Head gasket replacement job

MONEYSAM83

MEMBER
2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE
1.4L
4 CYL
TURBO
2WD
AUTOMATIC
93,000 MILES

Hey man, I saw a video online, I am hoping I can get the head off without taking the whole timing cover off. Is there a shortcut?

Friday, November 1st, 2019 AT 12:51 PM

13 Replies

KASEKENNY

MECHANIC
18,907 POSTS

Unfortunately there is not a shortcut for this step. You need to remove the front cover in order to access the cam sprockets and get the timing chain off. The only shortcut I could see is if you are able to get the sprockets and chain to lay far enough forward to allow enough room to lift the head off. However, I suspect this will just get in the way and taking it off would have been easier.

Let me know if you need the entire process and I can send that. Thanks

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Friday, November 1st, 2019 AT 6:06 PM

MONEYSAM83

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Yes, could you send the entire process? The timing marks is what I mainly need.

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Friday, November 1st, 2019 AT 11:21 PM

KASEKENNY

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Okay. Here is the entire procedure for replacing the cylinder head. Clearly the only thing missing is to remove the head gasket and install the new one but I doubt you need instructions on how to do that. Please let me know if you need anything else. Thanks

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Saturday, November 2nd, 2019 AT 6:50 PM

MONEYSAM83

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32 POSTS

Hey man, got the head gasket done. But I am going to tell you what happened, on the 6th or 7th step I didn't have that pin that goes where the to tensioner is and I think a piece of that timing chain guide has gotten caught in the timing chain area. I found the spring and piston from the tensioner.

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Sunday, November 3rd, 2019 AT 5:15 AM

KASEKENNY

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But you got it all together and it is running? Thanks for the update.

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Sunday, November 3rd, 2019 AT 4:38 PM

MONEYSAM83

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32 POSTS

It is stuck on sumpn.

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Sunday, November 3rd, 2019 AT 4:42 PM

KASEKENNY

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Maybe get a video of what you are dealing with because it is hard to know without seeing it.

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Sunday, November 3rd, 2019 AT 5:03 PM

MONEYSAM83

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32 POSTS

Can you send me the procedure to take the front timing cover off?

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Monday, November 4th, 2019 AT 10:23 AM

KASEKENNY

MECHANIC
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Timing cover procedure attached. I do not like how they break this up because they give links to other parts of this process. Clearly they do this or the process would be 100 pages long if they gave everything. The point is, if you need one of these other processes that are in a blue hyperlink just let me know and I can send that as well. Thanks

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Monday, November 4th, 2019 AT 5:33 PM

MONEYSAM83

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32 POSTS

Is that crankshaft bolt reverse thread and what torx socket do I need?

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Tuesday, November 5th, 2019 AT 6:51 AM

MONEYSAM83

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32 POSTS

Okay, here is the update: got the timing cover off there was a broken piece of timing chain guide so I am going to replace that guide. I have that special timing kit to set the timing with, I have the crankshaft at top dead center now I have to figure out how to get the camshafts back to top dead center I marked but I took the phasers off of the cams. So I want to know a sure way of telling if I got the phasers aligned with the camshafts and exciter rings correctly?

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Tuesday, November 5th, 2019 AT 10:08 AM

MONEYSAM83

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I got the exciter rings and the camshafts lined up. I heard there is a mark on each phaser. If I could see where the timing marks are supposed to be at top dead center I would appreciate it.