Ford 1700 head gasket replacement, how hard to do?

[rayikeo2]

Looks like my head gasket is leaking before the thermostat opens. After it opens the lead stops. How hard a repair is this for an average person? I just replaced the water pump, the thermostat and both radiator hoses, now this. Another 2020 year problem.

 

[JC-jetro]

Ray,

Head gasket is a bit of a pain but not entirely difficult. just make sure your valve timing are not messed up. You will want to make sure mark crank shaft pulley with the the mark and don't move it during the repair. verify cylinder #1 is on TDC (Top Dead Center) and do check intake and exhaust valve gap at the rocker arm by a feeler gauge. at the very least you want to duplicate it. I have not done it on mine but there is procedure in the book on how to time the valve upon disassembly. I don't know if the engine is interference or non interference but you do not want to end up with a bent valve. Do check the head bolt torque setting, it is highly unlikely but a bolt might have come a bit lose.

Now , did you overheat the engine? what do you think caused the head gasket leak? do you have antifreeze in the engine oil? do you get white smoke coming out of the tail pipe? is amount of leak engine temp proportional? does it leak sitting cold?

JC,

 

[rayikeo2]

I have not determined if the leak is coming from the head gasket for sure. Ran out of time and needed to let the engine cool down to restart cold. Leak seems to happen before the thermostat opens. Not sure if there is any antifreeze in the oil because it was too dark to see good enough. I need to do more checking to locate where the exact leak is. No smoke from the tail pipe yet. After thermostat opened the engine ran for 5 min with normal temperature before I shut it off. I need to restart and check all the places where it might be leaking. Will observe the soft plugs for leeks. Very little run time after the temp gauge showed hot because I watch it constantly while it is running. I am hoping it is not the head gasket.

It's been a tough year for me, all my equipment is breaking down with minor problems that are stressful to trace and fix. I do have a "back up tractor" to use for the upcoming snow storm.

 

[RickB]

How is valve timing altered by removing the cylinder head? Makes no sense to me.
After assembly set the valve lash to spec, not what you found pre-repair.

 

[fried1765]

How is valve timing altered by removing the cylinder head? Makes no sense to me.
After assembly set the valve lash to spec, not what you found pre-repair.

I wondered about that too.

 

[rayikeo2]

How is valve timing altered by removing the cylinder head? Makes no sense to me.
After assembly set the valve lash to spec, not what you found pre-repair.

That info was the deciding factor for me to not attempt a head gasket repair. I would have to send it to the shop.

 

[fried1765]

That info was the deciding factor for me to not attempt a head gasket repair. I would have to send it to the shop.

Setting the valve lash was the deciding factor?
Very easy to do.

 

[RickB]

Setting the valve lash was the deciding factor?
Very easy to do.

Yeah, but if that challenge made him decide to farm it out it is probably just as well. There are observations to be made when diagnosing/replacing a head gasket that sometimes require experience to get the desired results.

 

[JC-jetro]

I know the crank shaft, cam shaft gears in timing cover are meshed together and timing stays unaffected. What I meant was if the engine is not turned over and valves lash adjustment is measured and put back exactly the same spot then the valve adjustment will not be effected. Now if, shop manual procedure is followed and #1 is on TDC and lash is adjusted then all is well. I just brought it up so Ray would be cognizant of lash adjustment need upon reassembly. Indeed valve lash adjustment is not difficult if the procedure is adhered to.

 

[JC-jetro]

I have not determined if the leak is coming from the head gasket for sure. Ran out of time and needed to let the engine cool down to restart cold. Leak seems to happen before the thermostat opens. Not sure if there is any antifreeze in the oil because it was too dark to see good enough. I need to do more checking to locate where the exact leak is. No smoke from the tail pipe yet. After thermostat opened the engine ran for 5 min with normal temperature before I shut it off. I need to restart and check all the places where it might be leaking. Will observe the soft plugs for leeks. Very little run time after the temp gauge showed hot because I watch it constantly while it is running. I am hoping it is not the head gasket.

It's been a tough year for me, all my equipment is breaking down with minor problems that are stressful to trace and fix. I do have a "back up tractor" to use for the upcoming snow storm.

Ray,

Make sure to find the source of leak first prior to attempting gasket replacement. There will be tell tale sign like I mentioned before. Do your due diligence during the day to make sure as to avoid dorking it up unnecessarily.

JC,