To remove the heads, do I have to actually take off all the rockers and everything as mentioned in the Haynes manual or can I just take the 16 head bolts off?

 

The rockers are attached to the head itself, you will never the less have to loosen the rockers in order to remove the pushrods, trying to remove a head with the pushrods in would more then likely end up with some badly messed up pushrods.

 

yeah just loosen the rockers enough to get the pushrods out and you will be fine

 

I had to pull one rocker from each cylinder to make it easier.

I couldn't get a socket on the head bolt that is between the rockers.

 

It takes 1 minute to get all the rockers off so I don't know why you are making such a big deal about taking them off...

 

I realized that a little later on and just took them off. My first h/c swap in case you can't tell lol.

BTW is it usually INCREDIBLY hard to get the head bolts loosened up? I'll try some PB Blaster but these things are stuck on real good. Any tips appreciated.

 

use a big bar on the end of your ratchet, rust penetrant is not going to help

 

They're torqued to 80 ft lb's and have been on the car for 12 years.

 

1/2 drive breaker bar 18" long ??????? No probs here?????

 

I've got to get this engine out... I can barely move

 

what? LOL, You can get it done with them in there - I've done it a bunch of times. The last time was on a friend's original '95 with broken header studs - and, hell yes, the head bolts were on there incredibly tight. They all screeched as they were coming off and I was pretty tired after knocking them all loose. I used a good sized breaker bar, and if you don't have one, go spend the $10 or $20 and get one.

 

I put a small lacrosse stick on the end of my wrench and got all the bolts off of the top of the head easily. But what about the bolts on the side of the head underneath the headers? It doesn't seem like I'll even be able to fit anything in there, seeing as I was having a hard time with a wrench only.

 

You aint John Force. Take off the headers, THEN take off the head bolts.

Just kidding. I do them the same as all the others. Socket, extension, breaker bar

 

I have a 3/4 air gun that runs them right out, they were probably rusted in, after time the water gets through the thread sealer, breaker bar to loosen them, air gun to finish the job would make it easier. JMOI

 

You have the headers unbolted and dropped down below the heads right? Even the lower ones are a straight shot with a breaker bar/extension. Getting off the head bolts should be easy.