Hey guys I need to change the head gaskets on my 3.8 this week. What parts need to come off to do the change and is there anything I should drain before starting?
You/ll need to drain the antifreeze from the radiator before you start anything else. The intakes (upper and lower) need to be removed, as well as the valve covers and the exhaust manifolds. As far as gaskets go, buy an intake gasket set, valve cover gaskets, head gaskets, and exhaust manifold to head gaskets as well as some antifreeze and an oil and filter. Change the oil and filter once you've put everything back together and BEFORE you start it. I hope you have the torque specs for the intake and the heads, otherwise you may be doing the job twice. Good luck and take it slow and be patient, it's been done by many of us before.
The job isn't easy but it isn't the hardest thing either. If you have any doubts of your abilities, I'd ask a bud with some experience to give you a hand with it. If you don't have the proper tools, it makes the job hard too. Do you have air tools ? A torque wrench?
Most of the engine accessories (air pump, alt, compressor, p-s pump) bolt to brackets which attach to the heads - so all that usually has to come off too....
oh ya, DONT SHIFT THE LOWER INTAKE GASKET, or u will be taking the intake back off just to scrape it and do it again....i did it, what a pain in the butt......
This was the worst, suck ass job I've done in a long time. I'll never look at a 3.8 as long as I live again. Honestly, it's no job for a novice. the 3.8 is a wicked engine, and has a lot of bull**** that just doesn't go back together easily. Hah, if you've got the same water pump with the female fitting for a steel male ended hose setup like What I had, good luck getting all that back together.
The bolts are stretch bolts, so you don't have to take everything apart to tighten them twice. You can actually feel the bolts stretch when you are tightening them, it's a scary thing. I almost didn't even need the torque wrench, as you can feel when they've bottomed out......of course, I'm NOT suggesting you not use one.
FYI, you HAVE to replace the head bolts, they are one use bolts.
I had 5 grand left to pay on that car, I put it on a credit card, and sold the car for $1100, and took a 4 grand loss. Worth it in a heart beat.
If you must keep the car, the guys at 3.8mustang.com are a great help and source of information for this great ford tradgedy