I wanna rip my head off...

[charger912]

I have a '94 S-10 that I just blew a head gasket in. I've got a Haynes manual for my truck but that book really sucks at explaing anything. Right now I'm having trouble getting the fan/clutch off of the water pump. It moves back and forth a little but won't come off the studs. What am I doing wrong. Don't want to break anything by trying to pry it off, but...
Of the people who have replaced a head gasket, how long did it take your first time? Are there any other parts that are really a pain in the ass to get off as well? Thankx!

[OverBoardProject]

The first thing that I'd tell you in person is to relax, it's not that bad of a job.

We would need to know what type of engine you have in your truck.

I don't think that you have to remove the fan clutch (or the water pump), just the brackets that are attached to the head(s), and on my 2.8Lv6 they don't even have to be removed.

If it's a 4 cylinder you can easily have the job done in 1/2 a day, and that's if you take a lot of breaks...
Just Remove the valve cover, leaving on the intake manifold, remove the exhaust manifold, take note where you remove any vacume hoses, wires, and cables from. Unbolt the head from the block only. It should just about lift right off at this point.
Clean everything, put the new gasket on, head, torque everything according to the book.... then put the rest back together.
If you leave the valve adjustment and push rods where they are it they should even be adjusted right.

On a 6 cylinder it's a little harder, but the same idea.

[vtmecheng]

Overboardproject is right on how to do the heads. I would expect to spend a couple of days on the project if you have never done it before. Also, I would go ahead and replace the intake manifold gasket while you are in there. As for taking the fan/clutch off the water pump, I have always just unbolted it and the thing comes right off. Sorry to hear you are having these problems.

[charger912]

Originally Posted by OverBoardProject

The first thing that I'd tell you in person is to relax, it's not that bad of a job.

Hmmm... when I said I wanted to rip my head off in the title, I was meaing the head connected to my block, not my neck. Oh well. Made me laugh!!! Anyhoo, I think I'll take yalls advice on this. You people make me feel stupid, because I was going to take off more than what you had mentioned. (Then again, that's what these forums are for, right?) Who wants to guess where I fuck up next!!!
Thankx!

[vtmecheng]

one bit of advice. Whenever you disconnect a wire or hose put some tape on both ends and number them. That way you will know that wire #1 connects to connector #1 and so on. That should save you a little trouble

[Fractured1]

also a trick I've used and reused...if you have a digital camera handy take pics of locations and connections through out the tear down...if you get lost putting it back together refer to your pics...also if you have a cupcake pan, put the bolts in the pan and label each seperate pan for the bolts it contains, and have a torque wrench available..

[BlazerLT]

Why do you have to remove the fan clutch for a head gasket?

[briancastle]

take one of the nut and double them up on the studs to remove a coulpe of studs than it falls off