Hello everyone, Try and make this short. I have a 84 f150 4x4. I bought a 302 long block to put in it. The heads didnt take the standard sparkplugs I normal buy for the 84. I found the new engine took 409 plugs. I was told the heads must of came from a 88-92 mustange or thunderbird. Started the engine and the headers turned a cherry red within 5 min. The engine sounded good and no smoke black or white. Just exhaust fumes. I checked the oil and had nothing but anterfreeze in it. Could the heads been the wrong ones? Or something else. Any help? Thanks

 

Welcome to the forum! My parts catalog says that a head gasket for 302 is the same for any 80-96 engine. What engine did you have originally in your truck and what was the cause for replacement? That info would help to get a complete picture. Now your story sounds like you've put in a different block and some old heads, and that caused anterfreeze to go through oil channels instead of cooling the heads.

 

My gasket catalog is showing one type of gasket for all trucks '90 and before and cars '85 and before. Then it shows a different gasket for cars '86 and up and trucks '91 and up. I don't have pictures of the gaskets, but different part numbers mean different gaskets, so there must be something different about the heads.

 

Hello Sean, could you find those parts number for those gaskets. Im in the process of take the heads off. Trying to see if the gaskets are wrong or the heads. Trying to find out why the motor did what it did.

 

I only have part numbers for ROL gaskets. My mother works at the main manufacturing facility, which is great because I get all my gaskets for 1/2 manufacturing cost.
Head gasket only: trucks '90 and before and cars '85 and before: HG31020
Head gasket only: '91 up trucks, '86 up cars: HG32841

 

Been thinking about this for days. If its a long block, give it back to the shop that built and sold it. Why are you even messing with it? Long blocks in any shop that I know of consist of block and heads installed as an assembly.

 

Hello,, I would like to take the long block back, but that isnt a option anymore. (Longer story) Im in the process of take the heads and gasket off. Take them to a shop here in town to have them checked out. Hopefully they can tell me something. If they do Ill pass on the info. Everyone Ive talked to is a little stumped by this.

 

Sorry to hear about the warrany issue. Am still confused/concerned that these different heads or gaskets are the problem. Ask the machine shop about the differences in blocks and heads. After the heads are off, while each piston is at the bottom look at the cylinder walls for cracks or any other tell tale signs. Am going back to original thread, just not happy for you.

 

Been thinking about this all night. Please let me ramble on. Coolant flow as I understand it. Coolant enters water pump at bottom hose, it is then forced through the timing cover passages into the block. Flows through both banks at the same time, front to rear, leaving the rear of each bank up into each cylinder head and then flows forward exiting the heads into the intake manifold and out the t-stat to the top of radiator. I am likeing the timing cover as the cause not the heads or gaskets. Have seen holes in the cover where pump attaches, this allows coolant to go right into the crankcase. Was the timing cover transfered from the old long block? Really wish I was there to confuse everything and everyone in person. Keep us advised.

 

Hello Bill, The timeing cover did come off the old engine. It was cleaned and checked out. Seem fine and it lined up with the block so it was put on. Have taken off the intake manifold and there was oil and antifreeze under it. Also took the drivers side head off. There was alot of antifreeze in the cylinders. In regards to the timing cover what sighns can I look for? Thanks Bill and everyone else for your time and input. Will keep everyon informed of the outcome. Thanks Jeff