Heads & Head Gasket... - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

TheTechGod · 05-04-2005, 00:15

Hi everyone,

What's a fair price to pay for a reconditioned head? What about a new one?

Also, how much does the AU Head Gasket go for? Are there any dramas fitting it to an ED? How is it better than the ED gasket, just stronger or something else?

Thanks!

TheTechGod · 05-04-2005, 02:10

Ps

TheTechGod · 05-04-2005, 02:10

PS: What causes a head to crack?

ebxr8240 · 05-04-2005, 06:25

Six or eight...Six's usually have gasget issues mainly because alloy expands sh!t loads more than iron..Then after many heat cycles the head bolts loose there elasticity, then the head lifts under heavy load.Then you loose coolant..Eventually the head gasget will let go...But imo its the head bolts...The AU gasget is a multy layer metal gagset.It works very good when block and head surfaces are correct.No milling groves... Cracked head is due to overheating...
On an eight this is very rear...Bad tune and detonation...Overheating again cracks heads...

TheTechGod · 05-05-2005, 02:54

Thanks for clearing that up, it's a 6 cyl engine. What are the symptoms of a cracked head?

All I noticed was coolant in the oil and smoke out the exhaust, so I knew the gasket was gone but I didn't think that a head would have cracked.

chook564 · 05-08-2005, 07:10

you might find that the head is just warped, if that is the case you can usually get away with just having the head shimmed down, to reflatten it. This comes with the added bonus of increasing the compression :) so the news might not be all bad, not sure about price, but it shouldn't be more than $250, wheareas you'd pay around $400-600 for a recond head.

if the head is cracked or warped, then you should have water in your oil (check under the oil cap), and sometimes oil in your radiator. Also, there should be an excessive amount of water in your exhaust fumes, and a little smoke. Engine will
overheat alot, and won't run aswell.

i actually had a head that lifted after overheating badly, the head bolt seats stretched or something, and i had bubbles coming out of above the head gasket, all the way along the head. Managed to get away with just retightening the head bolts!!! She ran fine after that. Hope you are so lucky.

TheTechGod · 05-15-2005, 01:45

Thanks for all the info, ended up with the whole deal, water in the oil, smoke out the exhaust... Reconditioned head and a new head gasket took care of it, but emptied my wallet!

ebxr8240 · 05-15-2005, 03:07

Unless it has of klmrs on head it would only need re surfacing, new A.U gasget, new head bolts...Chances are there was NO cracked head, just leaking gasget!!!

TheTechGod · 05-15-2005, 04:16

Well apparently he sent in the head to get it machined, then they sent it back saying it was cracked... I asked for the AU gasket but didn't get it.

ebxr8240 · 05-16-2005, 03:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheTechGod

Well apparently he sent in the head to get it machined, then they sent it back saying it was cracked... I asked for the AU gasket but didn't get it.

They decked the head and fitted new bolts I hope.I doubt it was cracked?Just sucking more $$ out of you...Did they replace valve guides, re seat valves etc? Thats whats done when head is reconditioned....Btw water out exhaust and coolant in oil is typical head gasget failure when head bolts have lost there tension....Welding an alloy head is no big deal though...