I'm curious on how much the whole job would cost or the total hours involved at the Ford dealer.

I know my dealer charges like $155/hr labor.

I know that the heads have to be sent out to a machine shop or replaced.

A rough estimate would do just trying to get an idea of the total cost of parts and labor.

 

Anyone?

Anyways dropped the truck off at the dealer yesterday morning with father in tow (Owner and ASE Master).

Explained everything in detail, and with having 51,470 miles on it to look at the Cam Sync, timing chain etc.

Spoke with the Service Writer about it for a while. Fords version of a crate engine "Re-Manufactured" runs about $5,000-$6,500 and comes with all the updates. But they send my motor off to be rebuilt basically. Comes with 3 Year/ 38,000 mile warranty.

If the heads only need to be done, the updated heads will be installed and he has never had another Ranger come back once the work has been done.

Then the service writer wrote: "Radiator keeps blowing, Estimate $116.00" and sent us on our way.

So, we'll see.


Anyone else suggest things need to be done around this mileage? Rear-end has been done, if a new motor is put in only thing that hasn't been touched is the tranny (except fluids) and front-end I can think of.

Thanks.

 

Wow head gasket after 51000? Something must be going on if you have radiator issues id isolate that problem first something is defiantly up with your cooling system id imagine something is rusted up seeing as your mileage and age of vehicle it doesn't get driven much has coolant system ever been serviced? If the cooling system has a fault it will eat the new head gaskets too so id start by repairing that first.

 

For both heads to be removed, cleaned, tested then reinstalled by a Ford Dealer you will probably be looking at $2,500.
Half of that will be labor, 8-9 hours
Could run up to $3,000+ if both heads need to be replaced

Head gaskets can just "blow" but it is not common, usually water pump or cooling system leak cause the start of over heating then driver tries to "make it home" and max's out the temp which expands the metal in the head causing a crack or crushes the head gasket cylinder ring.
Knocking/pinging will pit the head gasket cylinder ring over time, causing a premature failure.

A failure in the cooling system would only cause an engine problem if ignored and extreme over heating occurred.


Just my opinion...........There are alot of problems that I would take my Ranger to a Ford Dealer for, these would be Ford specific issues that they have the resources to call on that an independent mechanic doesn't.
An engine rebuild(or head swap) is basic mechanics, no Ford specific knowledge is required.
So you are paying for Ford specific knowledge when it is not required, nothing wrong with that but the extra expense is just that, extra, a no benefit expense.
You can pay a gardener $20/hour to mow your yard or you can pay a Botany professor $100/hr to mow your lawn, lawn gets mowed but no real benefit for the extra $80/hour

 

right on RonD lol

 

I have nothing against Ford service or GM service or any "Dealer" service, they have way more knowledge in specific areas than independent mechanics.
And they charge a fair rate considering the knowledge they bring.

But a Heart surgeon to remove a splinter?
Hey it would be great............unless you are paying heart surgeon rates, then........not so great

 

cracked heads are not uncommon, I found rebuilt heads for about $145 each on ebay, add a bit more for a gasket set, and do the work yourself, you can get it done for under $500, and it's not really that big a project, you should be able to do it over a weekend without too much problem. I actually had a head that once burnt from the combustion chamber thru to the water jacket, and it pressurized and blew up my radiator, that cost me another hundred or so for a new radiator. If you look around on ebay, you can find parts sometimes as much as 60% less than the parts houses, you just have to wait a few days for them to arrive. I don't know how comfortable you feel with doing this yourself, but it's not that difficult really, with a decent repair manual. Another thing about this engine, cooling system maintenance is a MUST, if you neglect it, you'll continue to have this problem. You should flush your cooling system regularly, I'd do it annually, depending on how many miles you put on it every year, but at least annually.

 

I am new to the site and can give you a idea on the cost of parts that I just spent on parts to replace head gaskets. I just did that on my sons 99 3.0. I spent a little over $200 on a top end gasket set new head bolts and oil ,oil filter and anti-freeze. I bought a set of used heads off of Craigslist for $90.00 had them magna fluxed and checked for cracks. They already had a valve job and surfacing done on them and were a take-off set from another engine that had lower end problems. It's not that bad of a job but the air conditiong power steering pump bracket is a bear to get off to get the driver side hed off.

 

I have a 99 ranger 4.0L 4X4 off-road. It has only 82000 miles on it. I know because I am the only owner. The truck started running rough. It felt like one of the spark plugs was not firing. It wasn't. This is because it had coolant inside.
Long story short, I have a cracked head. The truck is in pristine condition. It has never overheated, been 4 wheeling, or abused. I know because I have never let anyone drive it, except me.
What id up with the head? Should I expect the other to go next? WTF?

 

3.0l heads do just crack(blocks do as well), overheating can cause a cracked head but it is not required.

Good read here on the 3.0l, loads of info:
Rebuilding The Ford 3.0L Engine

I don't think there is a "better" head casting, like with the 2.9l engines

 

i'll do the job for $1500.00 lol

 

Aluminum heads on iron block. 2 cylinders affected. Opted for the new long block. It's the new redesigned 3.0 iron heads on iron block with a 3 year unlimited mile warranty.

No problems except the rear main seal is leaking, Seat belt light malfunctioning, reused the old oil drain plug (stripped) and finding parts lying around.