cracks in head, need advice
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Elder User
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 923
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From: North Central MA
cracks in head, need advice
Just picked up a 95 F250 with an 351. I went over this thing with a fine tooth comb in the rain the day I got it but sadly... not enough. I knew it had cracked exhaust manifolds and I figured it ran ok and the PO said it was not driven long or hard with them cracked so it may be ok... wrong and I got lied to 4 sure. driver side mani cam off trouble free tossed on new header and moved on to passenger side.
Fail- pulling mani I found sealant on the bolts.. Thought this is not good! After removal cyl 3 started to dribble coolant from rear bolt hole. Closer inspection found cracks in 2 and 3 on the center line of the port (inline with valve.) It has no mixing of fluids going on at all..
I know I need a head ... But... Can I limp this thing till I find a good set or save for aftermarkets?
Fail- pulling mani I found sealant on the bolts.. Thought this is not good! After removal cyl 3 started to dribble coolant from rear bolt hole. Closer inspection found cracks in 2 and 3 on the center line of the port (inline with valve.) It has no mixing of fluids going on at all..
I know I need a head ... But... Can I limp this thing till I find a good set or save for aftermarkets?
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 757
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From: 7th realm of hell, Va.
I don't know what your situation is as far as having another vehicle to drive, but I would not drive it witha cracked head. It may not be leaking coolant into the oil yet, but you never know if it will be the next heat cycle you run it through that craks it to that point. If you need the truck and funs are short I would find a used one on Craigs list or hit upo a junk yard and just put a used head on it till you can buy new aftermarket heads or get a second set of heads and have them worked at a machine shop.
just my $.02
Matt
just my $.02
Matt
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 31,930
Likes: 1,499
From: Ottawa, Ontario
I just replaced both heads on my 5.0 because of a coolant problem, thought it was a crack but I'm pretty sure the real problem was that I didn't put sealant on all the head bolts the last time I had it apart.
Stupid mistake on my part but for what it's worth the motor ran for a year or more like that and doesn't seem to have suffered any for it. I probably had a golden horseshoe stuffed up my backside on that one but as far as the heads go.. I bought a used set off a local guy cleaned them up and stuck them on there with new gaskets, so far the motor is running better than it has for some time and no more coolant problem.
Stupid mistake on my part but for what it's worth the motor ran for a year or more like that and doesn't seem to have suffered any for it. I probably had a golden horseshoe stuffed up my backside on that one but as far as the heads go.. I bought a used set off a local guy cleaned them up and stuck them on there with new gaskets, so far the motor is running better than it has for some time and no more coolant problem.
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