Blown headgasket

[Big Al]

I just purchased my first SHO a 90 model and need some info... who makes the best manual that will outline head gasket replacement ( I'm guessing it will be a Helms)and who makes the best replacement gasket and did Ford ever have a service buliten on the SHO headgasket? This headgasket leak was pressurizing the coolent system and after I let the car warm up and pulled all the plugs and spun the engine over water blew out of #5. Also, who the West Ga. area has a good machine shop in case I have to get the head shaved? I used to use Kustom Racing Engines until the owner retired. This is my first experience with a SHO so all help will be welcomed.

<small>[ April 06, 2002, 11:56 AM: Message edited by: Big Al ]</small>

 

[srfdude]

Helms is indeed the best......one thing it says is not to plane the head. Not sure why.
Mike

 

[jcostantino]

Ted B said in another post that he was running heads shaved .002" so I suspect it's possible to plane them to an extent.

Nobody is 100% sure why the heads CANNOT be shaved but that is what the manual says.

I had a leaky head gasket a month ago and fortunatly it was just a leak with no head warpage.

As far as I know, the SHO headgasket hasn't had any recalls/tsb's. The 3.8 V6 did though.

Here's the part number, it's likely a Ford part only.

2 - Head Gasket . F3DZ6051A . $93.17

Oh yeah, it's TWELVE HOURS book time.

Jeff

 

[srfdude]

2 thou is a pretty small shave.......when a head warps due to overheating, its usually much more, I've seen in the range of .015-.030" warpage. I suspect that the cam towers get out of whack; perhaps a line bore would work, if oversized bearings were available.

 

[jcostantino]

It might have been .02", I'm not sure.

I would think that you could come up with some good heads from a motor with a spun bearing for way less than welding and machining warped heads. There seems to be quite a few long blocks and upper ends available right now for some reason - probably due to the car rotting away or the transmission disintegrating.

Jeff