Head Removal

[Steve Webb]

So, it looks like I'm going to pull the head off the Q4.

The reasons for this are, to get the old inlet manifold off and get the Lancia Kappa inlet installed, it will also allow me to address the ignition coils. I also want to get the AC pump out and I can see the hose of death at the rear of the engine starting to drip. Should also let me take a look at the started motor and decide whether that neeeds to come off as well.

The question is, if I'm going to the trouble of getting the head off, what else should I look at whilst I've got the access.

Also, what head gaskets are people using these days? Are Spesso still good, and if so the 1.6 or 1.9mm?

Cheers

[kunev]

Intake manifold and other parts around it can be removed without removing of head if that is the main goal. If you want to see the situation inside engine and make a refresh that is another story, but not something additional to some main external engine work in my opinion. If you remove it will not be strange to not like what you see and to not want to close it like this without some more special check and work from head specialist at least that is the normal way in my opinion.

[Steve Webb]

I have looked at pulling the inlet off whilst leaving the head in situ, but the available space back there is very small, however I've just been through the manual pages looking at the official procedure and I might try the in-situ method.

Just so long as I can get at what I need to get to, i.e. the water hose of death I don't care how the inlet comes off.

[AlfaJack]

No need to pull the head off at all. The inlet manifold will come out with some wriggling. Getting the big jubilee clips undone is one of the trickier bits. You'll have ful access to everything you need.

[Steve Webb]

The problem I've got (apart from big hands) is that the inlet manifold has been off the head before (the engine was rebuilt before I took ownership of the car) but the jubilee clips were positioned so they are accessible from underneath. I've got a few smaller jobs to get done first, but I'm gonna save the inlet manifold job for the winter.