I was just wondering if the 2.8 has any issues with cracking heads. Pretty sure they`re not as bad as the 2.9, but my `84 B2 has been blowing steam out of the exhaust and getting water in the oil. I pulled the heads today and couldn`t find anything that stood out like it could be trouble. I did notice that the pistons have a "10" on them and there was no ridge at the top of the cylinders. The head and intake gaskets were older felpros. I`m truly hoping it`s just a gasket issue and not anything in the heads or block that`s cracked.

 

Looks as if the engine has been rebuilt with .010 overbore. You may want to have the heads checked for cracks, but more than likely it's a blown head gasket - and definitely hopefully NOT any cracks in the block. Looking at the heads, though - do you see a hole between the two exhaust ports that are next to each other on the head-to-cylinder block mating surface? That is a common 'upgrade' to relieve the hotspot that occurs there. If they were not modified, you may want to consider it while you have them off. That hotspot contributes to head gaskets blowing and heads cracking on the 2.8, IIRC.

 

I`m planning on doing that upgrade. I used to have the ford V6 book but sold it on ebay when I sold my last bronco II. Now I wish I still had it for the tech. I was wondering if I needed to put any sealer on the head gasket around the new holes that I will drill.

 

If you're using the 'new style' gaskets with the holes in them that facilitate the mod, you shouldn't need to. I've known people that use the tack seal stuff on head gaskets regardless. I would suggest using either a drill press or mag-mount drill for the upgrade, so the holes are perpendicular with the head-to-block mating surface. I forget what size bit is needed, but it should be smaller than the holes in the gasket, but large enough for coolant flow.

I know which book you're talking about. Someone had posted up an offer for a digital copy, but that got nipped due to copywright infringement. It's no longer in print, and the cheapest I have found it for so far (used) is about $150. I, too, wished I had it.