Heads, exhaust, rockers all at once?

[eburrows]

I'm doing head gaskets, again....

Any reason not to remove the head, exhaust manifold, and rockers all as one unit? I'm already planning on doing the manifold and head together, to save my knuckles, but why not the rocker too?

 

[robertf]

its hard enough to get the back headbolts out with all that stuff off. Might be impossible once you throw lots of extensions on there to clear parts

 

[terryjm1]

I’ve seen people install exhaust manifolds attached to the heads (not a Disco) but I find it challenging enough to get the heads carefully in place by themselves. Maybe I’m just wimpy…

 

[kris812]

I'm a fairly strong guy, and I would never install the head with the exhaust. Firstly I want to make 100% sure the head and gasket are lined up. Secondly, I would want to change the exhaust gaskets while that deep. Third and lastly, Odds of having exhaust bolts break are high, best to fix them with the head off.

I have pulled and installed the head of 4 cylinder engines with the intake and exhaust still on it, but that is a different animal.