Well yesterday I was sitting outside with my friend and we were looking at the ranger. We decided to just go ahead and change the head gasket on it anyways. So I think im going to fix it. Clean it up really good and keep it. I really do like that ranger I just dont have alot of time for her. But im slowly getting her fixed. Any Ideas on changing the head gasket. Like anything else I can do while im down that far?

 

make sure you clean the surfaces real good where the gasket is

 

Oh I am. EVERYTHING is going to get clean and possibly painted. I want her to look brand new!! Is there anything else that I should replace considering while im down there that far though?

 

all i know of is like seals gaskets just the normal stuff

 

Yea do a good valve job.

 

How would I do that? Also It had blown head gasket. How do i clean all the water out of everything?

 

send the head to a shop and have them do a valve job and machine the head flat...

MAke sure the pistons and rings are ok..

make sure you torque everything

 

I am redoing the heads on my '99 right now. It can get alot more involved than you originally planned on. I had a cracked head, which seems to plague the 4.0 motors from '90 models on up. I knew I would need the heads, gaskets, head bolts... plus some cleaning and repainting.... got into it and started to pull a lifter out to inspect it and the top nylon funnel-shaped part broke off... so figured if it was that brittle they should be replaced; my original cost of around $800 suddenly shot up another $500 ... and since I'm replacing the lifters, may as well do the pushrods... and a few other "little things" like belt tensioner, plus paint, exhaust manifold studs, etc. Right now I have about $1500 going back into her, but I'm not regretting it a bit after looking at other trucks the same age or newer and maybe having the same problem and have all showed more signs of wear and tear on them. Not trying to discourage, but if you're gonna do it, may as well do it as "right" as you can if you plan on keeping her.

 

Yeah, Im down in there. Fixing to take the head off. And i can already see that im going to be replacing alot more than what I thought. Not because they are broke, just because I should do it while im down that far. And im cleaning everything on her. and then put her back to gather. run her for about 500 miles and check for anything leaking. then do a tune up. and take her back apart and paint her up. make her look pretty. But its been a fun time just toying with her. this is my first V6 to take apart. Its been fun.

 

Does anyone know the size of the star head bolt that holds the head on is?

 

Mine were T-55(head bolt size) on my '99. Haynes says for the '93-'97 are also, and I remember on the older 2.9 were also. It is kind of overwhelming when you get one tore down where to start cleaning and painting, but when it all start coming together it's worth it. Im into week 2 after tearing mine down, and it takes time to clean everything right and repaint, then ordering parts, etc. I learned a tip for cleaning the lower intake and valve covers, paint stripper works wonders, takes a few cans at $9.00 each but looks like new when done. Just don't get it on plastic or anything you don't want to totally repaint. I've finally got my new heads and all the parts almost everything cleaned and painted and hope to be back up going sometime the end of the weekend.

 

x2.

Get those heads resurfaced.

 

Mine is a slow project. Coming up on a week on it. and im down to the block. But I have only had like 2 half days to work on it. So basically I have one full day into her. But im enjoying every min of it. My only down fall is money. But im workin on it.

 

Gots a another question. Does this need to come out for me to get the heads off?

 

Its been cold here for awhile. Hard to work on truck when its cold and windy. But anyways. Anyone know if I have to take above bolt out. I dont think I do. But I am not sure.