I believe i will be replacing the headgaskets on my '98 4.6L F150. I need to look closer but it appears coolant is leaking from the back of the passenger head gasket and running down the bell housing (i am still hoping there is some chance it is leaking from the heater lines or something and just dripping there but i don't think that is the case). Are there any tricks to remove the head without pulling all the front and chains apart??? On many imports with chains i have worked on, you can mark and wire the chain to the sprocket, remove the sprocket and chain from the head, keep it under some tension so the chain does not shift on the crank end, R&R the head, and then put the chain and sprocket back on the head in the same position. Any chance of this on the 4.6L? It sure saves a lot of time if you can. Thanks for any input!

 

You really need to pull everything. When I swapped PI heads on my '98, I couldn't see any way of getting both heads off and rigging some type of way to keeping the timing correct.

Since the Modular engine is an interference design, if the chain jumped a tooth or two, you'd have even bigger problems.

Removing the front cover, the chains, tensioners and guides is really pretty easy. It probably took me an hour to get those off. Most of the time spent pulling the heads is spent on other tasks.

Hope it turns out not to be a headgasket for you.