what head will fit?

[Kamakazi Kay]

So i needed to pop the head off my 2.3 cause i was getting coolant in the oil. Turns out i have a crack in every cylinder between the valves. Sucks i know. Anyway looking on ebay there are various model year heads for the 2.3. Mine is a 8 plug i know. But, could i bolt up a 4 plug and just not use one of the ignition coils? Also i'm not seeing much of a difference in years on the 8 plug heads. Like Ebay advertises an 89-94 head. i know in 94 (at least in california) they added a cam position sensor then the 95 through 97 models were all identical till 98 when they switched to the 2.5. What really is the difference between the heads from 89 to 2001? The cam position sensor is behind the oil pump cam so that doesn't have anything to do with the head. On pre 95 motors the crank position sensor is in a little different location on the crank but still way down on the block and still doesn't matter with the head. Could i possibly put any of these years head's on my truck and be ok? Any info would be greatly appreciated.

 

[tinman_72]

I know first-hand that the bolt holes for the alternator bracket are different on pre-89, 89-94 and 95-98. You need a head from a 95-98 for your accessories to bolt on properly.

 

[4b316]

95 to late 01 when they changed to the duratech.

 

[Mikel89us]

4b, no in 98 the stroked the lima to a 2.5. They used it through 2001. Mid 01 modle year they started using the duratech 2.3.

The 98-01 2.5 head has a different intake than the 95-97. They look the same, but the coolant passage is in a different place. Trust me, we found out the hard way when we put a 2.5 in my dads 97.

 

[Sunk]

I had a couple burned valves and a couple cracks in the head on my 99.. I looked around for a new head and finally found a head on eBay that was $200 cheaper than what the parts stores had, and I could get in 2 weeks sooner. It said it was for a 95 2.3, and bolted up just fine. The only thing I noticed that was different was the bolt holes for the water neck were larger on the 95 head. I had to drill out the water neck (it's plastic on my truck so not a problem) and find a couple different bolts.

 

[4b316]

Mikel,I,m going to have to disagree with you,I have changed probably 15 heads and intakes back and forth between the late model 2.3-2.5,s.Where did you have a problem?maybe I'll learn something new.I

 

[Mikel89us]

My dads 97 intake water jacket did not line up intake to head. It was a good inch and a half off. I wouldn't butt in if we didn't have first hand experience with it. The 2.3 water jacket is higher than the 2.5.

 

[Kamakazi Kay]

Thanks for all input. So it sounds like only 95-97 head will work. But I thought the block didn't change from like the 70's and if that's the case wouldn't the water jacket ports have to line up as well? "I jus' trying to learn"

Also while having this motor apart, the previous owner used that alumaseal radiator sealer or some stuff like it and a lot of the water jacket looks like a cholesterol filled blood vessel. Not wanting an automotive heart attack, how can i clean out the block? Obviously the head I'm not worried about. I asked my local machine shop and they suggested muriatic acid followed by a flush. Any others had this issue? Any other suggestions?

 

[Mikel89us]

The water jacket to block isn't the issue, its the intakes that changed.,

 

[4b316]

Mikel,I just look again at a couple heads and do not see what you are talking about.Looked at a couple intakes and gaskets and the 95+ intakes do not even have a water port in them,the only water they get is from a heater hose to the bottom of the throttle body/intake manifold location,none in the head itself.The only intakes that had water was up to 94.Not trying to be a richard here,just trying to see where you are at Here is a gasket kit http://www.partsgeek.com/gbproducts...+Google+Base&gclid=CKH8ir6wzr0CFa47Ogodml4ADQ