Is this from a bad head gasket?

[Mbrooks420]

Running rich can damage the 02 sensors, and so can coolant being burnt on them. It can also be very hard on you cat. converter.

 

[checkedout]

Checked compression today. All read 160psi except where the crack is. It read 130 and the one next to it was 155. So Looks good for new heads.

 

[Rhett]

Bad deal, sorry to hear. But at least you got 180,000 miles out of the 4.0. As was suggested in this thread, you might look into dropping a new fresh engine in it, if you like the truck and want to keep it. It might be cheaper and less long-term hassle to replace the whole engine rather than just replace the cracked head. After all, the lifters, pushrods, valve stems etc. have 180,000 mi on them too...

Or you could drop a V8 in it...do a V8 conversion!!


good luck with it

 

[IgotTwo]

I understand coolant can foul the O2.....when my 94's gasket went, I caught it very early. I had just put new O2s in .....they were OK.
But with 180K, I have to believe they are real tired. If you plan to keep it. I would put new ones in - they run the the whole "fuel fixture show"
I know..... it can be a money pit ..."pay me now or pay me later"

Good luck

 

[checkedout]

Dude, a new engine would be great but I got to go with dougs new reinforced heads and hardened pushrods and rocker assemblies with hardened endcaps for about $565. A gasket set and a day of work and I'm done.

 

[Mbrooks420]

I'd call around for motor prices for $600 I could get the whole motor with 40k on it

 

[checkedout]

600 bucks?! from where a junkyard?

 

[Mbrooks420]

Yeah, call the salvage yards. The going rate on a motor install around here is around 300, here tho.

 

[checkedout]

Not here. The least I could find just for the head labor was 900.

 

[Mbrooks420]

Damn, I need to move to VA and open up a garage.

 

[checkedout]

can you do it quick!

 

[Mbrooks420]

Did you inqure about having the salvage place put it in? All of the yards I called here would do it for less than $500. They usually give you a slight deal for buying the motor from them, and they want the old block.

 

[checkedout]

I called everyone within an hour of here and none of them have anything so I didn't ask about them doing the work.

 

[Mbrooks420]

heads on e bay They have 2 days left, no bids, $299.

 

[checkedout]

Thanks for looking Mbrooks. I have a better deal on heads than that from Doug though. His are complete.

 

[Doug904]

Originally posted by Mbrooks420
heads on e bay They have 2 days left, no bids, $299.

Those heads are BARE castings not assembled. So if you have to take your old stuff and put them in the new heads with a valve job on the old stuff and installation it would run you right around $125 plus.


Later Doug904.

 

[Mbrooks420]

Ahhh, I didn't realize they were bare.

 

[checkedout]

Hey, I just realized that I was in such a hurry when I did my compression test that I forgot to open the throttle plate first. Is that a problem?

 

[Doug904]

Well if you didn't open the throttle plate you restricted some of the air flow to the cylinders so if you were to do another compression test you'd probably get higher compression numbers, not by alot but maybe 2-5psi per cylinder. Since you are showing a good 160psi accross the board now I wouldn't mess with it.

Later Doug904.

 

[combsone]

How much does it usually run at the avg shop if you had a bad head gasket and 2 bad cylinder heads?? I know very little about cars but my mechanic says it might run around a lil over $1000...like $1200-1300... is this the typical cost? He showed me what happened and two of the cylinders were in bad shape due to water leaking in....Also, considering that I'm a student and need my car ASAP is this the best way to go given the lil info I've provided?? Thanks for the help.

comy