Changing head gaskets.

nrschaaf · 04-02-2012, 05:48 PM

Hello all. Tomorrow morning I am going to start changing my head gaskets on my '97 X 5.0L Gt-40P. I've done this on older Windsors and have the Ford service manual just in case so I'm not too worried. I'm just looking to see if anyone who has had the pleasure of doing this job might have any insight into what kinda of sneaky tricks this truck is gonna have in store for me.

DieselHilux · 04-05-2012, 09:53 PM

Nothing different then doing it on a f150 or mustang except that there is 10 pounds of shit in a 5 pound bag in the engine bay, oh and remove the hood,it will mae it wayyyy easier!!

**Turdle** · 04-05-2012, 11:12 PM

The front and rear corner bolts on the lower intake like to snap off. Be carefull as replacements are $$$

The same goes for the timing cover and water pump bolts, especially the bolts which are "studs" as these usually have a lot of internal corrosion. I like to work them back and forth --start out by tightening a tad, then loosen. See if this doesn;t help prevent breaking them off.

Heat might help,

nrschaaf · 04-06-2012, 05:09 PM

Diesel, I know what you mean. I can barely get my hands in most places. And I know what you mean, one of the front corner bolts snapped on me. Luckily for me I bought this truck to replace my older X that my brother rolled over, so I've got a few spare parts. Has anyone heard anything about clearance issues in #8. I've read mention of this, but nothing definitive.

nrschaaf · 04-08-2012, 11:47 PM

So I've been taking my time since I had to wait for parts and finaly got to takeing the heads off today, and low and behold #1 has a chunk about 1.5" wide missing down to the first fire ring. There's 3 canyons, not scratches, in the cylinder wall along with a ton of scrapes. And misteriously no peices of the "missing" chunk anywhere to be seen. There was no noise I could associate with this when the truck gave up, and a tell tail white residue in the coolant system telling me that the guy I bought this from knew there was already a head gasket problem. I must say though, this engine is built damn well to have run as well as it did in this bad of shape.

04-05-2012, 11:12 PM	#3
Turdle Old and in the way Humboldt, Kansas 2000 Mounty Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 23,738 Vehicle Specs	The front and rear corner bolts on the lower intake like to snap off. Be carefull as replacements are $$$ The same goes for the timing cover and water pump bolts, especially the bolts which are "studs" as these usually have a lot of internal corrosion. I like to work them back and forth --start out by tightening a tad, then loosen. See if this doesn;t help prevent breaking them off. Heat might help, __________________ Jon 2000 Mountaineer Turdle-gone Vitamin D Wagon Sold also

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04-02-2012, 05:48 PM	#1
nrschaaf Wannabe Elite Explorer Newport, VT '97 Explorer AWD Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 138 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	Changing head gaskets. Hello all. Tomorrow morning I am going to start changing my head gaskets on my '97 X 5.0L Gt-40P. I've done this on older Windsors and have the Ford service manual just in case so I'm not too worried. I'm just looking to see if anyone who has had the pleasure of doing this job might have any insight into what kinda of sneaky tricks this truck is gonna have in store for me.

04-05-2012, 09:53 PM	#2
DieselHilux Wannabe Elite Explorer Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 60 Vehicle Specs	Nothing different then doing it on a f150 or mustang except that there is 10 pounds of shit in a 5 pound bag in the engine bay, oh and remove the hood,it will mae it wayyyy easier!!

04-06-2012, 05:09 PM	#4
nrschaaf Wannabe Elite Explorer Newport, VT '97 Explorer AWD Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 138 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	Diesel, I know what you mean. I can barely get my hands in most places. And I know what you mean, one of the front corner bolts snapped on me. Luckily for me I bought this truck to replace my older X that my brother rolled over, so I've got a few spare parts. Has anyone heard anything about clearance issues in #8. I've read mention of this, but nothing definitive.

04-08-2012, 11:47 PM	#5
nrschaaf Wannabe Elite Explorer Newport, VT '97 Explorer AWD Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 138 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	So I've been taking my time since I had to wait for parts and finaly got to takeing the heads off today, and low and behold #1 has a chunk about 1.5" wide missing down to the first fire ring. There's 3 canyons, not scratches, in the cylinder wall along with a ton of scrapes. And misteriously no peices of the "missing" chunk anywhere to be seen. There was no noise I could associate with this when the truck gave up, and a tell tail white residue in the coolant system telling me that the guy I bought this from knew there was already a head gasket problem. I must say though, this engine is built damn well to have run as well as it did in this bad of shape.