Head gaskets,

[JJMaine]

One thing I do have recent experience with is remanufactured parts. You can check my head gasket thread and see the issues I found with two sets of remanufactured cylinder heads I bought. Out of 4 cylinder heads, all 4 were junk with various issues. If I found so many problems with just cylinder heads, imagine the gremlins an entire engine would have?

In my opinion you'd have better luck buying a good, used low mileage engine.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I want to do them myself but my mom is reluctant to let me do it in the garage she’s all like “ no if somthing breaks it’s gonna be stuck in MY garage” witch sucks to hear but what can ya do, if the head gasket job is more then 2 grand may look into a motor

A motor is a bigger task. You have to disconnect all the same stuff as doing the head gaskets plus a bunch of other stuff. With a few rare exceptions, I’ve done all of my mechanic work outside, mostly in a gravel driveway. Been like that for the last 24 years. I’ve learned a lot. The motor currently in my Choptop is something like #8, that truck has had a penchant for eating motors and I’ve gotten pretty good at swapping them.

 

[1994xlt]

A motor is a bigger task. You have to disconnect all the same stuff as doing the head gaskets plus a bunch of other stuff. With a few rare exceptions, I’ve done all of my mechanic work outside, mostly in a gravel driveway. Been like that for the last 24 years. I’ve learned a lot. The motor currently in my Choptop is something like #8, that truck has had a penchant for eating motors and I’ve gotten pretty good at swapping them.

What motors did you put in it

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Oh yeah, my record was 4 hours to swap a motor in the Choptop. That includes doing head gaskets on the replacement motor before dropping it in. Granted, I had a buddy helping and the Choptop being lifted plus a manual transmission simplified things.

 

[1994xlt]

One thing I do have recent experience with is remanufactured parts. You can check my head gasket thread and see the issues I found with two sets of remanufactured cylinder heads I bought. Out of 4 cylinder heads, all 4 were junk with various issues. If I found so many problems with just cylinder heads, imagine the gremlins an entire engine would have?

In my opinion you'd have better luck buying a good, used low mileage engine.

Thank you

Oh yeah, my record was 4 hours to swap a motor in the Choptop. That includes doing head gaskets on the replacement motor before dropping it in. Granted, I had a buddy helping and the Choptop being lifted plus a manual transmission simplified things.

gotcha

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

What motors did you put in it

When I bought it, it had a cracked head on a 2.9L, which are pretty similar to the 4.0 OHV. I replaced the cracked head in the truck. Think I was 19 back then and had some help from the forum here. Promptly cracked the other head, replaced that in the truck and blew both heads. Swapped 2.9 motors then. Blew a couple more up before I put it on 35” tires and then the 2.9 just didn’t have the power. Then I started putting 4.0 motors in. Always junkyard specials. Keep telling myself that one of these days I’ll rebuild one and stop gambling on a junkyard motor. The last motor I put in was from a yard that warranties their stuff for like a year and tests them before selling. It’s proven to be a solid motor.

The motor prior to this one I had pulled the heads off to re-gasket the top end and found the motor was clapped out, so I knew it wasn’t going to last but it was what I had and I was trying to make an event with it so I dropped it in knowing I would only get so much out of it before it went on me.

 

[1994xlt]

When I bought it, it had a cracked head on a 2.9L, which are pretty similar to the 4.0 OHV. I replaced the cracked head in the truck. Think I was 19 back then and had some help from the forum here. Promptly cracked the other head, replaced that in the truck and blew both heads. Swapped 2.9 motors then. Blew a couple more up before I put it on 35” tires and then the 2.9 just didn’t have the power. Then I started putting 4.0 motors in. Always junkyard specials. Keep telling myself that one of these days I’ll rebuild one and stop gambling on a junkyard motor. The last motor I put in was from a yard that warranties their stuff for like a year and tests them before selling. It’s proven to be a solid motor.

The motor prior to this one I had pulled the heads off to re-gasket the top end and found the motor was clapped out, so I knew it wasn’t going to last but it was what I had and I was trying to make an event with it so I dropped it in knowing I would only get so much out of it before it went on me.

How long did the motor last after the event

 

[rumblecloud]

I have images of most of the work involved to remove the heads - something you should do as well as you go through the removal process (that is if you decide to go that route). As Lil Blue said about the fan - it's easier. It can be a PIA but your shop will have the tool.
I agree with JJMaine -- You got this.

Here's a link to the string when I did mine. It's a little crazy, but ok if you're bored. . same year, same engine:

I know I shouldn't...

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Generally speaking, the 4.0 OHV is probably the most reliable v6 that Ford used in the Rangers. Properly cared for, they last. I’ve opened up a number of them with 100-200k miles and found that the cylinders still had the factory cross hatching. That means very little wear. The bottom end is usually pretty solid.

 

[1994xlt]

I have images of most of the work involved to remove the heads - something you should do as well as you go through the removal process (that is if you decide to go that route). As Lil Blue said about the fan - it's easier. It can be a PIA but your shop will have the tool.
I agree with JJMaine -- You got this.

Here's a link to the string when I did mine. It's a little crazy, but ok if you're bored. . same year, same engine:

I know I shouldn't...

Thank you

 

[1994xlt]

Generally speaking, the 4.0 OHV is probably the most reliable v6 that Ford used in the Rangers. Properly cared for, they last. I’ve opened up a number of them with 100-200k miles and found that the cylinders still had the factory cross hatching. That means very little wear. The bottom end is usually pretty solid.

Okay thank you, I think I’m just gonna get the quotes for a motor and quotes for a Headgasket and go from there

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

How long did the motor last after the event

Ha, it made it a week after the event and broke something. Not really a surprise at all. The cylinders were very badly worn in that motor. Like there was about a 1/16” lip around the top of the cylinders where the rings stopped at the top of the stroke. That motor was the most abused I’d ever seen.

I wouldn’t worry too much about it. If you plan to do the head gaskets, pull it apart and if the cylinders look bad, then you can switch to swapping engines. 90+% of the time the bottom end will be fine. If it isn’t, well, you had to tear that stuff apart anyway to pull the motor. Nothing lost.

If you’re really worried about, do a compression test now. If the coolant isn’t leaking into the cylinders, a compression test will give you an idea of the health. If you can stick a borescope in the spark plug holes you should be able to examine the cylinders without tearing it apart as well.

 

[Shran]

Pardon Our Interruption...

You can buy brand new Ford heads from there ^^^^^^^ for a very reasonable price. Then you just need a gasket set, head bolts and fluids. With a low mileage engine like you have there is no reason not go to that route unless you have a good 4.0 laying around already. This seems to be an issue on many 4.0's, just like the old 2.9's had head cracking issues. Replace 'em and go on with life.

 

[rumblecloud]

What they said ^^
Bore scope and compression test. Your shop will have that equipment and it's easy to do. Couple hours and you'll have a good indication of what's going on.

 

[1994xlt]

Ha, it made it a week after the event and broke something. Not really a surprise at all. The cylinders were very badly worn in that motor. Like there was about a 1/16” lip around the top of the cylinders where the rings stopped at the top of the stroke. That motor was the most abused I’d ever seen.

I wouldn’t worry too much about it. If you plan to do the head gaskets, pull it apart and if the cylinders look bad, then you can switch to swapping engines. 90+% of the time the bottom end will be fine. If it isn’t, well, you had to tear that stuff apart anyway to pull the motor. Nothing lost.

If you’re really worried about, do a compression test now. If the coolant isn’t leaking into the cylinders, a compression test will give you an idea of the health. If you can stick a borescope in the spark plug holes you should be able to examine the cylinders without tearing it apart as well.

Sounds good