So it seems that i have a leaking driver's side head gasket. had to add almost 1.5 gallons of coolant today and a couple months ago the coolant was right up to the filler neck on the rad.




Any tips to make it go smooth?

What are ALL the new gaskets that i need?

I am strongly considering studs as well, cuz ya know.........i like boost

 

Engine in or engine out?

 

still debating. studs can be done with engine in, but would be much easier with engine out.

 

That's not good. Hope it all goes as smooth as possible for you.

 

Heads are probably near 100lbs each, makes for a huge PITA dealing with getting the back head bolts in/out...and when trying to be gental on the new gaskets. If you have the tools, I'd pull the engine. I'd even take the core support out, little more time but makes for removal/installation of engine much smoother!

 

i would have to buy an engine hoist and stand, but would need the hoist anyways for the head removal.

if i took the core support out i could fix the rust on that.

i am pretty sure i would much rather stand next to the engine to fasten the heads to the block rather than leaning over the engine and all that.

 

I just did my 94, and I removed the core support and pulled the motor by myself. It is a PITA, but like Dirty says, heads are, I think, 85 lbs each, I would hate to try to set one in place it the engine compartment. Make sure you have your heads magged for cracks too. It is a major problem with the 7.3 heads. I liked doing it so much, I think I'll do it again!!! HA ha.

 

My heads BETTER be good. i will be PISSED if i need new ones, or 4.

 

Pulling the core support is not that hard. Getting the headlights out is the trickiest part. There are two screws at the top of the bezel and two studs at the bottom behind the battery. Pulling my motor gave me a chance to clean up a lot of work too. I pressure washed my engine compartment, cleaned up my wiring harness. all sorts of loose ends. It will look sweet when I get done, if I get done!

 

The core support is kind of annoying, with all of the little bolts. Make sure you get a tranny jack aswell...the e4od isn't very light...the zf can be manhandled out of there but e4 is different story, especially if your doing it alone

 

Took me 8 to find two good ones! fortunately I got them at a Ford junkyard who guaranteed me rebuildable heads. I went through every one they had!

 

If you can't get a tranny jack a ratcheting strap from frame rail to frame rail worked great for me!

You can see it in this pic.

 

on my first truck I did it all with engine in:



Doing it in my crew cab now, would be nearly impossible with all of the A/C parts.

It sucks, but its doable.

 

My drivers side HG is leaking pretty bad too. I plan on studding it asap, I just dont want to have to pull the engine. I guess ill go the hard route lol

 

Yeah NMB I couldn't even imagine getting to the back pass. side bolts with A/C components in the way. 94 has a Sidewinder too which takes about as much time to pull as the core support does IMHO! Now that I have done it twice, I think I can do it in about 4 hours and 94 with the core support out, you can pull the entire motor entact! It sure made pulling parts a breeze, especially on my lifted 4X4. This is how my motor came out.



Good luck,

Mac.