heads

[Cobain03]

anyone ever have trouble with the installation of a set of aftermarket heads? i was told that since my heads are old and been on the engine a while, that when i go to put the new ones on the engine will not like it cause of the freshness of how things work. now this may sound kinda weird but i kinda forgot what he said cause he is one that likes orginal stuff.

 

[Dark Knight]

the only problem I've ever heard of is making the ring seal worse, because the valves in the new heads will seal better than the ones in the old heads. It creates more cylinder pressure and puts more of a load on the rings..

 

[mustangbrad]

the only problem I've ever heard of is making the ring seal worse, because the valves in the new heads will seal better than the ones in the old heads. It creates more cylinder pressure and puts more of a load on the rings..

This is exactly right. I am going through this now, I had my heads completely rebuilt. Now the engine will blow oil out the breather cap on my valve covers and out the dip stick tube if I get the RPM's above 2500. You might want to rering the pistons when you replace the heads.

 

[John Z]

Agree with Dark Knight. How many miles are on the engine? (Or more specifically on the rings?)

 

[mustangdave]

I have experienced this personally and blew an engine; it's no fun being stranded on an interstate with no cell phone.

 

[Cobain03]

there is 147k on the car. maybe the same with the engine i dont know. so what you all are saying is that unless you have a strong well built engine take extreme caution?

 

[Capt Dan]

there is 147k on the car. maybe the same with the engine i dont know. so what you all are saying is that unless you have a strong well built engine take extreme caution?

I don't think caution is the right word. What I got out of it is the new heads will be new and tight, while the bottom part of you engine may be worn and loose. This may aggravate leaks around your piston rings causing blow-by. If the new heads are causing more power/compression this also aggravates the problem. How do you exercise caution? by not putting your foot into it? like thats going to happen. thats why you want new heads, right?

Better to rebuild or at least re-ring or you will be pulling them off again soon.

 

[Cobain03]

makes me not want to do it now. i cant afford to take the engine out and totally rebuild her

 

[65stang289]

I just put a set of 93 heads on my car now. I dont know what the deal is with the oil leaking from the valve covers. I HAD to put 2 gaskets on just to stop the leak.

 

[12sec67]

makes me not want to do it now. i cant afford to take the engine out and totally rebuild her

in your sig you say you have a daily driver...

2 options:

1) put them on and enjoy it

2)don't put the heads on and wait till you can put in a rebuilt engine

there no way that is a stock engine, 147 miles... yea right!
my odometer flipped 3 TIMES! my 91 ford x when i sold it had 140,000 miles on it

if you have put a 4 barrel intake and carb and headers and it liked it the upgrades then you should be fine putting on the heads, your engine propably isn't that old.

 

[iskwezm]

I thought you were just saying how you didnt have money for tires or wheels a few weeks ago?

 

[65ShelbyClone]

i was told that since my heads are old and been on the engine a while, that when i go to put the new ones on the engine will not like it cause of the freshness of how things work.

I've heard of this as well. Thing is, I've never heard of it actually happening. Based on how many 5.0 people put heads, intakes, blowers, etc on 150K+ engines, I would venture to say this problem either rarely or never comes up.

If your engine doesnt burn oil and has decent compression, then intalling heads probably wont hurt anything. What are your options anyway? 1) Install them, run it, and nothing happens or 2) do the same and it pops, resulting in a rebuild or 3) rebuild it anyway then install heads. By putting them on the used shortblock, you only risk not having to rebuild it.

 

[Cobain03]

nothin says you cant have a high mileage engine. my truck has 240k miles on it as well as the engine.

isk: wheels are expensive espically on a high schoolers budget. i bought the tires though. 225 bucks.

 

[iskwezm]

nothin says you cant have a high mileage engine. my truck has 240k miles on it as well as the engine.

isk: wheels are expensive espically on a high schoolers budget. i bought the tires though. 225 bucks.

heads cost more then wheels right.

 

[Cobain03]

unless your talkin about cheapie wheels your right

 

[Max Power]

Keep in mind that engines built in the 80s and 90s last a LOT longer than in the mid-60s.

Rarely do you see a sixties small block ford that had 150,000 miles on it that still ran very well.