Hey guys,
I'm so glad this group exists, as a new F150 owner. I came across this truck for sale and the owner was saying blown HG, and y'all pointed out it was probably intake gaskets.
It seems that most of the people on this group paid to, or had Ford fix the gaskets under warranty.
So, for the benefit of those wondering what was probably repaired on your truck, and to those wondering what may need repair on yours in the near future, I hope these pics can be of some value.
The exiting gaskets begin witha F6 part number, while the new ones begin with XU2E. Personally I cant see a difference between them, but something must be different.
It took about 2 hours to get the upper intake off. Beware of the intake bolts. They are very small diameter, long, and prone to corrosion. One of mine broke off between the upper and lower, but luckily Kroil, vice grips and a ball peen worked it loose.
I am still doing headgaskets anyhow while I have it apart. I bought the valve grind set for the truck from Ford, and it was listing for 180 something. I also bought a service kit for replacing the front cover gaskets for 20 bux(cant remember what the list was) and a water pump.

What do failed 97 intake gaskets look like?

 

BoostedOne,I had my lower intakes replaced back in Oct.02.The Ford tech,who is now my friend,said my motor was a time bomb ready to blow anytime.The lower intake bolts were severely undertorqued,which he says is one of two reasons why the gaskets fail.The other is the stock gaskets are thinner then the new replacements.Ford specs. these gaskets in mil. thickness.Look at them closer,you'll see.

 

well, you have some good eyes is all I can say or something.
My OLD gaskets mic'd out at .112". The NEW one mic'd out at .107". If anything my newer one is a little thinner.
If you say Ford 'spec' this in mils, what is their spec saying for new vs old?

 

Boosted One,i'm not here to get in a pissing match with you,i'm just stating what "I" saw!About the thickness,prior to getting my gaskets replaced I went to the dealer to price the gaskets.The parts guy brought out (3)different gaskets that are made for 4.2s and each one had a different "mil" thickness stamped on each package.I compared the factory ones which he stated were for my truck to the ones he said were the updated version and yes,the updated were thicker!I dont remember the "mil" each were but physically yes "I" did see a difference!And,after the Ford tech was done replacing the gaskets I saw the old ones;they were thinner then the ones he installed!I cant unsterstand why you got those results with yours,but i'm just stating what "I" have seen!

 

Oh,and yes "I" do have very good vision;15/20!Nuff said!!!

 

Hey, Im not looking to get into a pissing match either. Just look, I'm not the one posting smilies of
I have seen two gaskets. One is an F6 which dates to before my truck was built, one is the number that is listed in the TSB. From what *I* have seen, they are the same. I don't need you telling me to look closer, even the mic said they are.
But you told me two things in your post. One that they were different(didnt say how you knew), and that the Ford tech said your engine could blow at any time. For all I know, as someone who would take his vehicle into the garage instead of tackling it himself for all I know your statement of fact could just be what you heard over the internet.
I couldnt say why your parts dept even has 3 different gaskets on the shelf. I called my parts guy and I ordered a valve grind set which includes headgaskets, intake gaskets, valve stem seals, etc. It has the gaskets that are in the TSB to be installed on these engines. Seems kind of odd that your parts department is hanging on to the gaskets that are obseleted.
I don't know what is different about the gaskets, I really do not care. I put this up to help people understand what is being talked about when they hear about the gasket failures. But seeing as these are the only responses I got I guess everyone but me knew exactly what the issues. So ***** it, I will delete the pics off my site and the posts later today.

Thanks.
Scott

 

BoostedOne,

Please don't delete those gasket pics yet! There may be some others, like me, that appreciate having a place to go to, when we need it, for comparison to what we may be experiencing. I am cutting and pasting those great pics for my future reference (just in case you need to delete them from your web site.

Thanks,

F150Forever

 

Boosted One,I took my truck to a Ford dealership to have them replaced to get a warranty.Yes,i could have done the job,but my wrenching days are over! Ive had enuff of building engines,trannys,etc.I bought this truck to drive worry free;then i found out about the lower intakes.If i have the money,yes i will now pay someone else to do the work.I still do my own oil changes,trans fluid,etc.....in your terms does that qualify me to post along side of you?You are the one that made the remark about my vision and my mechanical ability to recognize the difference in the gaskets;i took it personal.Maybe it was not a shot at me,if not i apologize,but thats how i took it.About the pics,they are very useful to people here who have no idea what we are posting about.I know what the gaskets look like;good ones and bad.If you remove them you arent bothering me; but others might want to see them.Good luck with your 4.2...at least you are one of the few who can fix yours.Others here are not so fortunate.Why dont you post pics of the repair process as you complete it?I'm sure that would be pics everyone would like to see....including me!

 

Thanks for posting the pics - they are really helpful!

 

I for one am very grateful for your pics and your comments in the threads i have visited, i am about to undergo the procedure and am thinking about doing the job myself, and the pics and posts are a wonderful help. Keep em up.
thanks

 

Boosted One,I read where you said there was alot of sludge in your 4.2.I noticed that too,but I also noticed alot of carbon too.When my lowers were done back in Oct.02 the Ford tech said I needed a decabonization,which Ford charges 169.95 and there aint no way i'm paying that.How did/are you cleaning the carbon from your intake ?I was thinking of going to Pep boys for there carbon cleaning,79.95 and takes 30-45 minutes for the procedure.I know 3M makes a kit for do-it-yourselfers but I cant find it around here.Did that previous owner "ever" change the oil in that 4.2?

 

No I dont think they ever did change the friggin oil!
As for the carbon, I think its really just caked on oil from the PCV system. At any rate, it cakes the ports.
On my girlfriends 3.8 that I just did, I soaked the intake manifold in some of that professional super caustic carb cleaner that comes in gallon buckets. It did a real good job for the most part, but its hard to get the whole intake covered by a gallon.
When I did the 4.2 intake I just had it beadblasted by the guy who did the reman on the heads. It looks about as close to new as its gonna get now.
I'm not sure of the procedures you talk about for de-carbonizing, but I imagine they are just things that are injected through the injectors and clean up the backsides of the valves and stuff.

 

What reusable gaskets? I have rubber valve cover gaskets. Never heard of reusable head gaskets, dont know if I would trust reusable intake gaskets if they exist either.

If the carbon is from the EGR, which is injected into the lower, intake then why is there deposits well into the upper? These deposits are more oily than anything as well. The exhaust manifolds look cleaner than the intakes did, thats for sure/

 

no kidding?
I dunno. I didnt know they were reusable. Mine looked to be made of the same thing as the lower gaskets, a peice of plastic with o-rings in it. My new one should be here tomorrow, will see what it looks like.
Also, my headgaskes are an XF2E number. With the current numbering system I am not sure what that means. but it doesnt look like it gets much better than this for headgaskets. multi-layer laminated.

 

Well, I was gonna ask for the app or part number but after tonight(see my bent rod thread) I dont ever want to remove the upper again