Blown Headgasket

[66Sprinter]

Hey all, the time has come in my wonderful stressfilled life where a blown headgasket has me thinking replacement ? or go for broke and get on my knees and wag my tonque while begging the wife for a new engine.

If I pull the head and dust it, what other items do I need to consider before replacing the gasket and re-using the old, worn, decrepit, elderly and stubbornly still running L6?

I appreciate all comments while I break out the calculator to consider my yearly earnings vs my daily value!

Jim

 

[ochretoe]

If its just a head gasket, take an afternoon and swap it out. For $40 or so you can get a gasket kit and new fluids. Go ahead and change plugs too. If you don't have a manual like Chiltons get one. The only other thing you will need is a torque wrench. It looks like a lot of work but its not really.

 

[LaGrasta]

I blew a head gasket two weeks ago myself. Pulled the head and replaced the water pump as I suspect that was the problem. I had the head checked and was told it needed a complete valve jopb. No sense putting it back on without as I'd only have to do it again later. Parts and labor, $944. Runs like a brand new engine with much more pull and smoothness. Huge frickin' bill, but amazing results.

 

[Bort62]

A headgasket is really easy on these cars.

The last time I did mine, I timed myself for my amusement. 30 minutes.

 

[rbohm]

8) a friend of mine and i changed the head gasket on my 64 falcon in about 45 minutes, but he gets somewhat fastidious about cleaning surfaces, to the point of being able to eat off them.

 

[66Sprinter]

OK guys, thanks for the help and good words.

I have plans to pull the whole engine and tranny tonite.

After that, on my next free day I will pull the head and will look at what I need. I have called Mike and FSP and asked for a quote on some things.

Will know more later this week. I want to measure warp and check the block. I will also pull the oil pan too. Yeah...I know the more I pull the more its likely to get ugly....so a new engine or a rebuild is not out of the question. If I do that, I want a hydraulic throwout bearing for the clutch too.

I will keep ya posted.

 

[Bort62]

Hydraulic throwout bearing ?

 

[Anonymous]

is that the hydraulic assisted slave cylinder? like on my explorer

 

[66Sprinter]

Yup,

I see that McCloud offers one, but they are stiff and work mostly for the Ford trucks as a slave cylinder...BUT I KNOW that some newer restomods are using them with Kiesler T5's. I have contacted Kiesler to see if they will make one for the T5. They make a perfect one that works with their T5, but I dunno if it works with the BW reg or WC one!

 

[fb71]

I appreciate all comments while I break out the calculator to consider my yearly earnings vs my daily value!

Jim

so, would that be 'yearnings' vs 'earnings'?

 

[Anonymous]

A headgasket is really easy on these cars.

The last time I did mine, I timed myself for my amusement. 30 minutes.

Ya, but I bet you them exhaust manifold bolts had allready been broke loose a time or two!

 

[66Sprinter]

Yes....when it comes to the Mustang...money is always a yearning!

 

[LaGrasta]

A headgasket is really easy on these cars.

The last time I did mine, I timed myself for my amusement. 30 minutes.

Ya, but I bet you them exhaust manifold bolts had allready been broke loose a time or two!

this is a good point, don't forget you'll need other gaskets to complete this job, even if you don't plane the head surface.

 

[Mercury Mike]

When I do a headgasket, I leave the carb on, I leave the exhaust manifold on, I leave the water neck on.... I don't remove anything but the head gasket. If you unbolt the exhaust pipe at the donut, it will come out with the exhaust manifold still on it. You will need a valve cover gasket, though. Gotta take it off to remove them head bolts! =)