Gotta change a head gasket need help...

Topic: Gotta change a head gasket need help... (Read 4377 times) previous topic - next topic

Gotta change a head gasket need help...

Reply #30 – April 24, 2008, 11:08:44 PM

He first said and told me originally it was my intake gaskets, He wanted like 350 to replace them I said **** it and let it keep leaking thru there... It did leak thru the main seal and oil pan gasket I saw it with my own eyes... and the value cover gasket was aswell, it was really bad on the driver side... But when I sent the car back pissed off because the leak from the manfold (intake) Gasket got worse. I told him to just change it for the 350, but He didn't he said he cleaned up the engine and realized it was the head gasket the oil was coming from... He wanted over 1k to replace that and I told him **** that.....

I bought the dam car with all these problems for 2k and have over 2k into it , and the cars not even worth 2k :S ....

God I hate these 86 Cougars.... If this car still leaks when Im done with it tomorrow... Im gonna really light it on fire and just buy a ****ing cheap 500 dollar car...

Gotta change a head gasket need help...

Reply #31 – April 25, 2008, 01:24:00 AM

Minor hijack, but one of my valve cover gaskets is leaking and I was curious, do I have to pull the intake to get the valve covers off, or can the get past without having to pull the intake. I've got the stock non-HO intake.

Gotta change a head gasket need help...

Reply #32 – April 25, 2008, 07:18:32 AM

I had to pull up the Intake above the valve covers, it wasn't hard :S took like 15-20 min to take off my first time... just make sure u mark where each line goes.... Also there is a evil bracket in the back of the engine....

Gotta change a head gasket need help...

Reply #33 – April 25, 2008, 07:26:49 AM

Quote

You will want to snug them down about three trips all the way around.
torque to about 20ft/lbs on the first tightening sequence then to factory specs on the final go around.
***the key here is to work from the center moving outwards in a criss cross pattern. This takes out the warpage in the center.

No sealer needed
Quote

Question what r the factory specs on the torque for the head bolts?????

Quote
when you get the heads on, just simply tighten the rockers / pushrods to about 20ft/lbs.
you will leave the valve covers off on your initial start and tweek in any noisy rocker arm anyway.
No, the oil wont fly around if you tuck a towel in between the plug wires and the heads along each head.
install everything in reverse order and look for leaks afterwards.[/

Also How do u tweak your rockers...... I didn't know I had to take those out, how should I install them????

Gotta change a head gasket need help...

Reply #34 – April 25, 2008, 08:35:24 AM

Is this normal...

and...

I saw anti-freeze dripping... a little bit when I took it off... Please note that my anti-freeze was drained from the rad before I saw this...

Is there a gasket that goes here????? or something..

Gotta change a head gasket need help...

Reply #35 – April 25, 2008, 09:09:14 AM

Yes there is supposed to be a gasket... Appears to be some old pieces on the throttle body(dark areas upper left)... The hoses can be blocked off, or a longer one used to connect the nipples... Still not to have a vac leak, it needs a gasket ot at least a coating of RTV(only use the silicone IF the water is blocked off as it may weep coolant)...

EDIT... Actually it's the opposite side of the EGR spacer that needs the water sealed... There will also be a gasket between the spacer and upper intake, repl both...

Gotta change a head gasket need help...

Reply #36 – April 25, 2008, 09:25:58 AM

How do I disable the cable to the throttle body or what ever that cable for the throttle is called....

Gotta change a head gasket need help...

Reply #37 – April 25, 2008, 11:02:02 AM

Throttle cable + cruise control cable and the Kickdown cable for the trans both connect to the throttle body.

The easiest way is to remove the two bolts that hold the bracket to the throttle body.

Then Remove the pin that holds the kick down cable (if you have a plastic bushing here replace it with the aluminum one).

Finally the throttle cable just snaps on, so use a flat blade screwdriver to pop it off.

Gotta change a head gasket need help...

Reply #38 – April 25, 2008, 01:42:35 PM

Just found out that my head gaskets good my neigbor did a test, its in the rear intake gasket... My only problem is I can get the dam header bolts to get in, and its ****ing g me off..

Gotta change a head gasket need help...

Reply #39 – April 25, 2008, 02:12:06 PM

Less typing more wrenching....

(At least it wasn't a head gasket, because if this little bit of work frustrates you, a HG replacement is not for you.)

Gotta change a head gasket need help...

Reply #40 – April 25, 2008, 02:28:29 PM

too bad you don't have an ho upper and 60mm throttlebody laying around to put back in.

Gotta change a head gasket need help...

Reply #41 – April 25, 2008, 11:27:28 PM

I'd do alot of research before you start. For example:

1) What is the age and mileage on the engine?
2) Does it have a flat tapper cam or roller cam (See my post on Oil if a flat tappet cam before you start)?
3) Ford used a number of different heads which require different torque specs as well as torquing at different degrees?
4) Recommend you buy new Torque to Yield bolts?
5) Lastly, consider Murphy's Law (what can go wrong will!!)
6) Does the local machine shop have the capability to remachine and magnaflux your heads?

Lastly, give do consideration to Murphy's Law. For example, if you break a bolt, do you have the tools and space to extract it -- Some of the exhaust is pretty tight!

Based on your previous posts, this job may be a little to difficult at this juncture unless you have a good friend who will hold your hand.

--------------------

FWIW I needed mine done. Had 160k miles and opted because of mileage to have the engine rebuilt. After rebuild, found out this was a flat tappet cam and potential ZDDP oil issue, which I would have calculated in my decision of buy new or rebuild.

Gotta change a head gasket need help...

Reply #42 – April 25, 2008, 11:30:04 PM

Jobs all Done.. Finally took me all day, I got a exhaust leak on the out side tho because I was taking apart everything for a head gasket job.... For a intake there is no need to remove the header bolts...

Gotta change a head gasket need help...

Reply #43 – April 26, 2008, 09:56:04 AM

good job,,

now delete those throttle body coolant lines.

Gotta change a head gasket need help...

Reply #44 – April 26, 2008, 10:03:46 AM

Quote from: jcassity;215807

good job,,

now delete those throttle body coolant lines.

If you have an active EGR are they needed?