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I’m looking to get a feel on the degree of difficulty to remove the head(s) on a 360.
I had taken my truck to a local mechanic to replace a cracked exhaust manifold…2 of the top bolts broke inside the head and apparently he tried blowing a hole through them with a plasma cutter. See below.
It looks to me like the only route now is to remove the head and see if a machine shop can do anything with it, or replace it entirely.
I’ve lost trust in the local mechanics around me and was think of tackling the remove myself.
The intake is 80 some pounds and very awkward to handle, especially installing it.
Keep everything in order so you can return the same pushrold to the same hole.
Keep the rockers in place.
Other than the heavy lifting, not too bad, better if you have a crane.
You can always chain these to a bar or 4x4 post and have two guys lifting it out of the engine bay. You need 3 guys to install that way--two lifting and one controlling where it lands.
Unless you're going to rebuild that engine I wouldn't pull anything apart. it looks pretty messy so 'm assuming it's been down the road a ways. if you're anywhere near rebuild time it's not worth the effort of pulling the heads in my opinion.
if you just want to run it put the manifolds back on using some exhaust sealer on the broken bolt ports . I have drilled a smaller hole and used an undersize bolt before. getting those out in the vehicle would be a challenge to say the least.
It ain't a fun job, might cost you in good, not el cheapo, drill bits. Make a jig that has 4 holes to match bolt holes, use two or three to mount it, let the jig guide your drill, use (rent or borrow) a 90 degree drill like a "Hole Hog", or 90 degree adapter, and if you need shorter bits, cut some. Drill the broken out, might try tap then, or just use nut & bolt.
Are they 3/8" bolts?
Don't the manifolds have a wide ear up on top? I might would try making myself a clamp .... maybe ... by modifying a tie rod press.
The head should be resurfaced on the exhaust side anyway since it had a gasket, machine shop can do that also. The manifold should be too. More often than not gaskets lead to manifold cracking. Ford only used a flat Sheetmetal gasket for a couple of years and it was a sparkplug wire shield. JMO
If you can find somebody good with a cutting torch, and there is room to get in there,those bolts can be blown out . I've seen guys do it to exhaust manifold studs.
If you can find somebody good with a cutting torch, and there is room to get in there,those bolts can be blown out . I've seen guys do it to exhaust manifold studs.
I know a muffler shop owner here been doing the work for 40 years, I've seen him blow holes for bolts, etc. ... but most often manifold studs as you say. He keeps a fire extinguisher close on a cart when under there.
