Here's a link to the Motorcraft Spark Plug Chart I was talking about.

 

I see in that Motorcraft chart that they offer a '.460" conical seat'
I read Bruno saying .460" reach...

But the AF42C that crosses to the accel plug decodes as a 14mm, 460" conical seat, medium temp, extended tip, copper core plug.

It doesn't say anything about the reach of the plug.
If the head is off, thread in those NGK's and see if the threads come flush with the CC.

 

Now that I look at it closely, that is the most confusing thing I think I've ever seen! Good idea, we'll install an ASF32C that I happen to have laying around and see how it fits. But, that won't be until Saturday as the machinist didn't get the heads done for this weekend.

 

If you have the Motorcraft plug just measure the reach.

We know the NGK 1270/5950/BPM6F are 3/8"

 

Can do. But, I'm still gonna put a plug in the head - when we get the heads back.

 

Just got a call from Bruno after he stopped by the machinist's and talked to him about the heads. First, the machinist got the same value we got for warpage - less than .0015" across the whole head. So, they are flat.

Second, the heads (World Products) are actually slightly thicker than the D8OE Ford heads I have - about .045" thicker. So, we think we are in good shape for the bolts clamping the heads. But, we want y'all to look our math over:

• The heads measure 1.425" and 3.032" resectively
• The gasket will be .039" compressed
• The bolts measure 1.210" and 2.674" respectively between the washer and the head when screwed all the way in
• So, we have .254" and .397" of threads left on the bolts when fully down.

Anyone see a problem?

 

Ok, I stopped by the machinists today to see that my heads were done like they told me they would be when I asked Monday. Apparently there are a couple of small cracks in between the valves on both heads on the outside cylinders. So 4 cylinders showing the same flaws just like a mirror image of each other.

The cracks are vertical and about 1/4" long, but don't go all the way through the hump in between the valves. They are going to pressure test them in order to be sure we aren't losing anything from them. I don't think they will show a loss because IMO the cracks look to be casting flaws instead of real cracks. They occur in the exact same spots in both heads. I am expecting to see good results from the pressure test.

The heads appear to have been milled at some point. However, there should be plenty of meat there for my head bolts to clamp the heads right.The cracks shouldn't have anything to do with the gaskets failing either because they are not in the areas where the gaskets failed nor are they in an area where the gasket seals period.

Another thing I would like to bring up is the machinist told me a tale of another customer running Mr. Gaskets top of the line head gasket on a freshly machined motor and having a failure as well. He informed me that he was willing to take the lump if it turned out be his work, but after a lot of looking around with the customer right beside him there were no machining problems to be found. So they both chocked it up to a bad gasket. The gaskets were replaced with one of their competitors products and there were no more problems. In conclusion I am beginning to think this product brand is less than acceptable.

 

OK, the heads checked out perfect with the pressure test. They also pulled a vacuum on the valves . The valves held 22Hg with no problem so they are sealing up great as well. The magnaflux was $40 per head, but he didnt charge me for that only the pressure testing letting me off for $60.00 instead of $140.00. I believe he treated me right on the deal and I am happy all the way around.

 

Now it is time for the re assembly this weekend. Jason is ready to assist so that we can get the Bronco out of Gary's hair this weekend hopefully.

 

The heads and head bolts sound like they're going to be a snug fit, so I wouldn't worry.

Hope everything turns out good once the gaskets are replaced.

 

Glad the heads checked out. And, it really is comforting, in a perverse way, to know that someone else had serious problems with Mr. Gasket head gaskets. I'm sorry that someone else experienced it, but it is really good to know that a machinist saw the same thing that we did. And, I am confident that it will go back easily and run w/o a problem.

However, don't get too worried about getting the Bronco out of here. We might not be completely done, especially since we are going to spend a bit of time loading the bed for Dad's truck on a trailer, but we can roll it back out and what's left of Dad's truck back in. No problemo.

 

Off the topic of heads, but I wonder how the rest of the Mr. Gasket lineup is. It's often recommended when going with a 4bbl setup on a 300 to run a Mr. Gasket #260 on the manifolds/headers.

You guys keep going like this and ya'll can open up an auto shop! "Gary's Garajmahal - Ford Specialty Repairs".

 

That's a good question. I would personally find out if fel pro offered the same gasket and buy those. I have no faith in Mr. Gasket anymore and certainly wouldn't advise anyone to use their products.

 

I only have two data points - the thermometer/radiator cap and the head gaskets. But there are multiple examples with each since the machinist was recently bitten by Mr Gasket head gaskets and the guy in line at O'Reilly's said "Those Mr Gasket radiator caps are junk and I have 3 or 4 of them in my shop - all bad!". So, at this point I won't buy anything whatsoever that says it came from them.

As for opening up a shop, it sorta looks like one around here. Rusty sitting in the driveway to the shop waiting his turn and feeling rejected since he lost his place to Dad's truck. Bruno's Bronco sitting beside Rusty trying to console him. And, Brownie out back slowly fading away to nothingness as I take parts off of him.

 

Is Brownie going to the crusher after Dad's truck and Rusty are complete?