head replacement

[FunkZ]

Re: head replacement

The injectors are attached to the fuel rail with clips. If you wanted to pull them out of the rail you have to turn a little tab 90° or so and then they pull out. But if you just yank up on the rail all the injectors should pop right out of the LIM. You have to pull pretty hard because the O-rings like to stick in the LIM especially if it's a high-mileage motor and they've never been out before. When you go to put them back in a little lube helps.

No, all the aluminum FWD heads would require using the FWD LIM and plenum, throttle body, etc. The intake ports are equally spaced rather than having two side-by-side. Plus on the exhaust side the bolt holes are farther apart and have big exhaust ports so you need headers and have to modify (slot) the holes in order to get them to bolt up. Plus the CC's are half the size so you have to change out the pistons to keep the CR down. You could probably do it by enlarging the domes and using a head shim, get it down to around 10:1 or so.

[seafoamgreenv6]

Re: head replacement

yeah that makes sense i really havent been pullin to hard. how do you get to those clips? seems kinda difficult with the motor in the car.

anyway i get ya on the heads. the compression ratio was my next question but you answered it already. wish they made like a stage 2 head for these cars or something. abbot has a nice set for the 3.8

[FunkZ]

Re: head replacement

You could try supersixmotorsports.com they used to offer 3.4 heads. And I know ARI at engine-parts.com still offers performance iron heads. But either are pretty expensive. I have a set of iron heads that have minor porting and bowl work done on the intake side.

The clips that hold the injectors in the fuel rail are like a C-clip that snaps around the top of the injector in that narrow groove below the top O-ring. It has a wide part and a narrow part, there's a tab that sticks out. If you look along the beveled edge of the bottom of the fuel rail right where the injector goes up in you should see it sticking out slightly. You have to turn that tab about 90°, the clip rotates, the narrow part aligns with the cutout on the rail and you can pull the injector out. It's kind of difficult to explain but I don't have a picture, sorry. It is a TOTAL PITA to change injectors with the rail and plenum in the car. If you pull both out however it is fairly easy. Since both have to come out for the head swap you shouldn't need to futz with the clips.

[seafoamgreenv6]

Re: head replacement

well i got the plenum off and u were right the damn fuel rail was like magnetized to the LIM. just gotta drop the exhaust in the AM and i should be golden.

please tell me putting it back together is easierthen taking it apart.

[FunkZ]

Re: head replacement

A little lube will help the O-rings to slide back in but it's kinda tricky getting them to line up with the holes in the LIM.

You going to change the oil pump drive gasket while you're in there? They're prone to leaking after while. The gasket doesn't come with the standard Fel Pro head set.

[seafoamgreenv6]

Re: head replacement

would it be a benefit to put some 19lb injectors in there. i mean it cant hurt right and one less thing i would have to do later.

[FunkZ]

Re: head replacement

You don't want to do that. I put 19# injectors in from a 3.8 when I did my heads and cam, ran way too rich. I ended up swapping the original ones back in.