RE: The head on my '87 5ktqw is off. now what?

["Buchholz, Steven" <Steven.Buchholz@kla-tencor.com>]

> Now after it gets back from the machine shop with valves done and head 
> surfaced I'll be ready to put it back in.
> What steps are diffrent than just the "install in reverse order".
> Do I install the exhaust manifold to the head and try and fit it to the 
> turbo and exhaust pipe sitting in the frame. If I use guide studs I don't 
> think that it would work.
> When setting head on the Factory manual for our '91 90cs with 5 clyinder 
> non turbo states to NOT place #1 at TDC.  Any help?
> 
As I recall from when I did the head on the QTC those years ago the idea was
to rotate the crank so that all of the pistons were down away from the deck
to ensure that no valves are pushing against pistons and lifting the head.  

> I'll admit that I'm a bit over my head :') but it's good to be able to do 
> this and actually have it work. 
> 
... I guess that's better than being _under_ your head ... :)

> So is there a step by step anywhere on installing a remachined head?
> 
Here again, from memory on doing the ur-q head ... Bentley recommends that
you saw the heads from a couple of the old head bolts and then slot them.
These can be used as guides for the head while you are installing it.  

I've heard others say to attach the exhaust manifold before reinstalling the
head ... I'm not sure that's the way I'm going to do it.  I was able to get
at all of the nuts for the exh man when I took the head off this time ...
and this was in fact the way I installed the head on the QTC when I did it
all those years ago.  IMHO the head is on the verge of being too difficult
to handle without assistance ... with the EM attached it would definitely be
too much for me.  

Here again from memory, the whole exhaust train turns into a bit of a puzzle
when you consider the EM, turbo, down pipe and wastegate all need to get
connected to each other.  I honestly don't remember how it was I got them
all to fit when I did it back when ... this time I plan to test fit
everything on the bench to get the proper sequence down.  AAMOF, given the
fact that some of the turbo bolts are kinda difficult to access, I might
decide to make the exhaust train the part that I assemble and then attach to
the already installed head ...

Good luck Rod ... and have fun!

Steve Buchholz
San Jose, CA (USA)