Head Problems - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

EB 5spd · 03-16-2005, 15:01

Well my head gasket was not totally gone but definately on the way out, it was leaking coolant out of the gasket and onto the block. Also it was overpressurising the cooling system and blowing parts of it up (weekly). After saving enough money for machining and gaskets and stuff like that I find out the cylinder head has a crack, but it is not all the way through. Personally the local guy will not touch it. I now have three options but really dont want to spend any money at all on the car....

Get it sent off to ford and get it welded.
Get a reco head
or put the head back on and hope it doesnt crack any further.

I would rather the last option as it doesnt cost me anything!!!! I am not sure if this small crack is whats pressurising the cooling system or the leaky head gasket.

please give me some advice

Bertis

INJECTED250 · 03-17-2005, 01:56

Why does it have to go to ford..... just get it welded.... or get a second hand head and get it surfaced... was it leaking from the crACK?...

EB 5spd · 03-17-2005, 02:17

I dont think the guy I gave it to has the tools to weld it.... could you give me a ruff price at what it will cost to get it welded up??? I am pretty sure it wasnt leaking from the crack as it is not all the way through the head yet!!!! although it was losing a lot of coolant but I know some of it, if not all of it was coming out the gasket itself.

Blueblood · 03-17-2005, 15:56

The only way to find out is to pressure test the head. Any good head shop or engine reconditioner can do this for you.

EB 5spd · 03-17-2005, 16:47

how much does that cost?? surely ya would know if ya head was cracked all the way through just by driving it!!

EB 5spd · 03-20-2005, 18:35

perhaps not! my head is apparently unable to be welded! I have had a few searches through this site and can not really find many posts at all about a cracked head, rather odd I thought since I aint the only person that has one atm. If anyone has any idea or experienced the price of a changover head could they please post the price as I got no idea what price I should be looking at.

I got my first price before and it was $575!! no way I am paying that when a new eb motor would cost less.
If this mechanic has supplied a reasonable price let me know.... Thanks

I am gonna ring around this afternoon

EB 5spd · 03-20-2005, 22:39

ok I am getting a second hand head
its out of a XG ute and it looks very clean
apparently the guy who owned the car could not be bothered waiting for it to be machined so he got a reco one
now I got it for $445
this includes... shimming, cracktesting, gaskets, bolts

does this seem reasonable??
also its not changeover.... not that I have any use for the original head

brenx · 03-20-2005, 22:50

Thats about right for non-change over.

EB 5spd · 03-28-2005, 22:31

Ok.. I've got a head but it isnt exactly what I wanted.

He gave me a 3.9L head for my 4.0 motor. It seems to be a lot different to the 91AA, but according to him its geniune ford and a lot better quality because it has the ford badge at the front!!!! He said all the EB heads are all near dead because they have gone soft and it was the best one he could find. Also said I would not lose power

I would like to know if he's telling the truth.... or he's seen me coming!!!
Thanks
Bertis