Repair suggestions? (severe overheat)

[blah-kay]

Hey guys! Let me give some background. A friend was in the market for a small truck, so we found a marketplace deal for a 1994 ranger 3.0L with 85k miles. Long story short the guy sold us the truck with, from what I believe after the fact, a blown head gasket without telling us. On the drive back the blown head gasket slowly replaced the coolant with air and over heated. Unfortunately the coolant sensor in the dash was not working properly, so I never knew the truck was overheating. It got so hot that it started to get fuel detonation, and eventually killed. We let it cool for a while and filled up some gallon jugs with water and would fill it up, drive it for 5 or 10 minutes, then stop and refill to get it home. After diagnosis, one of the cylinders has constant water intrusion. I did a compression test on all the cylinders and they all read 125psi +/- 3, even the one with water. The oil was just starting to get slightly milky. Only started when diagnosing after it got home. It was never milky on the drive back, or before bought. Since I am the one more mechanically inclined than my friend who bought it, I'm going to be doing work on it. I'm not familiar with the 3.0L. I obviously know I need to do a headgasket and related gaskets. Once the heads are pulled, they are getting sent to a machine shop to get tested for cracks and warpage from the heat. I wanted to know y'alls opinions on the motor and its condition, if it can be saved or if too much damage has been done. If it can be saved, I wanted to know any other repairs/maintenance I should do while the heads are off. If I should replace the lifters, or anything else that is easily reachable while doing the repair. I'm going to get a new thermostat and sensor along with distributor and other parts. I just mainly want to know internally. I was recommended by someone else to just replace the one damaged headgasket, and only the essentials and then see the condition of the motor after, before we sink a ton of money into it. What should I do? Thanks in advance!

 

[Blmpkn]

So.. the bad head gasket might be the result of the PO overheating it himself.. doesn't matter now though but may be relevant once you get it back together.

85k isn't even barely broken in for a 3.0. My buddy's was going strong and running as smooth as ever at 350k when the trans finally gave up the ghost.

If the oil was only starting to get slightly milky by the time you got it parked.. I wouldn't worry about it. If real deal damage would of been done.. you'd hear it.

My vote would be to do both gaskets.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Might wanna get the heads magnafluxed while they are off also

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

The rings might be toast.

 

[Brain75]

My personal thoughts (since I lost all coolant in a Ford 4 cyl many years ago).... pitch the whole mess and get yourself a good junkyad 3.0.

If it got hot as hell, then you are gonna break all the head bolts getting em off and that is your clue that it is a lost cause.

I suggest going 3.0 again cause even though people gripe about the power, it's the most straight forward simplest clean swap.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

My personal thoughts (since I lost all coolant in a Ford 4 cyl many years ago).... pitch the whole mess and get yourself a good junkyad 3.0.

If it got hot as hell, then you are gonna break all the head bolts getting em off and that is your clue that it is a lost cause.

I suggest going 3.0 again cause even though people gripe about the power, it's the most straight forward simplest clean swap.

Probably the most cost effective option.

 

[blah-kay]

My personal thoughts (since I lost all coolant in a Ford 4 cyl many years ago).... pitch the whole mess and get yourself a good junkyad 3.0.

If it got hot as hell, then you are gonna break all the head bolts getting em off and that is your clue that it is a lost cause.

I suggest going 3.0 again cause even though people gripe about the power, it's the most straight forward simplest clean swap.

Should I try and remove the head bolts before I buy anything, and if I can get them all out without breaking one, does that tell me that it's the engine is in good enough condition for the repair?

 

[arse_sidewards]

Replace heads with junkyard heads from a 2004ish (like anything 00s will do, I just picked a random year) Taurus. The transmissions go on those so you can be pretty assured they'll be fine. Or just check them yourself. Check block while it's all apart. This should be a simple head gasket and check/fix heads job, nothing special needs to be taken care of.

 

[Terrys87]

I don't know the 3.0 but if you break head bolts, you really have nothing to lose. That might could help determine which way you may want to go with a head repair, salvage, or reman/rebuild. What is parts availability/cost for the 3.0?

 

[arse_sidewards]

Breaking head bolts on removal is unrealistic on just about any engine.

 

[blah-kay]

Replace heads with junkyard heads from a 2004ish (like anything 00s will do, I just picked a random year) Taurus. The transmissions go on those so you can be pretty assured they'll be fine. Or just check them yourself. Check block while it's all apart. This should be a simple head gasket and check/fix heads job, nothing special needs to be taken care of.

So I shouldn't even bother getting the current heads checked by a machine shop, I should just pull some junkyard heads and get those worked on instead?