cylinder head question

Topic: cylinder head question (Read 1341 times) previous topic - next topic

cylinder head question

October 13, 2013, 04:26:41 PM

Does any one know if the heads are the same on the later port injection 6's as the earlier tbi models? The reason I ask is I think I may have a warped head and one of the local u-pull-it yards has a couple of the newer port injection birds, but no tbi units like mine. If I can get away w/spending $30 instead of $230 for a head I'd sure be happy. I know it's either a bad head or gasket because it's leaking water out of the front of the motor where the head meets the block as well as not having any heat, temp guage fluctuates anywhere between 1/4 & just off the red, and a slight amount of chocolate milk at the bottom of the dipstick. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

cylinder head question

Reply #1 – October 13, 2013, 09:55:44 PM

just get some off of any 87 up f-150 if you have a roller cam.

all heads should be compatable. the older casting are actually better as long as they have unleaded valves in them. the e7's like the mustangs and f-150's run are very similar to the 80-85 heads.

cylinder head question

Reply #2 – October 13, 2013, 10:05:44 PM

I'm pretty sure that he's talking about the 3.8, not the 5.0.

cylinder head question

Reply #3 – October 13, 2013, 10:14:15 PM

I would just take your heads to the machine shop and get them checked, I pulled heads at a u-pull-it before and it sucked, there's only so many tools you can lug over there and working outside sucks in my opinion. Second point is you don't know what your getting, the u-pull-it heads could be worse than you heads.

cylinder head question

Reply #4 – October 14, 2013, 07:12:02 PM

Quote from: Bob;423346

I would just take your heads to the machine shop and get them checked, I pulled heads at a u-pull-it before and it sucked, there's only so many tools you can lug over there and working outside sucks in my opinion. Second point is you don't know what your getting, the u-pull-it heads could be worse than you heads.

I don't mind working outside, Haven't checked w/a machine shop, but kinda nee the car back on the road by monday for work (only one I have), If a machine shop could have them done same day for less than $230 (price for new heads @ auto zone) I would go that route, but I plan on having this project started saturday morning and finished sunday evening. I will be taking a straightedge w/me to the yard to make sure the heads are true. Thanks for the replies folks.

cylinder head question

Reply #5 – November 10, 2013, 09:55:56 AM

So a couple of weeks ago I was heading to the parts store after work to get all the gaskets & head bolts to work on my car when, while driving down the highway, I noticed that my car had heat coming out of the ducts again. I pulled off the road at the next exit and popped the hood. I could still see and hear the water being pushed out where the heads meet the block, but figured "My major concern was having heat. I have that now, I'll wait till the spring to fix it" Fast forward a couple of weeks and 6.5 miles into my journey into work on monday morning, the freeze plug comes shooting out of the head with enough force that I can feel it hit the firewall. So back to plan A for me: junkyard heads and a top end gasket kit in one weekend. I have a haynes manual, but the drawings and pictures are not very clear, so I am asking for some input from anyone with expeirence with the 3.8 engine. My main question is this: are the injectors in the heads or the intake on the later port injected models, will the port injecton heads work with a tbi intake?

cylinder head question

Reply #6 – November 13, 2013, 11:09:11 PM

the 3.8 heads are all the same right up until they changed over to the split port head. then all the split port heads are the same, 3.8 or 4.2. and it doesnt matter if the heads come off am FWD or RWD car, you can use any of them.

now on to a bit of advice for you, if you want to end head gasket problems, grab a 4.2l motor from a 2002 or later F150. these are split port heads, and the engines are rated stock at over 200hp. to make the swap you will need to go one of two directions;

1: grab the wiring harness and all the sensors along with the engine, and swap the whole mess into your current ride

2: change over to a carb set up with the split port heads.

check out tom morana racing or supersix motorsports for the necessary parts.

one more thing, if you want to keep your stock block, you can swap over to the split port heads without issue as the heads will bolt up. and by the way you want to use either the good felpro blue head gaskets or the better corteco mls head gaskets. i also suggest replacing the head bolts with ARP bolts as well, though studs would be better.