Removing stuck 383 heads

[mike20016]

Hi everyone -- so I'm getting started on my new project, and finally have the engine out. It's seized so I'm trying to take it apart and hopefully get a look inside the bores to see if the engine is worth saving. I'm down to removing the cylinder heads, and they're really stuck on. I've done some searching and have confirmed that I've removed the 8 bolts on the outside of the heads and the 4 bolts by the intake runners.

I've tried loosening things up with a hammer, and also lifting with a block of wood under the manifold studs, all with no success. FWIW, the engine is very rusty with visible surface rust on the block. There was dirt and what I presume to be rust dust (it's red) everywhere once I removed the valve covers, so my fear is that corrosion has fused the heads to the block. Is there something I'm missing or a trick to removing them?

 

[R/T Boy 67]

I hope you have removed more than 12 bolts.

 

[mike20016]

Right, I meant on each side. 8 on the outside of the block (16 total), 4 on each head by the intake runners (8 total) for a grand total of 24 bolts removed.

 

[Don Frelier]

Here are the bolts you need to remove:

 

[mopar 3 B]

You sure you got all the bolts? There should be 16 per side. Total of 32.

 

[69a100]

Are the exhaust manifolds still bolted to them?????? If not and all other bolts are out, take 2 head bolts and just thread them so the head won't go flying. Grab a long crowbar and stick it a exhaust port, and either do a hard yank a time or 3 or take a BFH to it till it pops. Good Luck

 

[mopar 3 B]

You sure you got all the bolts? There should be 16 per side. Total of 32.

Dam I can't read today. Thanks Don for the picture.

 

[Big Bad Dad]

You got the ones from under the valve covers? They may be covered with gunk.....

 

[mike20016]

Here are the bolts you need to remove:
View attachment 1068739

Thank goodness I asked before forcing it. As y'all can probably tell, this is my first serious engine work. I missed bolts 17, 9 1, and 7. As Big Bad Dad predicted, they were under a layer of gunk, dust, and dirt. The weather turned very cold, so I'll report back likely tomorrow and let y'all know how it goes. If they're still not budging, I'll try 69a100's trick.

Thank y'all so much!

 

[mopar 3 B]

Yep bet the ones under the rocker shafts are still there.

 

[R/T Boy 67]

12 plus 4 equals 16. Keep going.

 

[kramer]

Also what works for me is I take out all the head bolts except for one in the middle on each side and usually have that bolt only a few threads in and then pry up to get the head loose they are usually stuck on depending on what gasket was used otherwise what can happen is you take all the bolts out then pry up to get head loose then it pops loose and then the cylinder head gets away from you and ends up on the floor or your foot, been there done that not fun!

 

[69a100]

Even though I said the exhaust port, if your crowbar is long enough to get torque on it. You can also stuff into the intake port, and push up on it from the other side. Either way works but leverage is your biggest friend here. Good Luck