to pull engine or not to pull
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 1,642
Likes: 6
From: Northern California
Did anyone think of simply using a 16 oz. bottle of Acme brand "Head Gasket Rebuilder" in a can, additive? 
25 miles later, the Aerostar can be driven from Hueytown, Alabama to Barrow, Alaska. Trust me on this, friends. Ed 
PS Why do I have a feeling, my post has all of you giving your monitors the middle finger? !!
25 miles later, the Aerostar can be driven from Hueytown, Alabama to Barrow, Alaska. Trust me on this, friends. Ed PS Why do I have a feeling, my post has all of you giving your monitors the middle finger? !!
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 882
Likes: 0
From: Wichita
When you consider the torque procedure on the heads, I'd much rather do the assembly outside of the van.
Having said that, I still prefer pulling it from the front. If possible, I'd do it with the tranny connected. You are less likely to screw up the seal if you can align them without being on your head.
When I pull the radiator in this procedure I have it tested and cleaned.
Opening up the frontend also makes it easier to clean the engine compartment, but that's just me. I like to be thorough. In fact, anything that comes off of the engine gets replaced.
The beauty of the Aerostar is that parts are cheap. Try that with a foreign brand!
Having said that, I still prefer pulling it from the front. If possible, I'd do it with the tranny connected. You are less likely to screw up the seal if you can align them without being on your head.
When I pull the radiator in this procedure I have it tested and cleaned.
Opening up the frontend also makes it easier to clean the engine compartment, but that's just me. I like to be thorough. In fact, anything that comes off of the engine gets replaced.
The beauty of the Aerostar is that parts are cheap. Try that with a foreign brand!
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 116
Likes: 0
From: Corpus Christi,Tx.
THANKS, one and all for your posts !!
Any and all suggestions are apreciated.
Money is a big issue on this one. So is the 200K on the trany that looks like it could go any day. It had 130K when it was bought and then the trany fluid was very dark. I'm afraid to change the ATF ... too many stories of "first change at 75+k and trany cratered soon after that"
Thanks for reminding me that we need to get the heads checked not just throw the new head gasket in there.
we've already pulled the alt and ps pump. I think we'll take it one step at a time . As long as clearance isn't an issue... o.k. isn't to big of an issue, we'll leave the motor in the van (don't have a lift to raise the body off of the motor and don't have a engine hoist to pull from the front..I've thought about buying one though (nows the time, the wife can't say anything since it's to help her parents, and this isn't the first time ... or even the 3rd time we've pull an engine on one of her relatives car's)
Decisions, Decisions, Decisions ! up,down or stay the same.
Jay, that is a great site ! and a cool paint job on the van!
Any and all suggestions are apreciated.
Money is a big issue on this one. So is the 200K on the trany that looks like it could go any day. It had 130K when it was bought and then the trany fluid was very dark. I'm afraid to change the ATF ... too many stories of "first change at 75+k and trany cratered soon after that"
Thanks for reminding me that we need to get the heads checked not just throw the new head gasket in there.
we've already pulled the alt and ps pump. I think we'll take it one step at a time . As long as clearance isn't an issue... o.k. isn't to big of an issue, we'll leave the motor in the van (don't have a lift to raise the body off of the motor and don't have a engine hoist to pull from the front..I've thought about buying one though (nows the time, the wife can't say anything since it's to help her parents, and this isn't the first time ... or even the 3rd time we've pull an engine on one of her relatives car's)
Decisions, Decisions, Decisions ! up,down or stay the same.
Jay, that is a great site ! and a cool paint job on the van!
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 116
Likes: 0
From: Corpus Christi,Tx.
when dropping the engine from the bottom, or maybe jacking the van off the motor... I can't think of any obsticles to leaving the trany and motor connected... what am I missing. If they could be left togeather it would make dropping a little more apealing.
Tony
Tony
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,240
Likes: 3
From: Dallas, Texas
Originally Posted by JTHill24
Just to let you know I called 10-15 shops before I decided to tackle the job. I asked about pulling the engine through the front or dropping it from the bottom. Not one of
them said that they ever dropped it through the bottom. The all said that they pull them through the front...........Even the Service guys at the 4 FORD dealerships I called.
Jay
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 882
Likes: 0
From: Wichita
It's a moot point at this time since you are leaving it in, but I couldn't justify buying a hoist either. So rather than rent one and have to shuttle it back and forth to stop the rental clock. I bought a cheap one. When I was finished, I sold it for slightly less than new.
It was still cheaper than renting one and I had it available whenever I needed it. This practice also worked well when I re-roofed my house. I bought a nailgun and sold it afterwards.
It was still cheaper than renting one and I had it available whenever I needed it. This practice also worked well when I re-roofed my house. I bought a nailgun and sold it afterwards.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 116
Likes: 0
From: Corpus Christi,Tx.
interesting idea... renting doesn't appeal to me.
I think I'll talk it over with my Inlaws as to what they want out of this van long term.
The rebuild kits are not as bad as I thought, (may still be out of his budget) and another post makes me think about rebuilding the tranny (WOW, I'm being ambitious today... and a positive attitude )
I think I'll talk it over with my Inlaws as to what they want out of this van long term.
The rebuild kits are not as bad as I thought, (may still be out of his budget) and another post makes me think about rebuilding the tranny (WOW, I'm being ambitious today... and a positive attitude
)
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,240
Likes: 3
From: Dallas, Texas
Originally Posted by copper_90680
The Ford Service manual says you can do it either way. I pulled through the front since I didn't have a lift.
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