really need new head gaskets?

[DwnTwnRangerDan]

so the story is I have a 98 supercab 4x4 stepside 3.0 manual w avhub. I spun a bearing and decided to get a junkyard motor. I found a nice 3.0 in a 97 merc sable. I put on my pulleys, intake manifold upper/lower, exhaust manifolds, water pump and cam sync. engine turned on first crank and sounded better than mine before I spun the bearing. I have been driving it around and there is no coolant leaking or evaporating and my temp gauge is normal. it warms up in normal time too. do I really have to put in red head gaskets?

 

[JP02XLT]

If you look at the RWD head gaskets versus the FWD head gaskets you will see the cooling passages are different in the gaskets, Ford did this for cooling issues based on the system cooling the motor. You might get by with it depending on how you use the truck and the climate your in, just keep your cooling system up to par and a close eye on the temp gauge. If it stays cool and no elevated temps, then there is no other reason to change head gaskets.

JP02XLT

 

[rangers92]

im pretty sure that the gaskets wont match up at all.

read this about half way down

http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/3_0-build.html

 

[JP02XLT]

The heads & block are identical from RWD to FWD, the only difference is the gasket, so either gasket will match up to the block & heads, it just depends on RWD or FWD application.

I think he is asking if he really needs to replace the FWD gaskets already in the motor that he recently installed in his RWD Ranger to prevent and future overheating issues.

JP02XLT