headgasket replacement?

[donm]

Now that the driving season is coming I've discovered a very slight coolant seepage between the head and the block on the exhaust side of the engine. I can see where the coolant has been running down the side of the block.

I think a headgasket replacement is something I can do but what's the best way to approach it?
After removing the intake and exhaust manifolds, etc, can I just undue the headbolts and lift the head off? Or should I remove the cam boxes first? The Fiat shop manual I have doesn't make any mention of removing the cam boxes but the Brooklands book is telling me to do it.

Or maybe I should just live with it for a while? The car runs great and I don't see evidence of oil in the coolant or vice versa. Any and all advice would be appreciated!

Don

[majicwrench]

With engine cool I would loosen slightly, then retorgue head bolts to spec. Then I would add some stopleak, Barrs make little brown tablets about an 1" around that are the same thing used by a couple of US Automakers when cars new. Am nervous about a lot of the stopleak on the market, I would get the barrs stuff.
Then see if it leaks, take it for a good spin and park it. A drip or two overnight no big deal. keep an eye on coolant level.
Much more than that would concern me.
Keith

[TulsaSpider]

To answer your question. The entire head will lift off no need to remove cam towers.

[So Cal Mark]

no need to remove the cam boxes or manifolds either, unbolt the exhaust pipe, remove the timing belt and hoses. Remove the head bolts and lift the head off. Shouldn't take more than 30 minutes
I'd be worried about erosion of the water jackets in the head with a leak to the outside

[donm]

This is all good information, thanks, guys. I tried loosening and retightening the headbolts as Keith suggested but I gave up when I tried to loosen them and they wouldn't budge even at the recommended torque. So I just left the bolts alone and put in the little brown Barr's tablets and I'll hope for the best. So far, so good--everything looks dry.

Don