Blown head gasket

Sterpz · 01-02-2005, 10:23 AM

Hi im pretty sure i have blown my head gasket god damn it, so i think i might aswell put in a new timing chain. In another thead they said to get an au11 head gasket will that fit on a el engine does it make any difference? and some guys at work are saying to take the head to the mechanics to get checked or machined, is it worth doing this?

EFFalcon · 01-02-2005, 10:26 AM

deffinately take the head to get checked out.
atleast to make sure its straight and get the bottom machined.

Sterpz · 01-02-2005, 11:52 AM

how much do you think it will cost to get the head machined

neb · 01-02-2005, 12:04 PM

damn sterpz.. bloody fords always breaking down. are you going to change it yourself? i would get the head machined and pressure tested etc. to make sure its ok. you can use au steal head gaskets i think which might up the compression slightly? i'm not too sure though. no idea on costs, but let me know where you get it done.. because i need to get this ed head i have checked out as well.

neb · 01-02-2005, 12:11 PM

what head gasket symptons does it have? water in the oil?

Sterpz · 01-02-2005, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neb

what head gasket symptons does it have? water in the oil?

i forgot to check that last night, i'll check that tonight and if it does have water in the oil i'll start working on it wednesday night, as far as taking the head to a mechanic im not sure where to take it atm, theres a place around the corner from work that i might check out.

neb · 01-02-2005, 12:56 PM

so how could you tell the head gasket is gone then.. whats it doing?

Sterpz · 01-02-2005, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neb

so how could you tell the head gasket is gone then.. whats it doing?

water is coming out from right underneth the head on the side of the engine

neb · 01-02-2005, 02:58 PM

i just thought of something.... it could maybe be your welsh plugs they are a bit lower than the head though... but i think they can also leak coolant

Sterpz · 01-02-2005, 03:43 PM

nah checked them they are fine

SileNceR · 01-02-2005, 05:38 PM

mine is leaking coolant ever so slowly from the headgasket about there, used a mirror-on-a-stick (wtf the proper name is idk) and def gasket... i'm just putting up with it tho... lol

i've pulled the rocker gear and cam out of my spare motor so i'll probably pull off that head and get it worked/machined etc...

Psycho Chicken · 01-02-2005, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sterpz

how much do you think it will cost to get the head machined

I got quoted $95 for a deck and crack test, which is what you want.

INJECTED_250 · 01-02-2005, 07:42 PM

you can get it done for 50-60 odd depending how how bent or damaged it is... it could be a broken head bolt....

id get

Head machined- $60 bucks
NEW bolts (au style) $30
Au Gasket set (genuine ford only) around 80-150 depending on how much mark up the dealer puts on it.

Id seriously allow a few hundred dollars in case the head is stuffed

sphell · 01-02-2005, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by INJECTED_250

Id seriously allow a few hundred dollars in case the head is stuffed

I did my headgasket for $26 lol....still goin strong even after two turbos lol. ;)

niko · 01-02-2005, 08:09 PM

u always hear about "getting head checked" but wat bout blok...my new head killed my blok :( lol

Psycho Chicken · 01-02-2005, 08:16 PM

Getting a block tested is expensive as hell. And seems the head is the weaker metal of the two....

INJECTED_250 · 01-02-2005, 08:19 PM

you carnt kill ya block..... unless when u clean it u remove steel instead of gasket material :>

EFFalcon · 01-02-2005, 08:25 PM

an AU gasket kit is $290 retail.
it was like $180 ford employee price...
i got one a few weeks ago

needturbo6 · 01-02-2005, 08:34 PM

you should also do a hardness test if its done a few k's and replace the timing chain guides as they commonly break.

Thanatos · 01-02-2005, 08:36 PM

Why do you want to put a new timing chain in? Falcons are not like the four cylinders in that the timing stuff needs replacing every 100,000kms.

Unless the timing chain is noisy, then i wouldn't worry about it...

INJECTED_250 · 01-02-2005, 08:39 PM

i wouldnt even DREAM about changing a timing chain on a ford 6..... even when we do heads on falcons with 600,000 km .. the thought of replacing the chain never even come to mind..... unless a guide is broken

I just read u meand guids..... and yes i would check the guides with a good torch... most common to snap is the one held by the 10 mm bolt

Smoked · 01-02-2005, 09:43 PM

Sorry to hear about your misfortune mate, probably all of us, and those who havent will, suffered exactly what your goin thru. Good luck with the repairs.

Make sure you have all the correct tools before you begin work. Definately on the AU Gasket and Bolts, and if the head itself is more then $400 to repair, id start thinking about another head.

MrLandau · 01-02-2005, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by INJECTED_250

i wouldnt even DREAM about changing a timing chain on a ford 6..... even when we do heads on falcons with 600,000 km .. the thought of replacing the chain never even come to mind..... unless a guide is broken

I just read u meand guids..... and yes i would check the guides with a good torch... most common to snap is the one held by the 10 mm bolt

I have had to pull heads on cars with FAR less than that with timing chain issues. One went at 120000 and took out the tensioners, guides and timing case cover - as well as 12 bent valves and little marks in the pistons. I would change the timing set religiously
Shane

niko · 02-02-2005, 09:25 AM

there is a god, i do see commo headgaskets go, and ive seen more mitshushity head gaskets go than fords the v shape ones in particular!

Sterpz · 02-02-2005, 10:11 AM

i checked the oil last night there was no water in it so i'll start work on it next week.
thanks for your help.

needturbo6 · 02-02-2005, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by niko

there is a god, i do see commo headgaskets go, and ive seen more mitshushity head gaskets go than fords the v shape ones in particular!

well 3.8L head gaskets go more often than AU gaskets, some Au's ive seen are at 1,400,000 and still on the original motor including head gasket, the lot really.

3.8L taxis usually have had their heads of 2 or 3 times in that amount of k's.

Smoked · 03-02-2005, 01:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by needturbo6

well 3.8L head gaskets go more often than AU gaskets, some Au's ive seen are at 1,400,000 and still on the original motor including head gasket, the lot really.

3.8L taxis usually have had their heads of 2 or 3 times in that amount of k's.

Ford basically ironed out all the head gasket issues by AUII time tho. Thats why they can confidently run that limp home function. That said, i think they made a significant change from AU to AU2, coz i have seen alot of AU's with head gasket problems.

Thanatos · 03-02-2005, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smoked

Ford basically ironed out all the head gasket issues by AUII time tho. Thats why they can confidently run that limp home function. That said, i think they made a significant change from AU to AU2, coz i have seen alot of AU's with head gasket problems.

Obviously the AU2 steel gasket is worth the extra money then!

Smoked · 03-02-2005, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thanatos

Obviously the AU2 steel gasket is worth the extra money then!

Spose. Im not sure, did they use stell in AU's? i have seen comparable rates of AU's and EL's at the mechanics i used to go to.