I finally figured out that I have a bad head gasket so obviously i'm going to replace it. I'm planning on using the Ford Racing gasket set by Fel-Pro. My question is, should I replace ne thing else while i'm in there?

I'm going to have the heads looked out, and possibly have a slight port job done 2 them (stock heads). I'm greatly debating whether or not I'm going to put in a cam and lifters while its all apart, but i'm not sure if it would be worth it with stock heads and intake manifold. The e303 cam seems like it would be pretty good, add some low end torque and maintain drivability.

I'm on a limited budget but want to do it right and it may be the right time to change some other components while I have the top end apart.

Ne help is greatly appreciated!

 

Changing out the cam would be easier with the heads off. It would save you at least a set of valve cover gaskets and some time to do it now. If you change the cam out it would be a good time check out your timing chain too. It all cost money of course, but it might cost you more later....

 

A cam is worth the change while your in there. Lifter and such as well. x2 on the chain. Other then that, I assume you planned on plugs. (I know, but you gotta ask).

 

Honestly, I hadn't really thought about plugs yet since there only a couple months old, but that's what the threads for! Thanks.

 

I dont know how many miles are on your motor or if anything has ever been done to the bottom end. But just my opinion if its never had anything done to the bottom end I would pull the pan too. I know on some of the higher mileage engines the oil pumps get weak and have locked up. So im my opinion I would change out the oil pump and check bearings as long as its torn down that far, just for peace of mind. Good luck.

 

If you have a blown gasket, you want to replace the plugs.

Oil pumps do have seizing problems, but if your not pulling the motor, that's not gonna happen...

 

+1 on the oil pump if your pulling the engine and the timing chain regardless if your pulling it or not. If you can find a decent set at a decent price, convert it to roller rockers.

If you want a torquy cam cheap, go with the explorer cam and add 1.7 rockers. If I had it to do again, I would have stuck with the stock explorer cam and gone to 1.7's. The E cam has nice mid-range power but I'm a little disappointed in the low end. If it's in the budget, replace your push rods too as they will wear both on the ends and around the contacts.

Also, don't waste your money on that FRPP/Fel-Pro gasket set. There is a bunch of crap in there you don't need. There are 2 different timing cover gaskets, 3 different waterpump gaskets, 2 different oil pan gaskets, a couple different oil seals and a bunch of EFI stuff that only fits Mustang applications. IDK what version of 5.0 your running but I have a bunch of gaskets left over that I didn't use because they weren't for my application. Just go to an auto parts store and order all the gaskets you need and you'll probably come out 10-20 cheaper than that FRPP kit. You can also save yourself a couple bucks if you make some of your own gaskets. I made my upper to lower intake gasket, throttle body to upper intake gasket and a couple others that didn't come in the kit. It just takes time and patience. A sheet of gasket paper made all of the mentioned gaskets for the price of the upper to lower gasket.

 

I went with the FRPP gasket set because it had all of them, and when I priced out getting them all individually it was more. The motor is out of a 93 Mustang.

 

I tell you what, I'll sell you what is left of my FRPP kit for $25 + shipping and it probably has most of what you need in it. I think the only thing you would have to buy is the intake manifold gaskets. I didn't use the exhaust manifold gaskets as I used the gaskets that came with my Torque Monster Headers, I didn't use the upper to lower intake gasket because it is for a HO (mustang) 5.0 and I didn't use the head gaskets because I didn't take my heads off. I'd bet one of the two timing cover gaskets is for your engine and one of the water pump gaskets left is for your engine as well as the throttle body gasket. I think the only thing you might have to buy is the intake/block gaskets and a front main seal. PM me if you want it. If I don't sell them, one of my buddies will probably end up mooching them off of me anyway.

 

I disagree with with you saying there are no oil pump problems with higher milage 5.0's. I use to work at a ford dealer and saw many problems with higher milage 5.0 with the oil pumps locking up. Maybe its just me but if I knew nothing about the engine that I was putting in or that was in it and you are having some sort of gasket problems, I would be pulling the hole thing apart so I knew what I was working with. I sure wouldnt want to be driving down the road and having a $50 part ruin my motor. Thats just my opinion is all.

 

Instead of starting a new thread i'm just going to update my progress here.

Thanks for everyone's input, I received my order from summit earlier this week, here what I ended up with

-FRPP Gasket Set
-FRPP 50oz Harmonic Damper
-NGK spark plugs
-Motor Standard O-Rings
-Flowmaster Super 44
-Head bolt sealant
-Dupli-Color Engine Enamel
-Fuel Rail fittings
-New Exhaust Manifold Locking Bolts

I'm replacing the stock fuel rail with on from an F-150 so that the fuel lines run to the back right of the motor instead of the front left. I have all new AN fittings and braided lines complete from the fuel filter to the fuel rail.

I'll be cleaning the intake and heads at my work and having the heads inspected at a local shop for cracks and compression.

Tomorrow night i'm going to start the disassembly so i'll start posting pictures of the progress then.

 

i would love to drop a 302 in my truck but sadly dont have the money.
my friend says when he puts a new motor in his towncar hell sell me the 302 thats in it.
i told him since its a towncar it probably wont fit and that i wanted a stock 302. his 302 is nowhere near stock and its nearly blown.

 

cool, good luck Rob. Have fun!

 

After 4+ hours in the drive way at about 20* outside, I got the first head off, and the second one will come off tomorrow. I posted some progress pictures. In the last picture I don't like how the number 7 cylinder is looking, some carbon crap on the piston. Overall doesn't look 2 bad.

 

Well I'm finally done. What a PITA that job was. Everything went pretty smoothly, just a whole lot of parts to take off and put back on. One piece of advice, Mark Your Distributor!