I have a blown head gasket on a 1998 F250 LD 5.4L 170K Miles, I have started to tear into it. My question is what else should I replace why I have the engine tore down this far? So far I have a new water pump, Thermostat, Plugs & COP's anything else I should look at?

 

are you doing both if not you should. heater hoses are a good idea. along with the o ring in the tube that feeds the one in the intake vally.

 

While its down change BOTH head gaskets. Not that much more of a job. You may also want to check the exhaust manifolds and studs. If they are getting bad now is the time to change them as well. Also the front cover crank seal is easy to do while the cover is off and with your miles the chain tensioners as well.

 

Make sure you have the heads checked and decked before you put them back on....

I didn't and its still leaking, so I'm going to have to do it again.

- Erik

 

I did plan on doing both heads & sending the heads off to the machine shop.

 

Make sure the cylinder head shop uses the appropriate finish, also make sure to get the latest Ford 4 layer MLS gasket. Might consider hard anodized spark plug thread inserts. Also might as well do the valve seals at minimum. Considering a cam? New head bolts of course. Timing chain, sliders, and hydraulic tensioners. IAC, DPFE, dial-in the TPS, new intake / exhaust manifold and upper intake gaskets, might consider a day's worth of dremeling on the upper intake to gasket match everything. There is a LOT to be removed. Denso Iridium plugs, Global COP's, thermostat.

If you aren't already familiar with putting the motor in safe mode, I found LOTS of help and a full on how-to over at the modular depot forum. Be prepared for broken exhaust manifold studs.

Oh yea, water pump seal and good time to get to the idler arm...mine was wasted. Also an ideal time for pulleys and e-fans.

 

HOLLY COW! Is that all you could think of??? and here I am looking for some kind of article on pulling the heads to drill out the exh. studs that broke...

How about just putting on some new/used heads? Can Mustang 2V heads go on? or Crown Vic heads? Might be good to go that route.???

 

Car heads are the same as truck heads. Cams might be different but thats all.

 

cams are the same.

 

Why the head swap unless going from NPI to PI heads?

 

First off, I have some broken exh. studs, one in each head. They are at bad angles and I cannot get them out. This has created a bit of an exh. leak..
I figure if I have to remove them, it may be better to get a less mileage head to replace them ( I have 185K miles on them). Now the choice of heads and what direction. I don't want to spend alot, but just to get the exh. on right and possibly some healthier heads. The engine is worn, but I just want to be safer than sorry. I'd swap in a 5.4 if I could find one at a great price...

 

Check out http://car-part.com Use 2000 as the model year and the 5.4 Vin L
Check out Michigan and Ohio. Somewhere in the $1000 range.

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