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Thread: Head Gasket Removal and a Heineken

  1. #26
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    Des Moines, IA
    Posts
    1,005
    My Cars
    90 ix, 91 i & ic, 02 325

    Vacuum... Smoke test?

    Another thing that kepts nagging me is that I wanted to eliminate any questions of vacuum leaks and as our resident expert notes (both jlevie and richardodn) often say (as well as others too) - vacuum leaks will cause a myriad of problems and to diagnosis possible vacuum leaks - a person should perform a smoke test first (since these are common).

    Since I do not have access to a smoke machine - nor does my local shop - I know of only one in the DSM area and I am not too keen on bringing my car to them - I decided an alternative method to discovering vacuum leaks is to place a vacuum gauge onto the intake manifold. Now - this is not a substitution for a smoke test - as a smoke test will show you where your leaks are and a vaccum gauge will only show you that you have a leak. The information of having a leak is valuable enough for me to have.

    So I decided to mount a vacuum gauge in the engine bay (I did not feel like routing the tubes and wires through the firewall) - For now I just need to see how it performs at idle - A vacuum gauge will tell you many more things than that - like how it acts through accelaration - under load and deacceleration etc. etc - so it is valuable to have inside the cab - however Im not that ambitious at the moment.

    I just want to see how much vacuum I am pulling at idle to get an idea if I have any leaks.

    I mounted a voltmeter also

    49.jpg

    Voltmeter I ran to the coil and the vacuum gauge I ran to the intake here:

    50.jpg

    I am running about 16 to 17 at idle - needle is steady - I posted this question on what it should be in this thead: http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...um-Measurement

    Good info on intake manifold vacuum here:

    http://www.secondchancegarage.com/public/186.cfm

  2. #27
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Location
    Billings, MT
    Posts
    6,720
    My Cars
    2013 328i xDrive
    For future reference, if you thread the timing belt around the cam gear first, then slide it over the tensioner, it's significantly easier to get it on.
    -Chris
    My e30 build thread/color change here

  3. #28
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    norcal
    Posts
    5,881
    My Cars
    a few e30s
    Quote Originally Posted by heifetz17 View Post
    For future reference, if you thread the timing belt around the cam gear first, then slide it over the tensioner, it's significantly easier to get it on.
    never done it that way myself, interesting. I put it on the crank, then over the tensioner and work it over the cam sprocket. Turn the motor by hand a couple times and then put it back together. I haven't had a problem doing it that way.

  4. #29
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Location
    Billings, MT
    Posts
    6,720
    My Cars
    2013 328i xDrive
    Quote Originally Posted by dohcdoh View Post
    never done it that way myself, interesting. I put it on the crank, then over the tensioner and work it over the cam sprocket. Turn the motor by hand a couple times and then put it back together. I haven't had a problem doing it that way.
    I usually run into the above problem where it can be hard to get it over the cam sprocket. I solve that issue by going from the crank and over the cam, then sliding the smooth side over the tensioner.
    -Chris
    My e30 build thread/color change here

  5. #30
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Location
    Boulder, CO
    Posts
    92
    My Cars
    1991 BMW 325ic
    I am doing my head gasket now, and the 6 exhaust manifold nuts the hold the lower part of the exhaust to the manifold are stuck (accessed from under the car). PB blaster for a couple of days and they won't budge. So I am thinking of getting an impact wrench to get them off. Can anyone recommend a decent one? I will use it rarely. It can be electric or air. Any basic tips on using it is appreciated. Thank you.

  6. #31
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    Des Moines, IA
    Posts
    1,005
    My Cars
    90 ix, 91 i & ic, 02 325
    Same one I used..

    http://www.harborfreight.com/12-in-p...nch-68424.html

    Cheap.. and 700 ft pounds of TORQUE..

  7. #32
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Location
    Boulder, CO
    Posts
    92
    My Cars
    1991 BMW 325ic
    I picked up a Bostiitch impact gun for $70 off Amazon. I also got the 1/2" drive extensions and swivel/knuckle attachment. Got all 6 of the exhaust manifold to header nuts off. I found it easier to remove the heat shield over the motor mount and also to turn the wheels all the way to the right to get the best possible angle on the nuts from under the car. I now have everything off and ready to remove the head/manifolds assembly. I am thinking about using a 2x4 across the engine bay and straps down around the headers/intake to lift the head off (with a friend's help on the other end of the 2x4). Sort of like a poor man's cherry picker. What do you think?

  8. #33
    Join Date
    Sep 2014
    Location
    Wash. DC
    Posts
    123
    My Cars
    1989 325iC
    Thank you for this.

  9. #34
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    norcal
    Posts
    5,881
    My Cars
    a few e30s
    Quote Originally Posted by Humbucker View Post
    I picked up a Bostiitch impact gun for $70 off Amazon. I also got the 1/2" drive extensions and swivel/knuckle attachment. Got all 6 of the exhaust manifold to header nuts off. I found it easier to remove the heat shield over the motor mount and also to turn the wheels all the way to the right to get the best possible angle on the nuts from under the car. I now have everything off and ready to remove the head/manifolds assembly. I am thinking about using a 2x4 across the engine bay and straps down around the headers/intake to lift the head off (with a friend's help on the other end of the 2x4). Sort of like a poor man's cherry picker. What do you think?
    Too much work. Just get your buddy to grab the intake, you grab the exhaust manifolds, and lift. If you're in reasonable shape it won't be hard, and you will save time.

  10. #35
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Location
    Boulder, CO
    Posts
    92
    My Cars
    1991 BMW 325ic
    Anyone know of a good shop in Denver to have the head milled and refurbished? A shop that really knows BMW?

    BTW- Thanks to this post, the Bentley manual, and another site I was able to get this far in about 1 week. I worked on it a couple of hours each day. I've never taken a cylinder head off an engine before. A warm garage and no deadline or rush was extremely helpful. The most physically demanding parts were the exhaust nuts and getting old hoses off. My advice is to relax, take your time, get the right tools, and walk away when you feel irritated.

  11. #36
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Location
    Boulder, CO
    Posts
    92
    My Cars
    1991 BMW 325ic
    Got it out today with the help of one friend, very happy to get to this stage of the process. Will be sending the head out to the machine shop and in the meantime replacing all the hoses, sensors, thermostat housing, clean the injectors, etc.. Garage really smells of gas and oil now. What will take the carbon build-up off the top of the pistons?
    Attached Images Attached Images

  12. #37
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    28
    My Cars
    None at the moment
    Wow that’s an awesome detailed write up ,
    thank you so much.

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