[Lankolf]

Well, I blew my head gasket. I wasn't doing anything stupid, just going 80 in a 75 zone, down I-25 in fifth gear. I guess I ran out of coolant, or something, but my head gasket blew. I didn't really hear it boiling over or anything, my radio was on, and the window was down. Anyway, I was wondering, what do you guys think, did I warp the heads when I blew the gasket? Obviously I need to take the heads off and check it out, but before I start spending time and money, I wanted a second opinion. If I warped the heads, should I invest in new hi-po heads, get stock heads, or replace the engine, or not waste my money? I'm more knowledgeable around drive-train, and I've never really done much with the engine. (here's my chance!) They say knowledge is your replacement for money. Is it hard to take the heads off and put them back on with all the sensors and what-not, or is it less then rocket science? For my first time doing it, should I hire somebody to help me, or should I just read up and dive in? The engines does have 128k on it, maybe I should just jump into a reliable 3.8 with 40K or less? I'd love to hear some opinions, thanks.

[97TunedMustang]

If you can do the install yourself then its not really that expensive to do. it does however take a good bit of work and basically everything comes off the top end of the engine. a/c, alt., brackets, intake, everything. i could get you a detailed sheet on how to do the head gasket replacement if you like

[Onemanzu]

how big is your wallet??

you got some options... replace the head gasket and have the head milled down a hundreth or so...

get new performance heads from ssms ... aka power pack...

get a new engine from ssms or delk or where ever... morana ... something like that

i personally would look at a power pack but thats only cause it is a while your their kinda thing... if you don't have much money though try working with what you got... delk and morana might have head packages but im not sure i have never checked

[97TunedMustang]

Originally Posted by Onemanzu how big is your wallet?? you got some options... replace the head gasket and have the head milled down a hundreth or so... get new performance heads from ssms ... aka power pack... get a new engine from ssms or delk or where ever... morana ... something like that i personally would look at a power pack but thats only cause it is a while your their kinda thing... if you don't have much money though try working with what you got... delk and morana might have head packages but im not sure i have never checked

yea it depends on your budget. if you can afford to upgrade then do so.

If not then just replace the gaskets and be done with it. Since you just blew the gasket and i assume havent been driving on it for very long at all with high temps, theres no reason why your heads would be warped.

[stephen]

It's a big job but possible to do at home.

I would get the factory shop manual for the car ( from Helm publications) since it has detailed pictures of each step. Or you can use a digital camera to document it.

A few tips.

You will need an assortment of torque wrenches to reassemble it. I had to buy a small one to torque the manifold bolts.

The head bolts require a major breaker bar to get loose as well as to angle torque them.

The AC doesn't need to be discharged, just tie the compressor aside.

I would at least have a machine shop check out the heads and resurface them.

[Lankolf]

Thanks you all, I think I have it figured out.

[Lankolf]

Well, I got the whole top end of the car off, it was a blast to do. I learned a lot, which I really enjoyed, and now the heads are off. I blew the one on the passenger side, as I had suspected, and I figured out what happened, the freeze plug popped out from high steam pressure, from overheating. (I'm guessing the thermostat, but I'll look into that more.) My heads look fine, but I'll have to take them to a machine shop before I write a gospel about that. However my valve are definitely warped. My cousin told me he would help me rebuild the heads, and bore them out ourselves, rather then putting new ones on. He said they were fine, and we could just tune them a bit for more HP. I found out my intake manifold was cracked in the endeavor as well. So far that's the word. We plan on upgrading the manifold as well, so I guess I could get some pretty nice horse power gains from all this, and even better, some good know how.

Plans for the future; More effective camshaft, forged pistons, forced induction(Not sure if I'll go with NOS, turbo, or Super Charger yet.) CAI, Dual exhaust.

How does all that sound? I know HP doesn't just add up because you put "hi-po" crap on there, parts work together, so with that in mind, modding the heads first and foremost, does this all sound like a good direction?

[Hourofpain]

good luck man

[97fordsixer]

definitely go with some exhaust, i ran flowmaster 40's on my sixer and sounds tough.

[Lankolf]

Yea, sound is good, but when it comes time to put your money where your mouth is, I want my pony to preform too. No doubt though, dual exhaust isn't going to do anything but HP gains.

[chevy_killer]

what i would do is take your heads and manifolds to a machine shop and get them ported and polished..and get your valves grind out

[Lankolf]

OK, if that gives me the most HP gains those heads have to offer.

[Onemanzu]

thats what super six motor sports does they enlarge the valve body and what not...

also i would look at shaving off a hundreth or two on the bottom of the head to kick the compression up... unless you plan on boosting it... if your going to run N2O then don't bump the compression

[Hourofpain]

how much are you looking to spend?

[Lankolf]

I could spend a bit. Money isn't a serious problem, I'll make money.

I so I checked out the heads, they are pretty straight, but it wouldn't hurt to shave em a bit. That is what my initial plan was, that is until my buddy called me yesterday.

So this engine has 128k on it, not too bad, but it's not brand new or anything. Obviously I have to smoke the tires and spin around in the rain, or I would rather just not have the car at all. Well, that abuses the engine plenty.

To keep on topic. My buddy called me and told me he had this 4.6 police interceptor that he'd sell me for a hundred bucks if I really wanted it. At first I said no way man, that would take more work and money then just fixing my car up. Then we thought that maybe it would be quicker, maybe even cheaper to convert the engine to a carb.

Here's what I have to work with, maybe I'm misled in my information, thus this post. I have a T5 Tranny, so I think it'll bolt up to the engine, though I'm sure I'll need a new clutch. I can buy a 4.6 carb manifold, and I have a few carbs around that I could use off of a 351w. (My family owns a salvage yard) I have a 351w radiator right here in my room that I may be able to use if it's compatible. So basicly if I eliminate the computer, all I have to do is bolt it to the exhaust, drivetrain, throttle, distributer(I'm sure I'll need a new one) and go, right? It's a hundred dollars for this engine, and I'm thinking I could invest less then $400 dollars in parts if I use what I already have, and rely on my family's salvage yard. That might be cheaper then getting my heads machined, new valves, and new gasket set, and I can still sell my 3.8 since I won't need it. What do you guys think of that idea? If it's a bad idea, just tell me and I'll fix my 3.8.

Edit: I didn't forget about suspension, but my thinking is, if the engine weighs less then 300 pounds then my current, then what would be the difference from having a few fat people in the car? I can always change the suspension out later too when I get it running again.

[Hourofpain]

shit

a carbed 4.6 go for it.

but dont forget the engine mounts and tranny mounts. and then the new fuel pump

wiring harness.. actaully nvm

[Lankolf]

I don't get it, are you being factious? I wouldn't need the wiring harness if I did carb, I though...

[Hourofpain]

thats why i said nvm on the harness

[Hourofpain]

oh youll need to chgange out your rear end.

that 7 wont handle it

move up to an 8

[tjames]

8.8 in case you dont know what he is talkin about. the 8.8 comes stock in the GTs