Is it normal for the exhaust bolts which hold it on that have a spring around them to break while trying to remove them???

Also, I found that the heat shield and a few of the bolts which hold on the exhaust manifold were simply gone...

Anyone have any tips as far as what to do once I remove the head... I am planning on sending it to a local machine shop but I'm not quite sure what else to really do since this is my first "Car" not a 4 stroke 4 wheeler...

After several hours I have removed timing belt, water pump tensioner and pretty much all of that crap I feel like I have pretty much torn the whole motor out.[/align]

 

it is normal for those bolts to be broken or missing.....the heat gets to them and they just kinda sieze up

 

dont forget you SHOULD get new head bolts before putting it back together. toruqe to yeild bolts dont always stretch a second time without breaking.
of course get the MLS gasket for it.
what year and engine is your car

 

I have found bolts like the heat shield put some gasket sealant on the threads. The exhaust bolts did you shoot them with WD-40 or some kind of penetrating oil

 

na just went ahead and unscrewed them. :-) Maybe thats why...