Finding year of manufacture on engine

[Buggyman]

I am needing to buy a set of head gaskets today and they have two different sets. My engine is a 2000 3.0 flex fuel, I bought it off a guy 5 years ago who did not have the body that it came out of, just the motor and tranny. At the store, they need to know if it was manufactured before or after July 1999, I assumed after but there was a significant difference in price and want to make sure that I am buying the right thing.

Thanks for any help,

Philip

 

[Buggyman]

Looks like the difference is in the valves, pre '99 used a 8mm and post used a 7mm. Also the spring type was changed from a standard spring to a cone shape, attached is the picture from the 3.0 rebuild page, any suggestions on what I have?

Thanks

 

[Buggyman]

Heads also are stamped F6DE-GA which leaves me confused. Everything I read about the flex fuel motors indicates that the heads are EB castings, any ideas on what gaskets I should put back on?

 

[RonD]

Any 3.0l engine can be used as a Flex fuel engine, only difference is larger fuel injectors and the computer software to allow longer open times for fuel injectors without setting Lean codes.
Earlier Flex Fuel vehicles also used fuel sensor, but that was dropped since computer software can do that on it's own.

So previous owner of engine may have made a mistake or may be the person he got it from did.

If the head casting is F6DE-GA, then it should have 8mm valves and oval shaped dome, not heart shaped.
And it could have come in 2000 Ranger, as this head casting was last made in mid-1999, 7/26/99 and that's when 2000 model year is starting to be assembled.

As for the head gasket get before July '99.

The F6DE-GC were after July '99 and would have conical valve springs and 7mm valves, measure exposed valve stem.

Also check the block for recessed head bolt threads, that tells you if you need the longer head bolts

 

[Buggyman]

Thanks Ron,

The head bolts are recessed so I am assuming to get the longer bolts.

Thanks again, this place has been very helpful.