The head is FREE (like a bird)

It took 3 weeks I think. Off and on, but the head is off. Unlike the first engine this engine did not want to give up the head. I was able to move it maybe a quarter of an inch.

I backed out as many bolts as I could but I was still unable to get the head off so I started searching the web I found several ideas that included everything from wooden shims to filling the cylinders with rice. I settled on using a rope placed in through the spark plug hole. You loosen the overhead cams. Then rotate the crankshaft until the piston is at the bottom of it's stroke and take out the spark plug. Start putting in the rope. I used a 1/4" nylon rope that I had laying around. Once you have the cylinder filled with rope just turn the crankshaft and the rope pushes the head off. This pushed the head up about an inch but it was still binding on one of the head bolts. I got the head back down by putting a longer head bolt in next to it with some washers. Then more WD-40 and more rope. Eventually I got it up about 2 inches. I took a pair of vicegrips to the bolt between the head and the block and was finally able to back it out and remove the head.

Now I can get the head ready for the machine shop!