Replacing Cylinder Heads in the Great Pumpkin

[Rick]

I was supposed to go to Truckhaven this weekend, but the weather forecast was for 50mph gusts along the freeway. Not what I want to encounter with my camper and trailer!

So... this became an opportunity to install some remanufactured cylinder heads in the Pumpkin.

I picked up a set of remanufactured heads for $270 from Bills Cylinder Head Exchange in Phoenix. I used the cores from my parts truck and they tested good so I didn't have to pay anything extra.

I also bought new rockershaft assemblies, pushrods, head bolts and gaskets from Ford Parts Network They had very good prices on these parts and they are brand new original equipment Ford parts.

I wish I had degreased my motor before I started paying special attention to the wire looms. My wires were caked with dust and grit which wants to drop into the motor when the valve covers are pulled.

I'm not going to go into detail about pulling the motor apart since there is a good tech article here: http://www.explorer4x4.com/lifters/lifters.htm

 

[Rick]

2

 

[TDG]

Looks like the same amount of fun I had last year doing the heads on my 92.

Several things, I didn't see lifters mentioned, since replacing them requires pulling the heads it might be a good idea while you have it apart. Also I've been told that the rocker rail mounting bolts are of the same one time use design as the head bolts and most rebuilders recommend using new ones. I reused my old ones because I found out about this when one of them broke under high RPM use. This probably won't be an issue for you since I don't think that you rev it to the redline on a regular basis.

How do your pushrods and rocker cups look? Mine were trashed as it seems that top end oiling is a problem on these engines.

Tim

 

[Rick]

Those lifters are $$$ so I am keeping the old ones. None of them look like they are collapsed a few of the pushrods and rockerarms were showing some wear. You are correct about the top end oiling problems.

One thing though. I have 150k on the motor and I was amazed to see how clean it was and free of deposits. No sludge or varnish at all. The lifters looked great very little wear on the rollers or the bodys. I have been running Mobil 1 since '93 and it has done a great job.

I will be replacing the rocker shaft bolts also.

 

[BUCHVILLEMAN]

is this ongoing or did you complete it? are you doing this for performance gains or just preventative/restoration measures?

 

[Rick]

Follow up... Truck is back together and running great. There is no more knocking at all. In fact I put my Hypertech chip back in and it still won't knock.

I wasn't able to run my chip at all the way it was. It would knock as soon as I stepped on the gas.

 

[RON COX]

I've put in 2 requests to F.P.N. for pushrods, lifters and rocker arms and have not rec'd any responces. Guess I'll try again. Did you replace the head bolts? Just wondering if they are like the chevy 6 cyl. headbolts that you toss every time. Do you know what the factory length of the pushrods are? I've run accross different sizes.

 

[Rick]

I would like to make note of something that I did for my own piece of mind. The lower manifold is supposed to be torqued in three or four steps. I can't remember which right now. Anyway, follow those instructions from the Chiltons book and when you get to the last step of torque. Retighten them to that last number a few times (of course using the proper tightening sequence which is shown in the book).

I have a click type torque wrench (it clicks when the proper torque is reached). I was able to tighten the bolts 3 more times before I was unable to turn the torque wrench and have it click on each bolt. Now I'm certain that all the bolts are torqued evenly.

 

[RON COX]

If you don't mind me asking what was the cost of the lifters? I have found Sealed Power lifters for $28 ea. Ouch! Clevete and Melling are about $33 ea. Cost of the lifters alone are half the cost of the entire job. Yes I went through his site. Torrie has been very prompt on all my orders except when I have enquired about engine parts.

 

[BlueDogBandit]

old heads?

Hey Rick, what are you doing with the old heads off of the pumpkin? Were they cracked. I cousin has my truck at the autoshop at his college up in Montana. He was going to rebuild the heads for me for free. Got the heads off, and both are cracked. So, if anyone has a rebuildable set, in souther california or close, or anywhere on the I-15 between San Diego and Montana...I would be interested in buying them from you. He is going to check the junkyard tomorrow.

 

[pitbulldell]

If you don't mind me asking what was the cost of the lifters? I have found Sealed Power lifters for $28 ea. Ouch! Clevete and Melling are about $33 ea. Cost of the lifters alone are half the cost of the entire job. Yes I went through his site. Torrie has been very prompt on all my orders except when I have enquired about engine parts.

I know this post is old but does any one know where to find lifters for a descent price?

 

[Maniak]

I know this post is old but does any one know where to find lifters for a descent price?

The only cheap ones I've ever seen are on ebay. No idea if they are any good.. But they seem to run $20 and up for each..

~Mark

 

[RedneckRambo]

The only cheap ones I've ever seen are on ebay. No idea if they are any good.. But they seem to run $20 and up for each..

~Mark

what is the torx bit size for the head bolts. im tearing into my buddies engine and the head bolts are stoppin me right now

 

[Maniak]

Im pretty sure it a t-55 torx bit.

~Mark

 

[turboexplorer]

sales@fastpartsnetwork.com now

I just e-mailed him about a part I need for my 2004 Taurus Taurus that's a dealer only item. Within 1 minute he had e-mailed me back with part number his price where to buy on his site. Great service! Thanks Torrie!

O and its torrie@fastpartsnetwork.com is his direct e-mail.

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