removing heads
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Freshman User
Joined: Feb 2009
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From: ohio
removing heads
Has anyone removed the heads on a v10 excursion? I was wondering how big a job it would be. Passenger side looks tight. Might it be easier to pull the motor and then the heads?
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,564
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From: Wayyy NoCal, USA
FSM is your friend.... Factory Service Manual.
But in a nutshell, assuming the Excursion is as similar to the F250 as I think it is, you can pull heads and leave block. Getting to the valve cover bolts on back of passenger bank is a grope and hope exercise. 3 of the head bolts on pass side will not be fully removable, so remember to pre-install them before dropping head in place.
A big secret: Pull the radiator, upper crossmember, and cooling fan first. Then you can stand between bumper and engine block to make access 10X easier!
I'd say it is pretty close to a wash as for what would be faster - in place or pulling. It will be a couple extra hours to pull engine, but you will make up a lot of time because of easier access.
Myself? Unless I was incredibly pressed for time, I would pull engine so I have super easy access to everything. It is so much nicer working with engine on a stand...
You can leave heads, exhaust manifolds, valve covers, front cover, harmonic balancer, water pump, etc on when going in and out. Intake must come off.
But in a nutshell, assuming the Excursion is as similar to the F250 as I think it is, you can pull heads and leave block. Getting to the valve cover bolts on back of passenger bank is a grope and hope exercise. 3 of the head bolts on pass side will not be fully removable, so remember to pre-install them before dropping head in place.
A big secret: Pull the radiator, upper crossmember, and cooling fan first. Then you can stand between bumper and engine block to make access 10X easier!
I'd say it is pretty close to a wash as for what would be faster - in place or pulling. It will be a couple extra hours to pull engine, but you will make up a lot of time because of easier access.
Myself? Unless I was incredibly pressed for time, I would pull engine so I have super easy access to everything. It is so much nicer working with engine on a stand...
You can leave heads, exhaust manifolds, valve covers, front cover, harmonic balancer, water pump, etc on when going in and out. Intake must come off.
Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2008
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Make sure you get the right fuel disconnects first. On my 01 f-250, it was the big circular fuel disconnects. With the right tool, its disgustingly easy to disconnect the lines. I pulled both my heads and sent them to the machine shop to get all new heli coils in and cleaned. MARK ALL YOUR HARDWARE PROPERLY!!! You will be amazed at how many bolts will be all over the area, take pictures, and read the manual and go step by step. Get a fan clutch removal tool from advance auto before you start. Its to remove the clutch fan. When removeing the heads, ENSURE you break torque on the bolts in the opposite direction of torqueing. If you just start pulling bolts out, you WILL warp the heads. Its not hard, just time consuming. Expect to break off at least 12 exhaust bolts, and you'll have to remove the starter to get the bak bottom 3 exhaust manifold bolts.
