replacing Head anything special I should know?
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replacing Head anything special I should know?
Blew out another spark plug..that makes 3 on the right side, so I am going to put a new Head on....I have never done this before. It looks pretty staight forward..? Any advise? Thank You!
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Better do a search here. Seem to recall many recommend pulling the motor b/c there's so little room.
I'd also thought FORD fixed the blown plug issue by 2001?
I'd also thought FORD fixed the blown plug issue by 2001?
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You have to use new head bolts because they are one time use only.
If your using the same cams make sure you mark them and put the same tooth on the same chain link to keep the timing right. If your using new cams then it get a lot more complicated.
If your using the same cams make sure you mark them and put the same tooth on the same chain link to keep the timing right. If your using new cams then it get a lot more complicated.
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Thanks for the reply...Ford didn't fix the problem till 2004 so if you have a 97-2004..watch out. This has become a monster problem. I'm finding that i have plenty of room to work but this will take me around three days to complete.
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I repaired the threads but now the valves from that plug are messed up...so I thought I would just replace the head. It is going to be one hell of a job....but the Ford dealer wants three grand to do it.
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Thank You! I was going to use the old bolts...now I'll use new ones...the head I'm putting on is a complete unit from Auto Zone...They said it would be ready to just bolt on???? Not sure they know what they are talking about...What do you think...will it be tuff to get the timing right.?
Thank you for your help.
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My bro's 97 Lar. just blew one! Don't know which side but it tossed a plug. He said he will try and heli-coil it first. He's up in R.I. going through school, nothing but time on his hands but limited on tools. Talked about pulling the head and R&R'g it but was going to try this first. Any (long-time) luck in heli-coils??
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My bro's 97 Lar. just blew one! Don't know which side but it tossed a plug. He said he will try and heli-coil it first. He's up in R.I. going through school, nothing but time on his hands but limited on tools. Talked about pulling the head and R&R'g it but was going to try this first. Any (long-time) luck in heli-coils??
Since Ford won’t fess up about this Engineering Flaw, I talked to a lawyer that was after Ford about this problem and he said if you take Ford to your local small claims court there is about a 99% chance they will not even show and you will win by default. They then have to pay for new Heads on his truck. That is what I was doing before I blew another plug…now I have to put a new Head on myself.
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From: N. Fort Myers,FL
I bet those Autozone heads are just refurbished heads. So that would mean that they too would have the plug spitting problem. The only solutions are to replace with a '03 head or put in a '03 motor.
I dont know a whole lot about changing heads on these trucks, but from what Ive heard/seen, I think I would rather replace with a motor with less miles, than to put on a different head.
I dont know a whole lot about changing heads on these trucks, but from what Ive heard/seen, I think I would rather replace with a motor with less miles, than to put on a different head.
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If you decide to change the heads it's going to be some work.
You have to remove the radiator, fan, belt and to have room to take the front timing cover off. You'll need an impact wrench to remove the crankshaft pully bolt. By the way the crankshaft pully bolt is also a one time use only so you'll need to get a new one before you put it back together.
Once the front cover is off it's just a matter of removing the chain tensioners and guilds for each side of the engine so you can loosen the chains enough to get them off the cam spockets.
One thing I did to make it easier to put back together was to take some pictures of the front of the engine with the cover off. You don't want to get the left side parts mixed with the right side. They don't interchange.
I marked the teeth on the lower and top spockets and chains with some nail polish so I could get everything back where they belong.
I used the same cams so putting everything back together and in the right place was not to bad.
Hope this helps.
You have to remove the radiator, fan, belt and to have room to take the front timing cover off. You'll need an impact wrench to remove the crankshaft pully bolt. By the way the crankshaft pully bolt is also a one time use only so you'll need to get a new one before you put it back together.
Once the front cover is off it's just a matter of removing the chain tensioners and guilds for each side of the engine so you can loosen the chains enough to get them off the cam spockets.
One thing I did to make it easier to put back together was to take some pictures of the front of the engine with the cover off. You don't want to get the left side parts mixed with the right side. They don't interchange.
I marked the teeth on the lower and top spockets and chains with some nail polish so I could get everything back where they belong.
I used the same cams so putting everything back together and in the right place was not to bad.
Hope this helps.
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From: Longwood, Fl
03 gran marq
The wife has an 03 gran marq with 129K and OEM plugs. I would guess that the car and truck motors are about the same, certainly the heads. I already have the new plugs, but because of the plug issue, I am really dreading trying to change them. Wasnt good news to hear that it was 04 before ford corrected (made an attempt) the thread problems.
If I knew in advance what the turn out was going to be, I would almost start pricing a rebuilt motor--!
If I knew in advance what the turn out was going to be, I would almost start pricing a rebuilt motor--!
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