Does anybody know how hard it is to do head gaskets with the engine in the truck? It's a 97 F-150 with a 4.6 liter engine. Or would I be better off just removing the engine? Never done it before, just looking for a little advice.

 

It's pretty normal to change head gaskets with the engine still in the truck, assuming the short block is still in good shape. Obviously it's easier with the engine out, but, it's a lot more work to pull the engine ( and put it back in ). Most shop manuals will detail the correct sequence for doing this.

When disconnecting the exhaust, I'd leave the manifolds on the heads until you get them out, lot easier to deal with the manifold bolts.

Cleanliness of the engine while doing the work is critical. If you have an old shop vac, it works real nice for sucking all the gasket particles out as you take things apart.

If you are doing the gasket job because of an oil leak, and the heads turn out to be still usable, check on the head gaskets available for your engine. The are a couple of different types for some of the 4.6 engines. One is an OEM replacement, the other (if they show it) is a service repair gasket, made especially for oil leaking 4.6's.

I like to build a catwalk, 8-10" high around the front of the truck, just to ease reaching some of the work. Nothing fancy, just 2 x 10's or 12's, blocked up and fastened. I also leave the oil drain plug out until the very last thing. Any coolant leaks for whatever reason show up pretty quickly, and you don't contaminate the fresh oil.

Dave