96 Cougar 3.8L head removal - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

96CougarXR7 · 07-25-2009, 09:36

Can someone help explain alt/pw steering pump bracket removal from driver side head. I have the upper bolt and middle nut off the stud but there is a 3rd bolt behind the power steering bracket holding it to the head. I can see it but there is not a clear shot at it with a socket. Do you have to take the PS pulley and steel bracket off to get to it? Thanks

Cat in Canada · 07-26-2009, 12:27

Hello fellow Cougar owner... who I assume has a blown head gasket like mine. Imanaged to get that bracket off without disassembling the whole works, but it wasn't fun from what I remember. You have to try different combos of sockets and wobbles to make it work. It's been a while since I ripped My engine apart but I think I used an extension with a wobble end built on the tip. As far as I know it is a Snap-On design (I love my Snap-On tools), but may come in different brands. I never did finish my heads though. I have a 5.0 H.O goin in my cat.

96CougarXR7 · 07-26-2009, 20:50

I went ahead and just pulled the pulley off. Both rear cylinders had bad fire rings on the head gaskets. I cleaned up both heads and don't see any cracks or warpage. Is there a common place for the 3.8 heads to crack? Pistons and cylinders look good so I'm going to throw it back together with new gaskets and head bolts.

fixitnowlt · 07-27-2009, 14:15

The heads are usually good unless you ran it really hard with the gaskets blown. The silver gaskets were junk. Ford even had a recall for these in all 3.8L. Buy the valve grind kit from the dealer. It comes with everything you need including new head bolts.