So I have the exhaust manifold, timing belt, and valve cover off of the Tracker, now working on the cylinder head bolts.  How much of a PITA should these things be to remove?  Got my 14mm socket and breaker bar and man, they aren't turning real easy.  I pulled with a decent amount of oomph (I think enough to break what the manual says should be somewhere around 60ft/lbs of torque) and all I got was an "ERK" from each bolt and then a sort of resistance to turn.

I keep thinking to myself, "aluminum block, aluminum block, aluminum block..."

So basically I'm hesitating to really go and ream on this thing.  Am I being a too cautious sissy?   I'd just hate to suddenly have a rounded off hole or snapped off bolt head and be about screwed.  At that point I'm pretty sure the Tracker is done for and I'd throw in the towel.  I'm getting frustrated to put it mildly.  Right now I just want to get it fixed and running.

Factory uses loc-tite, might be what you are
feeling, I have never had any thread problems

How about others

Heat them up a little... little torch action...  that will soften the thread locker.....

i always use my impact gun to take them off. you dont want to put to much strain on them with the breaker bar or you'll snap them. try hitting the head of the bolt with a hammer(same idea as an impact driver) if you dont have access to air tools to help loosen them.

derek

I was just being too cautious.  Got on them with the breaker bar and a bit more ERKing and they all came loose.

Now here's my question...how does a guy get a head off a block after it's been on there for 15 years?  I do not have a cherry-picker.

  crack it loose with a few blows from a large plastic mallet. The head itself shouldn't weigh more than 25/ 30 lbs. You should be able to lift it right out. I'm assuming you've already removed the timing belt. 

I guess I'll have to thump it harder as I've given it some good thwacks with my rubber mallet so far.