we just finished an exhausting head gasket, and valve job in my son's 1993 z28. We did this with the engine in the car and boy was it a tight fit. Even the simplest procedure was a major undertaking due to the limited space. I swore, when it was finished, that I would do things differently if I ever had to do this again.
Anyway, the car was together for maybe 24hrs when my son blew a hose and overheated. I'm sure the newly machined heads have warped, or worse, cracked due to the steam gushing out the tailpipes. My question is this: Is it easier to just pull the engine and tranny rather than spend gobs of time wrestling around in and under the car?

 

If you have everything available to pull the engine, I would. Do it from below. The only problem I felt was that you have to recharge the A/C.

Just my opinion.

 

its easier to pull the motor and work with it. theres tons of write up on how to do it.

 

Pulled heads in the car a couple of times, the second time is going to go more smoothly. IMHO leave the engine in place.

 

i just did a head job on my 95. i would say leaving engine in and just finding the right tool and angle combo and you have it made

 

Pulling the heads off with the engine in the car is not that hard. pulling the whole engine out just to change a head gasket seems a bit unneccasary. Also sounds fishy that the car overheated a day after the last head work was completed. could the hose have blown because the car was overheating due to something else? How's the waterpump? opti get wet in this incident? if your going to have the heads off again make sure to look at everything.

 

Could the hose have blown because combustion pressure was getting into the cooling system.

If he overheated it the first time the head gasket blew the casting could have been softened in which case it will be a challenge to get it to ever seal up well.

 

TRUE THAT! You can do that head job in 4 or 5 hours (in car), it will take that to pull the motor, and it will be your first time so it will be twice as hard..

 

I just pulled my heads off today with the engine in the car...probably got about 6-7 hours in it so far. In order to drop the front K-member you also have to disconnect the brake lines then bleed them and all. I guess you might be able to unbolt the AC compressor and leave it in there so you don't have to empty, evac, and recharge the AC, but that would be more time than its worth IMO. To me it really was not that hard to get the heads off in the car, the worst part to me is jacking the motor up a few inches to get the headers out and back in. I didn't have any issues getting to any bolts with the regular common tools...rachet, extensions, and a universal joint.
It is a little hard on the back bending over in there though

 

I've found that a product called "Bud Lite" helps with the back pain.

 

Thanks for your input, guys. I'm going to make this job a learning experience for my son. I don't plan on getting dirty, but in case I do, my buddy Sam Adams is coming over to ease the pain.

 

Ahh yes, I discovered that! But for some reason, the back pain goes away then I end up with leftover bolts when I'm done

 

I pulled my motor out the TOP WITH the trans attached and had no issues at ALL. I dont care what anyone says, DONT PULL it out the bottom.

But just for a head gasket not leave it in. But really look into why it overheated and blew a hose. Did you bleed the system after you put it back together to make sure the air bubbles where out??? Are you sure there isnt a water pump issue?? Thermostat?? Dont just put the Head gaskets back on and call it good, Ive learned to many times with these cars to do it right the first time so you dont have to do it again.