreas]

Hi all,

I think I need to replace the cylinder head gasket(s) on my 3.0 V6 12V, it is build into a Hawk. Reason is that I find constantly gas in the cooling circuit and I think it smells like exaust gas. No water loss so far.
Does anybody of you have done this job? I have the engine service manual, so I believe I can do it, but had anybody of you specific BAD experiences?

Specific question: Can the engine be left in bay? The front bank seems to me very near to the cross-bar behind the cockpit....

Many thanks for your input and kind regards from Germany

Andreas

[Bob]

I did the rear bank ealier this year with no problems, though the front would be more difficult I'm sure it can be done in the car. It's fairly straight forward, just make sure the timing is marked before you strip in and check again afterwards - this I have had a bad experience with!.

[chris.richard]

If the bulkhead comes out, I'd guess you can do it. But hope you find the problem in the rear bank first!

Chris

[Bob]

I've just realised that when Paul Clegg built my car he moved the engine back, so as to get straight drive shafts. I guess I may have a bit more room in front of the engine than most.

[quick_andreas]

Thanks for that guys, I will take the rear bank first. Anybody out there having done the front bank with engine in place?

Specific question for the cylinder liners. Did you buy the specific tool from Alfa to keep them in place or something "self-made".

Thanks and regards

Andreas

[Bob]

Never needed anything when I changed the head gasket. Should I have!

[alfagene]

If you dont turn the engine while the head is off then you dont need to worry about the liners moving. However if you want to you can just use a larde washer and a short length of PVC pipe in place of the Alfa tool.

Gene

[rutthenut]

The heads were taken off with the engine in-situ on my 24v Hawk.

Don't think that the mountings were loosened or removed to do this.

I do have the 'sloping bulkhead' option which gives a fair bit more space though.

J.R.

[quick_andreas]

Thanks for your input so far.

My car has the sloped bulkhead towards the cockpit, a flat one towards the engine (space between). I' ll make some measurements before starting, I looks as if it will be very thight....

Regards

Andreas

[quick_andreas]

It took me a while to start. As John assumed the front bank cylinder head comes out without moving the engine block. So far all straight forward, allthough I found no damage to the gaskets, as far as I can evaluate...
I hope to get everything finished for Christmas and that the new gaskets will have solved my problem. I' ll post some pictures to my gallery in the next days.
Best regards from Germany
Andreas