Removing the steel spark plug wells from a cross-flow head?

[Richard48Y]

Removing the steel spark plug wells from a cross-flow head?
Pretty certain they should be removable, has to be a way.
I expect them to be threaded in but they are not moving and I dare not damage them.
I know mine is not the only TS/Cross-flow here so someone must know the trick.

[EuropaTC]

A pure guess here because I've never owned a Renault engine of any sort, but could they be heat shrunk into place ?

The valve guides and seats on the original Lotus TC head are cast iron and to remove or fit those you have to soak the head in a furnace before driving them out. Fitting new ones is the same way, heat up the head, cool the inserts and press them in quickly before they heat up & expand.

Brian

[Richard48Y]

I should probably just ask Salv but I think he is still on vacation.

[Bullnose]

Reading through my newly acquired shop manual for the engine there is no mention of removing and replacing the tubes.
All photos and drawings show the tubes in place. So I guess  we'll have to work around them

Grant

[Richard48Y]

My TS head arrived at the rebuilders today.
If he finds them to be an issue I expect I will hear about it.