I recently acquired an '01 with a damaged head (cracked cam bearing cap).  I've picked up a replacement head and new gasket, o-rings, etc. to install it.  I'm looking for advice on how to remove the old head without damaging the gasket between the cylinders and block.  I don't want to pull the cylinders to replace that gasket. 

Has anybody used some kind of clamp to keep the cylinders firmly pressed to the block while lifting off the head?  Am I really just over-thinking this?

Thx

Make a fitting with steel angle and see if you can use tie downs or the like.
Cool.
Buddha.

With mine I had to pry to unseat the cylinder from the block. Could be different on yours though.

Quote from: Mandres on January 12, 2009, 01:24:00 PM
Am I really just over-thinking this?

Yes.....you are..... Dont worry about it.

You might be over thinking, but then again... Buddha's tie-down idea might be worth a think, too.

when you do accidentally break the seal, do you really want to redo everything because "at the time, it was easier?"  Its not that hard to do, just get an extra set of hands that day.

Quote from: littleblackjeep on January 13, 2009, 10:19:10 AM
when you do accidentally break the seal, do you really want to redo everything because "at the time, it was easier?"  Its not that hard to do, just get an extra set of hands that day.

The base gasket is a thin "shim-steel" affair and is very robust, the chances of it being damaged due to the head being removed are negligable if the block is not disturbed. When the head is torqued back down an effective seal will be again be made. People have reused steel base gaskets several times with no ill effects, myself included.

You would expect the factory service manual to highlight the issue and recommend the base be clamped during head removal if it was a major concern................  well, it doesnt in mine.