It is probably easier to torque the head bolts on the engine stand rather than in the truck... which begs the question of the intake and exhaust. It is nearly impossible to drop the motor in fully loaded with both intake and exhaust (it is possible, but probably requires battery bracket trimming). I've done it several different ways, and recommend assembling the block and head on the engine stand, and doing the rest of the assembly in the chassis.

On another related note, I once changed out a head with the radiator still in the chassis... man was that silly. It takes so little time to pull the radiator, and it increases access soooooooooooo much that it is silly not to.

That's perhaps one of the biggest challenges to wrenching, figuring out the order of assembly, and what to put together before you put it in the chassis... well, that, and being able to identify a shortcut (pulling the radiator) when it seems like NOT removing a part would save effort (damn radiator).


Yup.

Randii