best head puller

[1930artdeco]

Hi All,

I blew a head gasket, water in oil etc. so I am doing a couple of things all at once to her. Now I am down to gasket replacement. I am looking at two different head pullers which one is best for a REALLY REALLY stuck head:

1) Eye bolt that goes in the plug hole
2) The long multi position head/engine puller that also goes into the plug holes (don't know how else to describe it)

Thanks,

Mike

[Gary WA]

These items ok for lifting head,but not as a puller! I carefully use copper putty knives or steel, to pry loose along with wood or plastic shims available at lumber yards.

[1930artdeco]

Gary, normally I would do that. But I have the silicone one on and it is glued down hard. So I need something to pop it off so I can get wedges in there. I am going with the copper so I can do that in the future.


Mike

[junk yard kid]

I have no patience, i weld the nut to the stud, add penetrate or wax then back em out with an impact gun. Yah it ruins the studs but it doesnt take a week. Break a stud off, whatever just more welding and wax.

[walls]

Loosen the nuts till there about1/8” above the head then crank the engine.
Should break loose.

I use 2 of the eyelets in the plug holes with an engine hoist to pull the head.
Wood shims and a rubber mallet for good measure

[29er]

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Check out this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtgvnT6ab0U&t=268s

Mike
Head's up in Orygone

[w.michael]

The multi-position head/engine puller works best. It is not just for lifting the engine. It is a head puller that works by pulling against the studs. I'm not a good mechanic, but I can pull a stuck head using this device.

W. Michael

[1930artdeco]

I tried the rope method (didn't do it right-got frustrated) and then crank the engine by hand/starter. Nothing. Will get a head puller-Stipes.


Mike

[Bill G]

In my opinion, this is the best one. Available at Bert's, Bratton's Snyders, and probably lots of others.

https://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/head-puller

[Dodge]

I ran mine the last time I did it with all the head bolts backed off and it broke it loose,
Then I worked it the rest of the way off.

[ryanheacox]

Originally Posted by 29er

Check out this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtgvnT6ab0U&t=268s

Mike
Head's up in Orygone

I'm pretty sure we've had this discussion before and the both of us like that idea except I would tap that big plate for the bolts that contact the head studs. I'd bet this method would pull some very stuck heads.

[abachman3]

I too concur that the head puller that MagicBox shows works very well. I have one and it has worked well for me.

[1930artdeco]

Well I ordered the multi position one and will let you how it works probably next week.

Mike

[WHN]

Originally Posted by walls

Loosen the nuts till there about1/8” above the head then crank the engine.
Should break loose.

I use 2 of the eyelets in the plug holes with an engine hoist to pull the head.
Wood shims and a rubber mallet for good measure

This has always worked for us. Easy!

[1crosscut]

You will find that the one you ordered should do the job just fine. Sometimes when using them on a really stuck head you will have the head move up unevenly. Don't be afraid to take the puller off, put a few of the nuts back on and pull the head back down into place. This will get it back level again but also will work loose some of the rusty crud that has built up between the studs and the head. Doing this a few times can make it go faster in the long run.
Sometimes a head will come all the way up to the top of the studs to the point that the puller can no longer push against the head studs. In this case I have 1/4" nuts that I have ground the outer points of the nuts off making them round. They will then sit on top of the four studs that the puller pushes against. Grinding the tips off making them round makes room for them to fit down into the head allowing more travel from the puller. I have had to stack them four deep to get the really stubborn heads all the way off.

You can also hook your engine lift or chain lift to the puller and put upwards pressure on the head. If you are lifting in this manner with a lift realize that you are actually lifting the body and frame of the car upwards too. If / when the head pops loose the car will settle and the head will go up. You can destroy the junction box on the firewall in an instant when this happens.
Don't ask me how I figured this one out....

[CarlG]

Originally Posted by Magicbox51

In my opinion, this is the best one. Available at Bert's, Bratton's Snyders, and probably lots of others.

https://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/head-puller

This is the one I have. It is made by Bill Stipe. Have used it several times, loaned it out more than that.