Hey fellas the time has come she blew a head gasket. I just replaced every single thing that was cooling system related to try and get rid of a spiking temperature gauge and I guess the problem was my truck had a blown head gasket. I did not realize it because at the time it must of been very small because my truck was not giving me any problems when i was driving it for the past 3 years. And right after i get done flushing it out real good and replacing all the old parts antifreeze was coming out of the heads and dripping on the floor and white smoke was coming out of the tail pipes.

Here is where i need some help and advice I have done all the work on my truck that it has ever needed including a heater core(PITA by the way) and I'm going to replace the head gaskets as well. Now i have never rebuilt a car or truck motor but i have worked on tractors and dirt bikes etc.... I'm not worried about the tear down and rebuild I'm fairly mechanical. I would like to get some advice from you guys about what things should be replaced besides the head gaskets. The truck is a 97 4x4 with the 4.6L and she has 188k on her it and still runs just not driving it because of this. I know the rings are a little worn not only from the mileage but because every once and awhile the truck would blow a puff of blue smoke out of the tail pipes on start up. So I would like to make he like new again if possible. So if yall could chime in on what should be replaced and where good places are to buy from i would appreciate it. I do not want to just swap the motor because I want to learn how to do this anyways. Thx-Zach

 

the puff on start up could be valve stem seals, with your mileage im almost banking on it imo. just get the block checked out im sure its fine unless its been beat up bad

 

Yeah that's what I've heard too but I just assumed the rings were probably worn because of the age. Do they make kits that include those seals or to make your heads like new again or will I have to take them somewhere to get them cleaned up?

 

I had my head gasket blow on my 2002 5.4. Anything I could replace, I did. Its easier to do it all once than to have to do it multiple times. I replaced my whole cooling system just like you did and still had overheating.

Parts you should replace: Timing chain guides and tensioners, water pump, spark plugs, any pulleys that look worn, valve cover gaskets, serpentine belt, head bolts (obviously), exhaust manifold studs ( if you don't already have an exhaust leak, you will, so go with headers or just replace the manifolds all together) when the heads are off, take them to a machine shop to check the deck for warped heads and have them refinished, you could do a valve job but that's more work and I didn't do it on mine (only 128k miles). If you have any questions let me know, I've probably forgotten a few parts I replaced.

 

Thank you for the info that's what i was looking for. If I were to do a valve job would it restore any lost power at all and if so about how much would that cost?

 

Depends on the shop you take it to and I have no idea because I didn't get one. I'm sure it can restore lost power depending on how bad the valves are, I'm not too big with engine internals so maybe someone else can chime in.

 

Alright I think I will see if someone else can give me direction. If anyone else has anything to add please do. Also I think I read somewhere that there is a special tool that you need to hold the cams or something in place when you remove the heads is that true?

 

We just marked the timing chains and guides and cams with whiteout and lined then back up exactly like we took them out. If you don't do that, then yes a special tool is needed to get the cams at the right spot again.

 

Alright do you know where I could get the tool at?

 

It's probably a special tool ( available through tool providers or ford). but timing that engine should be easy. Anytime a head is removed I would recommend getting the valves re worked a 3 angle valve job, new seals, checked for cracks and straitness. Also most machine shops will remove broke bolts and studs for an additional charge. But as far as gaskets I'd go motor craft. I mean ford designed the motor yeah other gaskets are probably cheaper but I always stick factory. Also list of gaskets is valve cover intake gaskets exhaust manifold gaskets timing cover gaskets. Recommended parts to replace head bolts spark plugs timing chains tensioners and guides PVC valve and all vacume hoses that could possibly leak