About to repair another V8 Cam Failure...

[AllSHO_n_NoGO]

So I picked up a 98 SHO with a spun front intake cam with 73k for short money. Funny thing is the person that had this car was told by a mechanic they just needed to install a new cam... well they spent $550 to buy a cam from Ford and guess what... the valves didnt magically fix themselves!

That being said I am going to start pulling it apart after Thanksgiving. I picked up another motor from the local salvage yard with a spun rear cam for $350 with 89k on the clock.

I have read alot on the forum about the trouble with parts. Seems the head bolts are pretty much non-existant and the head gaskets are insane money.

I am trying to find out what the latest is on where to get the head bolts from. It seems the best course of action is to get a set of Duratec head bolts and cut 1/2" off. Does anyone know if someone like ARP sells an equivalent head bolt?

It seems to me resuing the head gasket is asking for trouble. So I am going to bite the bullet and buy a new one.

Also, when looking at the head gaskets I see them referred to as left and right. How do they differentiate between left and right since the motor is sitting across? I was thinking the front was actually the left, but wasnt sure.

Then weld the cams before they go back in and hope for the best.

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[luigisho]

I think the l-r sides are looking from the acc. pullies and rt=front and rear=left.

There was a post about head bolts and gaskets recently without a hard and fast conclusion. Please post back when you have everything up and running and talk about what you used and how it can be replicated at what approx. cost.

 

[SHOZ123]

If it were me I would reuse both the bolts and gaskets.

 

[ThatShoGuy]

If it were me I would reuse both the bolts and gaskets.

well i went this route

still kickin along i did get head gaskets and bolts a year b4 i installed my nos short block thos had about 1500 miles on then.. not that ,that matters...

well i reinstalled them i sprayed them down with copper rtv spray. tightened up the bolts and added a extra 10-15degs of turn on the bolts on the final step.

car has omost 6k on it so far so good.. with the head gaskets that is........

 

[AllSHO_n_NoGO]

well i went this route

still kickin along i did get head gaskets and bolts a year b4 i installed my nos short block thos had about 1500 miles on then.. not that ,that matters...

well i reinstalled them i sprayed them down with copper rtv spray. tightened up the bolts and added a extra 10-15degs of turn on the bolts on the final step.

car has omost 6k on it so far so good.. with the head gaskets that is........

I read your entire thread and I have considered it. Since the gaskets have been in there for 10 years I am little unsure if I want to go down that road.

The difference with me is I drive about 20k miles a year for business. Granted they pay, but I dont think I want to cut corners on something like this. Especially if I am 200 miles from home and the head gasket lets go.

To me spending the extra $300 on the head gasket and bolts is money well spent.

 

[AllSHO_n_NoGO]

If it were me I would reuse both the bolts and gaskets.

You are saying that you have done this before and had success? I see that your a tuner for NESHO. Are you in Mass?

 

[SHOZ123]

I have not but know of people who have. I reused the TTY bolts on my rod bearings.

I'm in Illinois.

 

[SHO Dude]

 

[St Louis SHO]

I need 2 of those boxes.

 

[Ict_Lx]

Head gaskets and bolts?

 

[AllSHO_n_NoGO]

Looks like Christmas came early this year!

PM Sent!

 

[E1 v2]

I put an engine back together, almost 1 year ago, from only used parts.
It is nearing 10,000 miles under the foot of my 20 yr old son without any issues.

I used a set of used head bolts. A used head gasket - apparently original to the engine @ 182,000 miles. A used head. All used gaskets everywhere. Any of the gaskets that were a little icky got a good scrubbing and a good coat of high temp black paint, and were put back together still a little wet.

All is still good, everything is still together. I think I can safely say that it is POSSIBLE to put one of our engines back together with all used parts and still get a dependable runner.

That said. I'd rather have new parts every time.

 

[bottonic]

I don't even own a gen 3, but that's just cruel teasing like that

 

[ThatShoGuy]

tell the truth thos look like heads and head bolts... sorry if im wrong could be!

 

[AllSHO_n_NoGO]

My buddy and I started plugging away at the car tonight. Grabbed a quick photo after we cleaned up with my iPhone. The only thing holding the front subframe in is the subframe bolts and the struts.

It will be out and on the ground tomorrow...

 

[AllSHO_n_NoGO]

Motor is out of the car, head is off. The rebuild will be happening over the weekend!

In the process I found the housing around the alternator cracked so I am going to install a new one now.

 

[SHOZ123]

Also a good time to get rid of the steel ATX cooler lines.

 

[NebraskaSHO]

A lift makes that a lot less time consuming. Thanks for saving another car.

 

[AllSHO_n_NoGO]

A lift makes that a lot less time consuming. Thanks for saving another car.

Yah I have only had the lift a few weeks and wow does it make a big difference. I dont think I could go back to working on my back like I did before!

I can just image how long this would have taken without a lift.

 

[AllSHO_n_NoGO]

The replacement cylinder head went on the car last night. Then I replaced the alternator and starter since they needed to go. Right about then I ran out of diesel in the furnace so that was it for the night!

Tomorrow night we should have the rest of the motor together and maybe back in the car. Depends on the ambition level!