Answer
Nov 23, 2025 - 03:21 PM
Pulling the heads off a 1VD-FTV / VDJ79 isn’t hard, just time-consuming. It’s a tight bay and there’s a lot of plumbing in the way. Here’s the basic rundown so you know what you’re getting into:
How to pull the head on a VDJ79 (4.5 V8 diesel)
- Disconnect batteries — Twin batteries → pull both negatives. You’ll be leaning all over the starter cables & injector rails, don’t risk welding yourself.
- Drain coolant & oil — Makes your life way less messy later.
- Get the intake & intercooler system off — that includes the snorkel/airbox piping, intercooler & brackets, and intake elbows and manifolds.
- Remove the turbo plumbing — You don’t have to pull the turbos completely, but you do need the exhaust manifolds loose so the heads can come off. Unbolt the downpipes, oil feed/return lines, and heat shields.
- Fuel system — Crack the injector lines and pull the high-pressure rails so you don’t bend something when lifting the head. Unplug injector connectors & sensors carefully.
- Rocker covers & valvetrain — Covers off, cam caps off, cams out. Keep everything in order exactly how it came off.
- Timing — You’re pulling the heads, so mark the chain & sprockets before you pull them. Tie the chains up so they don’t drop down into the timing case — if they fall, your day instantly gets worse.
- Head bolts — Crack them loose in the proper sequence and lift the head straight up. They’re heavy — get an extra set of hands unless you like the chiropractor.
When the head’s off:
- Check the deck surface carefully (these warp when they cook)
- Clean threads for head bolts
- Inspect liners and pistons for cracks/chipping
- New gasket + new head bolts
So yeah — that’s the rough flow. Not complicated, just a lot of stuff to take off.
If you want torque specs & the tightening sequence, that’s where this manual comes in. It’s got all the step-by-step sequences, diagrams, and exact torque/angle specs so you don’t miss anything or guess.
Good luck!
