Hello everyone,

As you may have learned I blew my head gasket recently and I am about to DIY.

At first I was pumped to do the project then realized it would be harder than I thought after speaking to a few friends and Dave at ICS. However I have figured out a way to split up the work nicely while minimizing the amount of potential damage to the engine that could be done in the event of a mistake. (god forbid, knock on wood, all that good stuff...)

I spoke with George at ICS and he said it would be ok for me to bring the block WITH the cams ON and locked so he could take them off properly so the head could be sent to the machine shop to be resurfaced. I don't wanna mess with the cam removal. Too much for me, and too much potential damage.

The potential cam damage was my first concern and thats solved... now the second....

I was told getting off my T 60-1 and the AA manifold is gonna be a bitch since I have solid motor mounts and those bolts are hard to get off anyway. I have air tools, Impact sockets, a few buddies to help me, beer (not too much), some ramps to lift the car and a good mechanical background so thats a good start IMO. This is the first time I am ever attempting to replace a headgasket without my fathers guidance (he passed a few years back) on a car this intricate. Normally the work I was used to was w123 MB diesels and 50-100cc bike engines. My question for you is do you have any pointers or advice to help me take off that manifold? Because if that doesn't come off, then the car is going to ICS for the whole job and my pockets are EMPTY! :help

Thanks in advance!
cheers!

Rent a midget ;), or hopefully you have really small hands.

Seriously, it just takes patience, sounds like you have a good base of tools to work with, I think the swivel type sockets probably help the most. Also, if you can't tackle something from underneath, switch to going up top.

I have an SC61 on an AA manifold, its really not that hard to get off. 3/8 rachet some extensions and some wobbles. You will need a crows foot to remove one of the wastegate pipe bolts from the flange on the top of the manifold.

Manifold is also easy to remove also, just ALOT of little nuts.

Yeah if you are going to take the manifold off you need patience, some open end and ratchet wrenches, and patience... and patience.

To be honest the cam portion isn't very hard once you have the cam lock tool. Its kind of hard to mess it up - block @ tdc, cams at tdc (forced to TDC with the cam tool) and you're set. But I don't mean to take any business from ICS at all - if you're not comfortable with it don't try it. George and Dave will hook you up.

a ratchet wrench is your best friend in cases like this.

I just remove my cams and re-installed using the pelican parts technical right up. Cam removal is a piece of cake with two guys. Really, you shoudn't be afraid to do it. I'm not a mechanical wizard and I was able to remove and re-install my cams. Would never pay someone to do it.

Good luck

I just remove my cams and re-installed using the pelican parts technical right up. Cam removal is a piece of cake with two guys. Really, you shoudn't be afraid to do it. I'm not a mechanical wizard and I was able to remove and re-install my cams. Would never pay someone to do it.

Good luck

+1
just loosen the bolts on each section a half turn at a time and you won't have to worry about snapping them.

+1
just loosen the bolts on each section a half turn at a time and you won't have to worry about snapping them.

Thats what I do when removing - installation, jay (multiplex) made a tool that works well. We lock the cams square to the head and then press them in. works well.

OP, I'd say do all the work, and buy a set of cam lock tools. My method is to remove the turbo, remove cams, then the head, and then deal with removing the manifold. I could not imagine installing my Spa in-car, its a PITA on the bench. Then again I like ACCESS to the nuts I'm dealing with, which the Spa barely allows.

BTW, the TIS article (PM me your email address if you need it.) outlines that you ought to have the cams at TDC, and the crank/pistons 30* CCW from TDC. IMO, cams are super simple. I can get a set in/out in under half an hour, with no air tools, and no BMW special tools (the cam fixture). Air helps a lot, you can do it in maybe 15min with a little practice.

OP, I'd say do all the work, and buy a set of cam lock tools. My method is to remove the turbo, remove cams, then the head, and then deal with removing the manifold. I could not imagine installing my Spa in-car, its a PITA on the bench. Then again I like ACCESS to the nuts I'm dealing with, which the Spa barely allows.

BTW, the TIS article (PM me your email address if you need it.) outlines that you ought to have the cams at TDC, and the crank/pistons 30* CCW from TDC. IMO, cams are super simple. I can get a set in/out in under half an hour, with no air tools, and no BMW special tools (the cam fixture). Air helps a lot, you can do it in maybe 15min with a little practice.

I don't agree with this - I just installed a SPA manifold on my M3 2 days ago and it really isn't that big of a deal. Once the stock exhaust manifolds / x-brace are out of the way... it just takes an 11 mm wrench and a lot of time/patience. You need to get each nut started before you tighten them down ANY. Tighten all of the nuts relatively evenly and the manifold will pull square with all of the nuts clearing perfectly. You will probably have to move back and forth between the top and bottom of the car to access the upper / lower nuts.

OP:
Pelican Parts DIY cam removal works well. If you are fairly mechanically inclined, I would follow that DIY to the T and you will have no problems breaking the cams.

I'm trying to save some headaches here. So at the moment I will be bringing in the head with the cams to ICS as long as I decide to do the job, I appreciate the pointers anyway, thanks alot guys...

few questions...
refering to DanR's post
whats a crows foot
whats wobbles

this may seem stupid.... I have to remove a portion of my exhaust to remove the turbo correct?

...order in which the turbo should be taken off?

Please keep in mind I'm new to F/I

for a better look underneath of the car check out some pics
http://e-owned.com/index.php?cat=10089

I'm trying to save some headaches here. So at the moment I will be bringing in the head with the cams to ICS as long as I decide to do the job, I appreciate the pointers anyway, thanks alot guys...

few questions...
refering to DanR's post
whats a crows foot
whats wobbles

this may seem stupid.... I have to remove a portion of my exhaust to remove the turbo correct?

...order in which the turbo should be taken off?

Please keep in mind I'm new to F/I

for a better look underneath of the car check out some pics
http://e-owned.com/index.php?cat=10089

Hey Mike, if you need any help im here to help you, please let me know. It's 2:45 a.m and im still here working! I am pulling an all nighter.. :) again...

-George Kakaletris

I just unbolt the turbo and wastegate pipe on mine and then pull the head off with the manifold still on it.

http://www.fivaxis.com/m3/turbo/079.jpg

http://www.etoolcart.com/browseproducts/Metric-Crows-Foot-Wrench-Set--SUN9710M.HTML

Crows foot

a wobble is a universal, excuse my southern vernacular.

to take the manifold off you need patience, some open end and ratchet wrenches, and patience... and patience.

+1. I'm sorry about your dad!!!