Yes can i remove the heads without removing the engine. Will there be enough room and what do i need to remove to get enough room?

never tried it, but id probly be more work then removing the engine and taking them off that way. Why are you removing the heads though?

Yes, but it will be a workout for your lower back!

I spent most of my time cleaning, detailing and painting things while they were apart.

Not really too much to it. Disconnect battery, drain coolant, remove intake and fuel rail, disconnect exhaust at manifold outlets, pull heads.

Use the search engine to find more good info on cylinder head R&R.

Amen to Marks comment- the job is a real back breaker. Sure you can pull the heads with the engine intact but remember you'll need to reach in beyond the trunk to get everything up top removed. Don't forget both manifolds need to be disconnected from the crossover pipe as well. IMO it may be much easier to drop the cradle and work on the engine with plenty of room . If you are working at a good pace the cradle can be dropped in about 3-4 hours time

------------------
87GT 3.4 Turbo Best 0-60 5.2 seconds
http://www.turbochargerpower.com/turbo.htm

Yeah I already replaced the gasket in the front exhaust manifold. But when putting it back together I found 2 threads were stripped and gripped a little so i said F-it and put it back together so guess what happened. The leak grew louder and louder. But atleast all of the bolts wonts be locked and rusted together on that part of the job. So have to take off the plenum and everything huh?

Edit: Only have to remove that front "firewall side" head.

[This message has been edited by fierogt3 (edited 08-27-2003).]

I've got one with the heads off now. I think the hardest part was removing the injectors. Yes you need to remove the intake and wiring the A/C gets in the way a bit too. I pulled the heads in a evening, not to bad. I think It would be more work dropping the engine but TMO.
Cleaning and painting takes the longest.

quote Originally posted by rroberts: ...I pulled the heads in a evening, not to bad. I think It would be more work dropping the engine ...

I too think it would be more work to drop the cradle just for heads. Above, Dennis mentioned the cradle could be dropped in 3-4 hours, I had the heads off in less time then that. Can't tell you how long it would take to put them back on, as mine is still apart after almost 6 months. It was not cost effective enough to rebuild the 2.8 so I decided to go with a Q4 instead and am now paying 4 times the $ of what the 2.8 would have.