Changin' Heads
#1
Changin' Heads
Hey everybody. I have a 98 F-150 (in gallery and sig) with 144,000 miles on that big ol' 4.6. I also, unfortunatly, have a crack in one of the heads. My question is - what all is invovled in changing heads? By the looks of it it would be alot easier to pull the motor, but can it be done without pulling it? My dad and I may try and tackle this ourselves if it isn't too tough. Thanks for the input
Jake
Jake
#2
Actually, from what most of the Ford techs say, it is easiest to pull the body up off of the frame if you have access to a lift.
The 4.6 may be a bit easier to get the heads off in the truck thought, because the 4.6 is shorter and narrower than a 5.4L. But only by about an inch hight and 2 inched in width.
The 4.6 may be a bit easier to get the heads off in the truck thought, because the 4.6 is shorter and narrower than a 5.4L. But only by about an inch hight and 2 inched in width.
#3
#4
jseim44 - I changed the heads in my '98 4.6 with the engine still in the truck. Pulling the engine or removing the cab certainly would have made the swap easier, but I didn't have access to that type of equipment.
I was actually surprised at how much room there was once I got everything out of the way.
Swapping the heads wasn't really difficult, but it was time consuming. If you can be without your truck for a few days, then if you take your time you should be OK. The timing is the most critical thing to get correct. But there are ways to verify that before bolting the engine back up.
Here are some pictures from my swap. Let me know what questions you have and I'd be happy to answer them from my experience.
Head swap
I was actually surprised at how much room there was once I got everything out of the way.
Swapping the heads wasn't really difficult, but it was time consuming. If you can be without your truck for a few days, then if you take your time you should be OK. The timing is the most critical thing to get correct. But there are ways to verify that before bolting the engine back up.
Here are some pictures from my swap. Let me know what questions you have and I'd be happy to answer them from my experience.
Head swap
#7
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#12
hi ted98, just want to let you know that the elbow i got form you; with the 75mm tb i got helped out a lot with the power of my truck. i was looking a cams and valve spring next and what to ask if you thought it was a good idea to do the work myself? keeping in mind that i will go thur steps very close to what you did in your head swap. as long as i take my time it seems to be a good idea.
furrby
furrby
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Just something to consider - once you tear the engine apart far enough to change the cams and springs, it doesn't take much more to pull the heads.
So if you got a spare set of heads from eBay (~$200-$250), you could get them ported and drop in the cams. Then just bolt them up.
From what I've read on modulardepot.com, changing cams&valves with the heads on the engine is not a fun project.
So if you got a spare set of heads from eBay (~$200-$250), you could get them ported and drop in the cams. Then just bolt them up.
From what I've read on modulardepot.com, changing cams&valves with the heads on the engine is not a fun project.