Eagle Talon Head Gasket Removal

• 1). Disconnect the negative cable from the battery. Relieve the fuel system pressure by pushing the valve in on the fuel rail. The valve looks like the valve on a tire. Drain the engine coolant by opening the valve on the bottom of the radiator with a wrench and draining the coolant to the drain pan. Remove the air intake and breather hoses by loosening the hose clamps with a screwdriver. Unhook the accelerator cable from the throttle body. There are two if you have cruise control.
  
  
• 2). Loosen the hose clamp on the upper radiator hose with a screwdriver and pull it off. Loosen the hose clamps on the water breather hose, the heater hose and the water bypass hose with a screwdriver and pull them off. Disconnect the PCV hose from the valve cover. Label each spark plug with the marker and masking tape noting the proper location of each. Grasp the boot of each wire and pull them from the spark plugs. Disconnect the fuel return line and plug it to prevent leaking.
  
  
• 3). Label the vacuum hose for the brake booster with the marker and masking tape and disconnect it. Label the electrical connections for the water temperature sensor, engine coolant temperature gauge and the oxygen sensor using the marker and masking tape and then disconnect them. Label and unplug the wiring to the idle speed control motor, throttle position sensor, distributor, motor position sensor, fuel injectors, power transistor and engine ground.
  
  
• 4). Unplug the wiring harness from the engine control. Remove the clamp that holds the power steering pressure hose using a wrench. Place an automobile jack under the engine with a block of wood on it; raise it enough to support the engine. Remove the engine mount using a socket and ratchet to remove the bolts. Remove the bolts from the valve cover using a socket and ratchet. Lift the cover away from the cylinder head.
  
  
• 5). Remove the valve cover gasket and the half-round seal from the cylinder head. Remove the front upper cover from the timing belt using a socket and ratchet. Rotate the crankshaft using a wrench and line the timing marks up on the crankshaft pulley and the engine. Always turn the engine clockwise or you may cause internal damage to it. Remove the retaining bolt from the camshaft sprocket using a wrench.
  
  
• 6). Remove the camshaft sprocket and timing belt together. Do not relieve the tension on the timing belt as you lay it on the front lower timing belt cover or the Talon may jump time. Remove the timing belt rear upper cover using a socket and ratchet. Remove the self-locking nuts from the exhaust pipe using a wrench and separate it from the manifold. Remove the gasket from the exhaust and discard it.
  
  
• 7). Loosen the head bolts in three steps using a socket and ratchet. Start from the outside of the head and work your way to the center. Lift the cylinder head from the engine block. If you need help to free it, tap it with the rubber mallet; do not try to pry the head from the engine block. Remove the head gasket from the engine block and discard it. Take the cylinder head to a machine shop to have it resurfaced. The head must be perfectly square when you reassemble the engine.
  
  

Eagle Talon Head Gasket Installation

• 1). Place a new head gasket on the engine block, making sure you have the proper side facing up. Do not use any type of gasket sealer on the head gasket. Gently place the cylinder head on the engine block above the head gasket. Line the head and head gasket up properly with the engine block. Thoroughly coat a set of new head bolts with fresh engine oil and place them in the cylinder head.
  
  
• 2). Tighten the head bolts in sequence to 51-54 foot-pounds using the torque wrench in three steps. Place a new gasket on the exhaust pipe and attach the pipe to the manifold using a wrench. Install the rear upper timing belt cover and tighten the bolts with a wrench. Align the timing marks and install the camshaft sprocket. Tighten the bolt to 58-72 foot-pounds using the torque wrench. Install the outer timing belt cover and secure the bolts with a socket and ratchet.
  
  
• 3). Apply gasket sealer on the half-round area of the cylinder head. Place a new valve cover gasket on the head. Place the valve cover on the cylinder head and properly line it up. Be careful not to pinch the valve cover gasket or you will destroy it. Install the valve cover bolts and tighten them with a socket and ratchet. Install the motor mount and tighten the bolts with a socket and ratchet. Lower the automobile jack and pull it from under the engine.
  
  
• 4). Install the power steering pressure hose bracket to the engine mounting bracket and tighten the nut with a wrench. Connect all vacuum lines and electrical wires according to the labels you made when removing them. Connect the throttle cable to the throttle body; if you have cruise control, there will be two cables. Connect the fuel lines and tighten the fittings with a wrench. Install the air intake and breather hoses. Tighten the clamps with a screwdriver.
  
  
• 5). Place a drain pan under the oil pan and drain the old engine oil. Remove the old oil filter and put a new one in its place. Refill the crankcase with fresh engine oil through the filler cap on the valve cover. Add fresh engine coolant to the radiator and reservoir. Connect the negative cable to the battery. Allow the engine to reach operating temperature and check thoroughly for leaking. Check the engine coolant again when the engine cools down.