96 falcon cracked head gasket

[ntyce]

sorry but i dont have any experience with fords at all. but im having problems with the engine and was told that i have a crack head gasket when i had it looked at. i was quoted 2800$ but i only brought the car for 3k to use as bunky so i dont want to fork out 2800 when i paid 3k for her.
can anyone help point me in the right direction to chasing down the gasket? ive been told to check out coventrys and repco, but was wondering if anyone knows anywhere else?
and is it an easy fix with the right tools or so i have to take it to the pros?
thanks heaps

[DanWA]

Dude do it yourself.

My little bro just done his himself and hes 17.

2800 is a bloody ripoff.

[ntyce]

yeh im planning to do it myself this weekend but im just looking for a shop/wreckers that wont charge me to much for the gasket itself

[kurbn]

you cant re-use head gaskets unless they are copper, that wont be the case anyway..

before you go out and buy anything get the head pressure tested, sounds like its gotten hot and being aluminium head they dont like heat..if the head is fine you will need to get it faced to make sure its flat

I would also be looking at as to why it got hot.. leaky water pump, leaking tanks on your radiator, blocked radiator, blown hose, aftermarket thermostat has locked up ect...

they are a timing chain setup so I hope you know how to set that back up

if you can do it yourself its going to save you ALOT of money.. put it back together wrong and you could bend valves..

[Tocchi]

bangn, dont really have to check any of those with E series falcons.
the composite head gaskets fail from 120,000km to 180,000km

an AU metal head gasket (3 layer), will mean it never pops again, but at $70 it might be more than you want to spend.

the composite ones still do the job. and are cheaper :)
and will last another 100k km :)


but get the head checked out, and skimmed, it cost me $50 when i did it back in 07/08

but as bangn said, its best to check the cooling system as well



www.pertheseries.com

^^^^ all the info you will ever need on E series will be there :)

[ntyce]

thanks for the info fellas

[kurbn]

why do they just pop? to do with the corosion?

[stumps.]

surely if the head was stuffed as mentioned due to warping or corrosion you could pick up a new (used) motor for well under $1000. Tell whoever quoted you $2800 they are dreaming

[kurbn]

yeh but you could be buying teh same problem..

[datsqik]

Head bolts are a big problem with these. They either break or just stretch. If you replace the head gasket also replace the head bolts.

[RRob]

Brand new heads for these are only $650 ish from memory in case yours is dead.

[KREATTD]

I have done 2 of these now, when i put my new motor together, and when we changed my mates blown one. When you take the head off, leave the timing chain connected to the cam gear with 3 cable ties, so you dont loose your timing, and just pull the cam gear off (with the chain attached). changing the head gasket isn't hard, and dosent take that long. I have herd of $800 for a head gasket change from a mechanics... but not $2800, i'd be telling em where to go cos thats just a rip off.

[joshg123]

Lol all the different theories.

Fact is, stock ford casting is shit, put a gasket on it, change the head bolts all you want the casting is still the same. It will crack and corrode around number 5 port.

Cheapest way, get a brand new one for 650 odd, get the rocker gear swapped over and put it back together with NEW gaskets and NEW bolts.

I would never re use a head gasket if its been running, never, and bolts are cheap enough to replace.


*EDIT* Didnt realise that said 2800 :O, i normally do these for 1800-2k supplied and fitted with a new head/warranty and bolts and what not. Sheeeesh thats pricey

[joshg123]

I have done 2 of these now, when i put my new motor together, and when we changed my mates blown one. When you take the head off, leave the timing chain connected to the cam gear with 3 cable ties, so you dont loose your timing, and just pull the cam gear off (with the chain attached). changing the head gasket isn't hard, and dosent take that long. I have herd of $800 for a head gasket change from a mechanics... but not $2800, i'd be telling em where to go cos thats just a rip off.

You would have to be sitting on a box or going broke to do it for 800, even if you did, you would defiantly not be addressing any of the reasons why these heads fail in the first place.

[Drift_R32]

dont you have to have the head faced before attaching back to block ?

[ED40]

Do what i did, replace it with a motor from an AU. Lower km's(usually), better head/gasket, smoother bottom end. More work, but cheaper and you have a smoother car at the end of the day.