I have a 1996 F-250 with a 460 and a 5 speed in which I blew a head gasket. The truck has been sitting for a week and a half as I am stuck in a battle of wills with my parents to fix it. They don't think it worth fixing a "piece of crap." I find this particulalrily offensive. The truck is in really good shape other that the ball joints and gasket, and the body is in decent shape with just the normal bed rust above the wheels. I am searching for some options on fixing the gasket. With 138,000 miles the motor is pretty weak and I am considering putting a different engine in. Should I purchase a short block, long block, or just fix the gasket. I'm in desperate need of advice because i don't want to lose my beloved truck. Any input is appreciated.
Thanks- Matt

 

if you said 238,000mi id agree, but 138 there is LOTS of life left in that 460. its probably seeed weak because of that headgasket, only it wasnt real bad, just leaking more and more until i went wide open. personally i would fix it, ball joints arent so bad, a pia for sure, but not that bad. ive been in the fight years ago when i lived at home, i had a 84 olds cutlass, lots of miles on it when the first trany blew it was 'time to get a new car'


guess what, i fixed it anyways, and have accumulated other cars lol, and still rock the olds from time to time, 390,000mi and slowly counting

 

not sure what state you're from, but when i get to work, i'll get a list of parts/prices so you have an idea what you will have into it parts wise, as long as you can do the larbor yourself, or with a friend, you should be set.

 

Thank you for the input. Now that i think about it, I totally agree with your statement about it leaking until it finally gave. I've had an undiagnosed coolant leak in it for a long time now. And to answer your question, I live in Iowa. It really makes me angry that my parents want to throw away a perfectly good truck just because of a small problem like this. How difficult would it be to change the gasket in it? If I had a step by step guide, I could most likely take care of it myself. Thanks again.

 

i'll post the part numbers later if you want me to, i looked them up yesterday, and realize that this is only if both heads are fine, and no machine work is required. for 2 head gaskets, intake gasket set, exaust gasket set, 2 gal of straight green antifreeze, 7qts oil, oil filter, and a haynes manual so ya know how to do it came to $200 +tax.

most machine shops charge roughly 40-50 per head to clean and shave them straight. could be a bit more because the 460 heads are big and heavy, but thats roughly the cost.

they are fairly involved tasks, changing the headgaskets, but if you follow the book its not bad, or have a friend thats into that sot of thing its even easier.