Head Gasket Question

[Bluegizmo83]

I have a 2001 Ford Ranger EDGE 4x4 3.0L and I'm installing new cylinder heads. The gasket set I order said it was for this vehicle, but the head gaskets have me scratching my head...

I know there is a difference between the FWD and RWD Vulcan 3.0 head gaskets, and that the RWD gaskets should have the front water ports blocked off.

The gasket kit I received had one head gasket with the front water port blocked off (the driver side), but the passenger side gasket does NOT have the front water port blocked off! Is this ok??

Photo of the Passenger side gasket, head side facing up, and front of the engine to the right: https://ibb.co/zPNkfcH

You can see the large water passage on the rear (left) side of the gasket, but there is also a small passage for the front water port on the front (right) side of the gasket as well.

I've already installed the driver side head and gasket, but it had the large rear water port slot like it should, and the front water port was completely blocked off like it should be.

 

[RonD]

The Ranger 3.0l gaskets have a specific Left and Right side, so should have a mark denoting "top/up" side of gasket, so they will only fit on one way


The FWD 3.0l use the same gasket on each head, no specific left or right
So if the two gaskets you have are different then they are for Ranger RWD

 

[mc17eln]

Hmm, when I rebuild the Vulcan for my '02 Range RWD, I don't recall having to distinguish left/right gasket. Here is what the Workshop manual says about installing head gasket (no mention of left vs. right):

3. NOTE: The "V" notch in the head gasket faces the front of the engine.

Install new cylinder head gasket.​