headgasket change?
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Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 34
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From: Waco Texas
headgasket change?
Ford has changed the part number on the head gasket kit that includes the headbolts three times. Does anyone know if anything in the kit was upgraded to keep from blowing head gaskets?
Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 15,368
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From: Stuttgart, Ar
IMHO--if you're going that deep into the motor order the hypermax headgaskets and the headstuds. It's well well well worth the maybe little extra money you're gonna spend and dang sure worth the time involved. I have the new designed ford headgaskets on my motor cause it was warranty and they've held fine even running the bad(horrible on heads) tuner I'm running. If I had to do it out of my pocket it would be hypermax and ARP.
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Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 34
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From: Waco Texas
The reason I ask about the Ford kit is that my truck is loosing water and may need headgaskets. The truck is still in warranty. If the Ford gaskets are better now would I need to use the aftermarket parts?
Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 15,368
Likes: 121
From: Stuttgart, Ar
No--in fact Ford won't unless you can talk them into letting you buy the head studs instead of the torque-to-yield bolts that ford uses.--that's the most expensive part--about 550 bucks vs 50 or 60 for the head gaskets. You don't say what year your truck is. They came with these head gaskets about june of 05, so.......
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Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 34
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From: Waco Texas
My truck is a 2oo3 model, with a March build date. I think the dealer will install under warranty the aftermarket studs if I purchase them. My question is are the new gaskets better than the old ones. Do I need to use studs if I am not going to do any mods to the truck? Do the new kits have better head bolts in them? I only want to do this one time.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Lowsyana
The new design stock FORD head gasket is just fine especially for future warranty purposes. The ARP head studs would be best to go with if you are going to have the head gasket changed and the FORD tech doesn't have a problem swapping them for you.
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Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 15,368
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From: Stuttgart, Ar
Since it's on Ford's dime it's THEIR decision, but I would have NO problem going with the studs. After all the discussion about puking and headgaskets I don't consider it overkill--just good preventative maintenance.
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Super Moderator
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Ohio
Ford did an update on the gasket, then the head bolts. That would leave you with 3 part numbers. I purchased the upper kit which includes all the necessary gaskets you will need (around $300) to do the job. Head studs from ARP and stock gaskets (multi-layer 5) are fine for most applications. If you going for the world record using NOS, water-meth, pane and the most boost you can find....O-ring the heads.
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Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Ohio
Originally Posted by clevelandjim
or use OEM bolts with the Hypertech gaskets.