Head Gasket Replacement
 

So come to find out, my head gasket is blown. Time to tear it down and replace it. But wanted to hear from everyone here what I should look for while I'm tearing it apart. I'm going to send the head in to have it checked and machined flat. replace all seals and gaskets and for the hell of it replace the spark plugs.

What else should I consider replacing while Im in there?

What should I be specifically looking for?

Any other advice?



Thanks~

It'd be a good time to install roller rockers. I don't see any performance mods listed so it may not be something you're interested in.

Might as well check the valves for straightness and have them faced, have the seats touched up and replace the valvestem seals. You should check the lifters to see if any are collapsed. There is a lot of work involved, but it is all fairly easy.

Think about replacing the other head gasket too. It has had the same mileage, heat and stress. If you do a valve job on one head you'll regret it.

It's kind of like having the soles of your shoes wear out and only having one shoe repaired. Think about it.

Do you just put brake pads on one wheel?? I don't think so.

ok, so the head gasketSSS are in. lol tore it apart, had the heads magnafulxed, milled and had a valve job done. Put it all back together and it runs good. No longer over heats. However, it does not heat up right. sitting at an idle it will heat up to the appropriate temp for about 1 min, then take a drop and get colder. Then driving, it also runs colder than it should. Im not getting really hot air out of the heater so I figure the temp gauge is more or less accurate. Any ideas as to why it is not heating correctly?

Sorry, I probably should have stated that. You never replace ONE part, you replace them all. If one head gasket goes, the other is soon to fail. If one lifter is compressed, the others are on their way. If one valve drops, the others are going to as well. Now, the same goes for sides, what you do to the drivers side, you must do to the passenger side, for balance....

Try replacing the thermostat. When an engine overheats many times the thermostat is damaged because the hotest water passed right over the thermostat motor, that's the brass container that moves the plate, on it's way to the radiator.

You did install the thermostat correctly didn't you?? The thermostat motor has to go toward the engine, away from the hose side.

Be sure to replace it with the same temp thermostat that is supposed to be in it, not what you think it should be. The PCM is set for the stock thermostat and performs best there.

yep, just put a brand new thermostat in it today, also replaced the sender for the temp sensor and the heater valve.

put the "spring" side of the thermostat towards the engine.

has new coolant in it and brand new head gaskets. fan clutch has 15k miles or so on it and spins with some resistance.

could the fan clutch even cause symptoms like this?? any ideas??

Well, if the fan spins all the time it is posible it could cool the engine to much. My old '93 Ranger would at times have the water temp go up and down over a few minutes. I always thought it was getting air or the thermostat was acting up. Tested and replaced the thermostat several time and it would cure the problem for a while. Finally gave up and lived with it. The last thermostat seldom did it. Never did cure it.

I wish i could pin down the circumstances better, but the temperature variations are almost random. Maybe the fan clutch is sticking, or has some resistance. problem is I have had my fan clutch go out before, and you can hear the increased rotation speed in the fan. There has to be something going on here, this is not at all normal lol