Head swap?
Thread Starter
|
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 13,561
Likes: 81
From: Manhattan, KS
Head swap?
No, I'm not changing my own head. I have a 78 Bronco that I put a '71 engine into. It appears that the bearings are bad (loses oil pressure as it gets warm) and maybe other stuff. Should I swap the heads from the '71 onto the engine I pulled that has good oil pressure, but some valve problems? If I do that, what do I need to be careful about. Do I use the push rods that are with the heads? I'm looking to get by cheap if possible.
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,270
Likes: 5
From: Delaware
Originally Posted by husker
No, I'm not changing my own head. I have a 78 Bronco that I put a '71 engine into. It appears that the bearings are bad (loses oil pressure as it gets warm) and maybe other stuff. Should I swap the heads from the '71 onto the engine I pulled that has good oil pressure, but some valve problems? If I do that, what do I need to be careful about. Do I use the push rods that are with the heads? I'm looking to get by cheap if possible.
You can use heavier oil in warm weather, or run an oil line from the front to the rear of the motor. My rule of thumb is that if the lifters on the drivers side don't tap at idle when the motor is warm, then the oil pressure is sufficient, sine the drivers side valve train is the last to get oil.
Otherwise you should be able to swap the '71 heads onto another motor with no problems. All parts will be interchangeable. I would use the pushrods from the motor without valve problems.
Thread Starter
|
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 13,561
Likes: 81
From: Manhattan, KS
Thanks danlee for the information. I'll check the motor again as I just changed the oil and filter, but haven't run it long enough to get it warmed up. The oil pressure was dropping off to nothing and the engine was getting noisy, so that is why I'm considering the swap. I should probably drop the pan and take a look at the main bearings and crank to see what they look like before I do a swap.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
bliss1
1961 - 1966 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
11
Oct 31, 2023 11:48 AM
Nobodyhearsyou
1973 - 1979 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
15
Nov 23, 2016 05:47 PM
ceeya68
1967 - 1972 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
3
Oct 16, 2010 10:17 PM
rsargent
Small Block V8 (221, 260, 289, 5.0/302, 5.8/351W)
26
Jul 16, 2010 06:42 PM
