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how do i remove the HLA's

Posted: June 14th, 2007, 2:39 pm
by 96mx-3
hey i have every thing off..im looking at the HLA's i can get the tops off but the springs are stuck in the holes how can i pull them out? is there a tool or just yank em ? manual doesnt say how to take em out jsut to take em out...
thanks

Posted: June 14th, 2007, 2:55 pm
by Tunes67
Use a magnet.. just pull them up out of the bore off the top of the springs. The oil may cause slight vacuum lock but they will slide out of the bore if you pull up on them with enough force. This is assuming you have removed the cams.

Tunes67

Posted: June 14th, 2007, 2:58 pm
by 96mx-3
yea i got the cams out..i jsut cant get the springs..the caps ( i duno what there acutally called) ( silver caps) are off..but the spring is in there...ill try a magnet..good idea lol thanks..

Posted: June 14th, 2007, 3:05 pm
by Tunes67
Those silver "Caps" are the HLA's. They sit on top of the springs...

Tunes67

Posted: June 14th, 2007, 3:17 pm
by 96mx-3
ok so how do i take out the springs? same way ? i cant get the springs out iwth the magnets..

Posted: June 14th, 2007, 3:19 pm
by Tunes67
Why are you trying to remove the valve springs?

Tunes67

Posted: June 14th, 2007, 3:25 pm
by 96mx-3
i am taking off the heads..and in the manual it says i gotta take it out i belive ..maybe not if just the caps are the hlas..

Posted: June 14th, 2007, 3:28 pm
by Tunes67
You dont have to remove the valves or valve springs to remove the heads. Just unbolt the heads from the block. If you really need to remove the valve springs.. it will be easier to do with the heads off the block anyway.

Tunes67

Posted: June 14th, 2007, 3:33 pm
by Tunes67
Out of curiosity.. why are you removing the heads?

Tunes67

Posted: June 14th, 2007, 3:33 pm
by 96mx-3
awsome thank you

Posted: June 14th, 2007, 3:40 pm
by 96mx-3
ok so now im stuck on the head bolts...is it regular sockets? 13 fit but i think i made it skip 2wice with a breaker bar..any tips ?

Posted: June 14th, 2007, 3:54 pm
by ho bag
96mx-3 wrote:ok so now im stuck on the head bolts...is it regular sockets? 13 fit but i think i made it skip 2wice with a breaker bar..any tips ?
Um at this point i think you need to pick up a shop manual and do a little reading.... Not trying to be and a-- but if you gonna take the motor apart you may want it.

Its a 12 point, you will need a medium extension and a breaker bar to get them out. Maybe sure you have all the inner and outer timing covers off first.

Posted: June 14th, 2007, 4:15 pm
by Mnemonic
there is also a pattern in which you take them out, YOU DO NOT JUST PULL THEM ALL OUT, and remeber once you remove the headbolts you need to go get new ones, as its not recomend that they be retorqued down again

Posted: June 14th, 2007, 4:36 pm
by 96mx-3
no i undertsand the pattern in removing them..and i will replace them i jsut cant ge tthem out ? the 12mm is to small i put on 13 and its snug but when i go to loosen it it skips if i really try..so im jsut curious if im using the wrong tool

Posted: June 14th, 2007, 4:46 pm
by Red Rocket
1/2 inch is just a tiny bit smaller than 13mm.