head gasket

[_TEX_]

well 1st real post sinse joining the other day the head gasket blew on my 97 ford ranger with the 3.o in it was wondering if any of you could give me some tips on what i should look for when replasing them any pointers problems in doing this project thanks colin.

 

[Psychopete]

well 1st real post sinse joining the other day the head gasket blew on my 97 ford ranger with the 3.o in it was wondering if any of you could give me some tips on what i should look for when replasing them any pointers problems in doing this project thanks colin.

A typical repair manual should have an outline of what needs to be done.. An actual shop manual would probably go into more detail.

You'll want to replace the head bolts with brand new ones, no exceptions on the bolts, they must be new TTY head bolts, period.

It's a good call to have the heads checked out by a machine shop.

And from what I've been seeing, it's typical for someone to rip their engine apart, not mark anything, then can't get it back together. Mark everything you remove, vacuum lines, brackets, bolts, electrical connections, etc. because you'll be kind of screwed if you fall into that situation.

Pete

 

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got that y do i need to replace the head studs?

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

bolts, not studs.

the engine uses whats called "torque to yeild" bolts. meaning while you torque them down, they stretch out to provide constant tension on the head. upon removal, the bolt is ruined and needs to be replaced. if you were to try and re-use the old ones, you would be replacing another blow head gasket in no time