HELP w/ Head Gasket Please! 1994 XL w/ 100K

[jklongneck]

my 94 Bronco has always had poor cooling system, and now has blown head gasket (coffe-milky froth in radiator cap and same on dipstick) - mechanic diagnosed the same and told me about $900 to fix but that better off putting her to rest. Is this something I could and should fix myself, or pay for repairs, or just let her go? THANKS

 

[Seabronc]

I guess that it all depends on your ability. A blown head gasket in its self is no reason to junk an engine. Since there is a lot of stuff to take off and put back on plus remove, check out the head for warpage, clean it up and reinstall, $900.00 isn't unreasonable. He will spend a bit of time at it and he probably thinks he deserves to eat. You can do it for a lot less cash wise by spending your time as long as you do it right.

Good luck on your decision,

>-

PS. Welcome to the Zone >

 

[Bully Bob]

---"better off putting her to rest"---

Meaning whole truck...or just eng. ..?

If the truck is that trashed, then yah.... if the rig is still good then fix it..!

 

[desert4wheeling]

I bought my bronco with a blown head gasket for $500. I removed the heads myself and took them to a local machine shop. They first checked to make sure the heads were still good. Then they completely redid the heads with new valves and everything. When I got them back about $400 later they looked brand new. I put the top half of the engine back together and I have a **** of a truck for about $1000! You will need new intake, exhaust, and valve cover gaskets and probably a few other things in the process though. I should say though that mine is an 86 so it is carburated and much easier to diassemble than the EFI ones. The other thing to consider is that if you do a head job it may speed up the bottom end going out. This is my 2 cents anyway.

 

[404PageNotFound]

I bought my bronco with a blown head gasket for $500. I removed the heads myself and took them to a local machine shop. They first checked to make sure the heads were still good. Then they completely redid the heads with new valves and everything. When I got them back about $400 later they looked brand new. I put the top half of the engine back together and I have a **** of a truck for about $1000! You will need new intake, exhaust, and valve cover gaskets and probably a few other things in the process though. I should say though that mine is an 86 so it is carburated and much easier to diassemble than the EFI ones. The other thing to consider is that if you do a head job it may speed up the bottom end going out. This is my 2 cents anyway.

take the crash course:

get a FELPRO complete head set, some antifreeze, some oil and filter X2, and a chiltons manual or some other one with a good write-up and pictures

or:

depending on the engine size get a used one and just replace it and keep the other one to rebuild. Labor times are usually 1 or 2 hours less for a complete head gasket job than a total engine R&R

 

[mbtech2003]

i would get this gasket kit and have fun. i did mine without a lot of problems. if your have the time and a garage u should do it your self. just mark everything in plastic bags or a container so u know where things go back in place ie.. rocker arms, pushrods, they all haveto go back in the same spot. oh ya the gasket kit is from jegs, FMS-M-6003-A50 it is a complete ford racing engine rebuild kit. i used it in my 95 351w when i install my cam. i used the headgaskets from that kit. everything worked out mint. u just might need a different upper plenum gasket. mine was different same with the rear main seal. >-

ps. might want to get new a new timing chain, water pump, thermostate, and possible radiator while in there.