Planned head swap

[Matt]

Well I want to do my head gasket and cambelt anyway. Just to make sure my head gasket isn't gone/going.

And this head I got off poodle had been recently refurb'd and I got it cheap. Original plan was to strip it and rebuil it myself but as its already been done its silly not too

And I don't have any weekends left so will be a week day that I make the start with this. Feel very confident with swapping everything, only thing I don't like is the timing!

Timing is actually very easy Matt. As I said just remember not to turn the engine over with the head off.
The cams lock with m6 bolts nicely and there is a nice locking hole in the crank pulley. Lock it all off and remove the belt then remove the head.
Replace the water pump whilst the heads off (top bolts are easier to get to!). Get some single sided blades and some brilo pads to clean up the block face. Head on (if it's timed up, be extremely careful as the open valves will sit stupidly close to the edge of the bore. If you don't put it on straight, you risk damaging the valves or HG) when fitting the head. It may be easier to remove the cams so all the valve are closed if your lifting the head on your self.
Oh and for god sake don't forget the spacer under the head bolt u der the master cylinder like I did otherwise you will break a big hole in the waterpump housing!

The head wasn't locked up before removal. So what.... I've got to remove cams and push valves closed? Do I need to measure the distance between cam and valve?