2.9 Liter

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Apr 3, 2004 | 10:24 PM

Cmq44

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2.9 Liter

I am have a dumb question to ask. I have been reading around through the site about how the 2.9 liters heads crack alot. I just recently had the top end of my 2.9 get new gaskets and stuff like that. I ran it almost ot one day coming back from school. what i mean by almost is that it was still in the normal on the guage but all the way to the "L". After i got the truck back from the shop from getting the top end worked on (was determined to be blown intake gaskets) As soon as they started it up it spit some water out of the exhaust. Not alot at all....looked more like dirty water. Is that a sign of a cracked head? What are the signs of cracked heads? I took the truck when i got it back and drove it for 3 weeks no problem then my rod bearings went out so i am in the process of replacing them. If i do have a cracked head or heads, is it still ok to drive or is it something that requires immediate attention? We plan on doing a compression test after we get the bottom end of the truck back together. If i do have cracked heads can someone point me in the right direction to aftermarket brands? I really appreciate all your help in this, i just worry over anything. Thanks again everyone.

Clint

Apr 4, 2004 | 09:18 AM

GrayRanger4x4

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From: Perry,Ga.

The water you saw was probale condencation in the tailpipe, If you are rebuilding the engine have the heads check for cracks.One ? for you.Did the oil look like a choclet milk.when the mains went out?If so water was getting into the oil some how.

Apr 4, 2004 | 12:53 PM

Ken00

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From: South Jersey

The shop should have magnafluxed the heads to make sure they were OK, I would contact them to make sure they did this. You can run a compression test and pressure test the cooling system to determine if you have a cracked head. World products make the best heads. WHen the heads crack it is VERY common for the coolant to end up in the oil and it looks like choclate milk.

Apr 4, 2004 | 02:33 PM

Cmq44

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I never had the heads taken off when i had new intake gaskets installed. They told me that i needed to drive the truck for about a week then change the oil so it would get all the left over antifreeze out of the block. When i changed the oil (for the first time) right before the bearings went out it did look a little milky...i had a ford dealership mechanic look at it and he said its normal because the would still be some in the block and it would take a few more oil changes before it all would come out. I never mentions that the motor is a remanufactored engine from ford. they told me when i bought the motor that the heads were the new and revised ones so they shouldnt crack as easy as the older style. Is this true? Thanks again for helping.

Apr 5, 2004 | 02:57 PM

Ken00

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From: South Jersey

Sorry about that, when you said top end I misunderstood. The "revised" Ford heads are the ones with the 89 casting number but they still crack.

Apr 6, 2004 | 12:15 PM

Cmq44

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has there ever been a situation on the 2.9 when the engine ran hot and the heads didnt crack? i am just trying to keep this as cheap as possible. You said something about the world heads how much do they run and are they complete? thanks again.

Clint