3.0 Head swap. Need opinions quick

[joe.dollar]

The scenario is this.

2000 Ranger 3.0 with 190 000 km's ( 107 000 miles). Both heads cracked due to overheating by previous owner.

2004 heads from donor motor with 100 000 km's ( 60 000 miles).

Would I expect to encounter problems with my rings and oil burning if I use heads which I would imagine are probably "tighter" than the old heads.

Please post all opinions on this quick. I am supposed to buy the heads tomorrow afternoon, but have this nagging feeling...........

My other option is a complete low mileage motor.......but it's pricey. Having said that, I don't wanna go the cheap route only to find I've got an oil burning motor in a year. Id like to just do this once and start DRIVING!

 

[oachs83]

107,000 on a Vulcan is really not all that much so I would say stick with your original motor. What caused these heads to crack in the first place? Did you run it hot? If your burning oil due to your rings that has nothing to do with heads it has to do with your rings. Now if your valve seals are out on your heads you will lose oil. Honestly when your going through all the work I always find it better to get them fully rebuilt that way you know for sure. I just picked a set of heads up on ebay for my 02 ranger from Dover cylinder heads on ebay (check him out). They were $190 and that included shipping. I had my heads in 3 days and they were fully rebuilt and quality rebuilt. Very happy with that decision. The only other thing that someone else will have to chime in on is why when you buy head gaskets the cutoff is 2001? Since your heads are going to be 2004 on a 2000 engine just make sure you buy the right year head gasket. Good luck

 

[kawasakiman27]

Lol thats where I got my heads from last Feb Oachs83. Ya those guys do a really nice job A+.

Joe. You may be better off ^^^^. Is it currently burning oil or are you talking about possibly in the future after the jo?

 

[ForOffRoadDriving]

heres a good read for you if you havent already seen it. according to the chart the heads should be completely interchangeable, so i would try to find out why they overheated (bad water pump, stuck thermostat, broken belt?) and then get the new heads magna fluxed before installing them to make sure they arent cracked as well. at the same time the machine shop can look at the valves and see if they are all sealing properly. with only 60,000 mi i cant imagine much would be wrong with them, but better safe than sorry.

 

[Big Jim M]

Would I expect to encounter problems with my rings and oil burning if I use heads which I would imagine are probably "tighter" than the old heads.

Nope! Nothing to do with "tighter" heads and burning oil. In fact the reverse might be possible.
Big JIm

 

[joe.dollar]

Thanks for the replies guys.

No. The truck is not currently burning oil.
The previous owner ( 21 year old girl) must have blown a headgasket and not realized it and driven far too long before taking it in.

I bought it this way hoping to only have to do a head gasket.

Took heads in for testing/ resurfacing. Both are cracked. The cracks run thru the valve seats in both heads.

Does anyone know how common it is for a head to crack on a 3.0? Can a head be cracked and still work? I know cracking right between the intake and exhaust valves is very common on VW diesel heads, but it doesn't affect the operation of the motor.

J

 

[joe.dollar]

ForOffroadDriving:

Did you have a head compatibility chart for crossing over what years will fit? Can you give me a direct link? I went into your money pit post but my computer runs sooooooooooooooooo slow when dealing with pictures that I can't do anything.

I just discovered the new heads are 2005 not 2004.

 

[oachs83]

Do not ever wast your time with a head that is cracked like that. Maybe if you broke a dog ear off or a intake bolt that needed to be heli-coiled is ok but not in your case. Anywhere a mating surface is should be thrown away. I am sure that repairs have been done and can be (tig welded, JB weld, etc. etc.) but for the inexpense these heads are in the first place you would have more in repair costs than getting a rebuilt set. Honestly for $190 shipped you can not go wrong with Dover cylinder heads but it's all up to you.

 

[joe.dollar]

Well, I have to see if those guys ship to Canada.

Thanks again!

 

[oachs83]

Here is a link to there site http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ford...r_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item45ec6b99ed


I have no idea where in Canada you live but to ship to ZIP K1a0B1 it was $65.

 

[mixwell]

I had my passenger side head crack right into the where the valve seats and had to get a rebuild one.. Luckily I got one from a shop about 10 mins from my house and it was only $160 for the rebuild head + the whole top end set of gaskets I forgot the shop name, I should've saved their info incase anything in the future. Since replacing the head my truck runs like a champ now. My head cracked because my coolant looked like mud and I was about 3 quarts low on oil like an idiot and didn't check it so I don't think head cracking on the vulcan is a common problem but if you neglect it then I'm sure and head could crack under certain conditions.

 

[joe.dollar]

Update:

I bought the 2005 motor I mentioned in my previous post. Heads fit perfect. Got it all back together. Ran awful. Bled the injection system via the schrader valve on the fuel rail. Ran better, but still was missing and sputtering. Got a code- 0351 I believe. It was "ignition coil- primary/ secondary malfunction". I was fully ready to buy a new coil, but after the truck sat overnight, I decided to fire it up this morning and it absolutely purrs perfectly.

Anyways, thanks to everyone for their help and insights.

Happy motoring.