Going to be replacing my head gaskets on my '98 Ranger this weekend. Going to pull them off this weekend, and drop them off at the machine shop for the week. For $150 I can have the valve seals replaced, does this seem worth the money? The truck has 192K

Also, any other suggestions on anything else I should be checking/replacing while I have the truck tore apart? Are the Fel-Pro gasket sets ok or should I go with OEM gaskets?

Thanks!

 

The shop should check everything on the heads, warpage, valve guides, pressure test/check for cracks, and maybe check the valve seats & valves with that many miles. I'd get a straightedge and check the block deck for warpage while it's apart if I were doing it. Also inspect the head bolts for any marks or apparent over torquing, if any are questionable replace them instead of wasting your time.

 

ARP makes a bolt kit for the 4.0 heads. If you need them, their actually studs I believe.

Yeah check the block while your there, clean all the carbon build-up off too.

 

Actually I believe the head bolts should be replaced with new ones, not reused, and they aren't that expensive. Check the lifters and pushrods for wear, pushrods arent that high, but the dang lifters cost me more than the new set of heads I put on my '99. I had a crack between the intake and exhaust valve on cylinder 3 on mine. If it needs new heads, Clearwater Cylinderhead in Florida sells new thicker casting heads with valves and all for around $225 each with core return, 3 year unimited mileage warranty. Cost me more than I originally planned, but runs like new. I used all ford gaskets on mine except the exhaust manifold which is felpro, they sell all the head gaskets, intake etc as a kit.

 

Yeah also forgot to scotchbrite the block deck surface as best you can, so you're new gaskets have a nice clean area.

 

Always replace head bolts. Always.

Rich

 

x2

 

Wait....$150 to replace the valve SEALS? The seals are only a few bucks so I hope for 150 he is doing more than just the seals! Call around to other machine shops and get more quotes on freshening your heads. Checking them for cracks is a must and should be done first !

 

Why would you have to replace the seals, Dont you just re-grind the seats.
When I did head gaskets on my truck, I just cleaned both the head and block good, threw in my gaskets, and replaced headbolts, and put it back together. Never had a problem since.
BUT
You should get the heads pressure checked and all that jazz.

 

Thanks for all the advice. Was planning on ordering a new set of head bolts. Are they FelPro gasket sets ok to use?

Going to call around to some shops tomorrow, see how much just to have everything checked over. The truck does burn a drop of oil or having any valve clatter, I don't see any problems coming up.

I hope the head isn't cracked!!! If it is, it'd be pointless to just replace one head, right? Thanks for the advice.

 

I have heard that doing a valve job will actually make your pistons rings go bad earlier, because the raised compression. Dont know how true that is or not though.

 

That is ......{be nice} wrong.

There is no down side to getting a valve job.Actually its pretty dumb to not have one if you have the heads off and they have some miles on em.

When they do a valve job they are grinding the seats flat again and the same with the valve where it seals to the seat. It is a very small amount but you are actually LOWERING the compression because you are sinking the valve deeper into the head.

 

Cracked heads are VERY common on the 98-00 OHV 4.0's I was going crazy trying to figure out why I had a plug kept fouling out every few weeks, kept researching on here and other sites and discovered I wasnt the only one that had this problem and caused by a cracked head. Luckily the late 4.0 ohv are really easy to work on, Mine doesn't even have an egr system on it which made it even simpler to tear down. If the trucks in good shape otherwise its well worth the money to fix her though.

 

I am looking for good instructions and maybe photos link for doing a head gasket(s).

Its a 2005 Ranger 4.0 automatic
I already have full gasket kit with head bolts

Im used to doing 4 cylinder engines so this will be my first V6

Thanks in advance