i need help! trying to change my head gasket

[804ram]

1987 ram 50 4x4...not sure of the engine g54b...

so i got the head off after trying to get all the intake manifold bolts off

i cant pull the head because the timing chain needs to come off....

do i need to take off the whole front cover inorder to change my head gasket?

this is really frusterating lol

[joey_crandall]

no there should be a shelf under the cam gear for it to sit on. but make sure its there, if not you will have to pull the timing cover.

[d50dave]

You dont have to if the cam sprocket rest is still attached. Remove sprocket bolt, gently pull or pry sprocket off the cam and it should drop just a bit until it is resting on the support. Set the engine at TDC on the compression stroke for the #1 piston first. Haynes manual, which you ought to have, spells it out plainly with pictures.

[camoit]

You should not even need to pull the intake. Just the exhaust. There is a first gen manual that covers how and torque down in the manuals section. The cam gear should just wiggle off.

[804ram]

thanks for the replies! i see the bolt thats on the end of the camshaft... but when i try to turn it it doesnt want to budge without turning the chain... should i use penetrating oil? ....and now that i think about it the intake manifold didnt need to come off >:l hahaha

[camoit]

Just put a wrench on it and wack it with a hammer Counter Clock Wise. 3 hard smacks it will come loose. Then just reset the timing by leaving the truck in gear and pushing it back wards. Or use the crank.

[804ram]

can anyone help me with what engine i have? haha i thought it was a 2.6 but i have a timing chain not a belt

[camoit]

On the front of the engine, passenger side, next to the head. There is a flat spot with a stamped number on it. It is part of the head gasket surface.
Here is a factory manual. It will have some info you can use. You can look in the archive manual section for more information. And we have this boards manual section.

You should be able to find something in one of these places. The factory manual will show you where to look for the block info.

[DroppedMitsu]

2.6's(g54b) have a timing chain. The 2.0(g63b) has a belt

[804ram]

Thanks Guys! I got it off ! Bad news I have 2 cracks in my head though... Looks like I'll be going to the junk yard soon lol

[804ram]

so i forgot to set my engine at tdc ....should i put the head back on and the distributor in and then set it to tdc? or is there and easier way...

[DroppedMitsu]

just turn the engine over until the piston at the front of engine(cylinder 1) is at the top of its stroke, that is top dead center.