i have just done the head gasket on my XR. worst job eva to do. mine blew out the side between 1 and 2 on the exhaust side, weeped out the welsh plugs AND blew a heater hose... ok it split but same thing. so, u should really check them as well just to b sure and check the welsh plugs (they is a good thing to do while the head is off) after bout a week

Well im tending to agree bout the worst job ever comment.....i started today, just to get head off to go get checked out.

Took rocker cover off, to find that a bolt had snapped, allowing that part of the head to move, and thats where it has blown the gasket out, luckily only a water gallery and up front under 1 and 2 injector.

Exhaust manifold was kool, intake manifold was ok, until i reach the last bolt next to firewall, that was a b**ch, took an hour or more on the one bolt.

Got cam out pretty easy, but now I cant get the head bolts undone.

I have 12 remaining and not one wants to budge, hate a mate from down the road help out, and we have just broken (about 10 mins ago) 4 sockets on one bloody bolt.

So im out shopping 2mora for a decent impact socket. Hopefully that will work, otherwise, I have no idea how to get them undone.

Any suggestions?

yeah i used impact sockets on mine when i did it. they r alot harder to break and they r single hex so they grip better

Its a very easy job once you learn the tricks of it

14mm impact socket on a breaker bar are a must have tool - dont start without it.

With the intake manifold, start with the hard to reach bolts first - not last (always good advice). If you do them last the bolt takes the weight of the manifold as you undo it. If you do them first you only need to turn the bolt once or twice then you can do there rest by hand.

Yeah I knew I needed impact sockets, but I didnt have any, and was just tryin to make do....first mistake lol.

And as for the intake bolts, I cracked them all first, starting from the front, then started to undo from the rear.

Ah well, its been a good learning curve for myself.