Hello!
Anybody out there that has changed his own head gasket for the 1997 V6 engine?
A friend of mine who is a mechanic for smaller cars tells me that it is not rocket science, and that it can be done by us carefully, using the correct torque specifications, without going through major problems. He will help me if I decide.
Anybody has done it before succesfully?
Also, I heard that torque specifications changed, so what should I be specially careful with?
Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
Robert

 

haha... I just swapped out heads, cam, and intake in a 2000 3.8L mustang. Same motor. it's really easy, you just gotta do it right. take everything off down to the heads... you want to resurface your heads at a machine shop... and you want to get your block surface as perfect clean as possible. you will need new intake, and head gaskets as well as new head bolts which will run you $220 shipped. It includes everything you will need as well as the head gaskets. you can find them here: http://rpm-mustangs.com/cgi-bin/db.cgi?v6&engine. You don't want the package that is for 333 because those include head studs. You won't need them. This is around a 10hr job total. Me and two others did his head, intake, and cam swap in a total of 14 hours this past saturday. here's a few pics.

 

btw, you have to torque the heads down very specifically

1. work inside to outside of head

2. torque all bolts to 15ft lbs
3. torque all bolts to 30ft lbs
4. torque all bolts to 37ft lbs

5. work on one bolt at a time now

6. back off a bolt till loose
7. torque to 37ft lbs
8. turn an additional 180 degrees to stretch bolt to spec.
9. move on to next bolt

this part alone can take up to 2hrs depending on your level of skill.

 

 

Umm Robert,

Why are you changing head gaskets out?

If this is your discussed failure I would be surprised if it is your head gaskets. It could be yes but there are test to run to make sure.

The failure you described and seemed to be describing was for the lower intake manifold gasket leaking.

Much easier than a head gasket replacement job.

Tally is correct in the estimates for a SKILLED experienced mechanic. I do not think it would be a weekend job for a first time teardowner though.

It takes probably 50% time for the firts timer. I'd say a 3 day weekend, PLUS the time it takes to get heads re-surfaced. Plus his estimates would be for the right timesaving tools and etc. An air ratchet over a hand ratchet for example.

Proceed carefully in what you start changing. No need to change head gaskets that aren't bad or don't need to be removed.

 

TallTomG:

You are correct... we had all the right tools, including a air rachet and impact gun.

really made things go faster.

For completely first timer it would take 2+ days.

Thank you for clarifying that Tom.

 

Hello TallTomG!

We were checking the engine and there are signs(residue) of what appears to be coolant that has been leaking out the front of the engine, a little towards the driver's side.
My friend said those gaskets can be warped, so if were going to work on the engine, we might as well change those. But that is the only physical evidence that I have. So you are right again, I am uncertain that they are bad.

BTW, I lost round one with the dealer this morning at 9:15 AM. I was very calm and I told them I will get all the info I can and will get back to them. They said they would be glad to help me every way they could. I guess that unless they have an official recall, they won't do a thing. I didn't move my truck, my friend took me there.

We'll see...

 

YA MON!!!

Nice heads, Talley! KILLER valve springs, too.

Double, or triple helix? Wow. I think I just got wood, or something.

My wife's gonna be pissed if you make me build a motor, you know. I almost got the Bobbit treatment when I did my last one. (A 351C with the 8-single barrel Weber intake system for a friend with a Pantera). Then he wanted a blower, but I'm kinda fond of my nads where they are. . .so I told him no. A 6-71 on top of a 4V clevland with 8 Webers. . .ahhh.

Uh-oh. . .my wife's coming. . .gotta go.

--J

 

Robert,

There are quite a few ways to check for headgasket integrity. Leakdown test is the best and most reliable.

As to coolant externally, yes it could be a gasket failing and yes that area is the common failure area, but there are some heater hoses and bypass hoses that can also leak and drip onto the same areas you may be inspceting.

Take your time and be patient, because this may cost you a lot of money to fix and then you find out that it wasn't broke in the first place.

Makes for a REALLY bad day when you find out.