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(Update) Any Ford Mechanics (300 l6 head gasket) #7019950
10/17/20 08:51 PM
10/17/20 08:51 PM
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 491
Adirondacks NY
F
Forest Offline OP
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Forest  Offline OP
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Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 491
Adirondacks NY
I’ve got a 88 f-150 with 300 l6 that has a blown head gasket.
I am wondering what else I should replace when doing the job, and any other tips.

I have a reliable shop I plan to take the head to to have it checked and resurfaced. I am not sure if maybe it’s just cheaper to buy another one online instead. The shop said $135 just to have it cleaned up and checked...

Pm me if you want
Thanks

Last edited by Forest; 02/12/21 12:09 PM.

Paul Smiths Forestry ‘22
Re: Any Ford Mechanics on here? (300 l6 head gasket) [Re: Forest] #7020297
10/18/20 09:27 AM
10/18/20 09:27 AM
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 870
Northern WI
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Line Jumper Offline
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Line Jumper  Offline
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L

Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 870
Northern WI
Not a ford mechanic, but in general I would have the local shop magnaflux for cracks and resurface, grind valves if necessary. As far as anything else it depends on a few factors such as if you know the history of the truck, and what it will be used for. If I was going to cross the country after putting it back together I would be a little fussier than a wood hauler or occasional use truck.

Re: Any Ford Mechanics on here? (300 l6 head gasket) [Re: Forest] #7020336
10/18/20 10:15 AM
10/18/20 10:15 AM
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 5,365
New York border
Cragar Offline
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Cragar  Offline
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 5,365
New York border
300cid I-6 is a good engine , had one in my '85 E-150.
Worth fixin back up.

How many miles and how tough a life it has had may give better clues as to what else needs to be done while it is apart.

Good luck with your project.


NRA benefactor member
Re: Any Ford Mechanics on here? (300 l6 head gasket) [Re: Forest] #7020341
10/18/20 10:22 AM
10/18/20 10:22 AM
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 491
Adirondacks NY
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Forest Offline OP
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Forest  Offline OP
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Joined: Feb 2015
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Adirondacks NY
I believe it has 210,000 on it. Odometer is 6 digit down to 0.1 of a mile and title doesn’t say.
Had transmission replaced. I rebuilt the transfer case last fall. Loses about a quart of oil every 1000 miles. Farm truck for the last 12 years. I’d like to be able to drive it to school 2hrs away once in a while.

Thanks


Paul Smiths Forestry ‘22
Re: Any Ford Mechanics on here? (300 l6 head gasket) [Re: Forest] #7020556
10/18/20 03:21 PM
10/18/20 03:21 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,894
Oakland, MS
Drifter Offline
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Drifter  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,894
Oakland, MS
I remember some of the older ones the rocker arm shafts would work up causing noise from excess clearance. They used to drill and pin them in place to cure that. That engine has been around a long time. Not quite as long as me though LOL.


Some individuals use statistics as a drunk man uses lamp-posts — for support rather than for illumination.

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Life member NTA , and GA Trappers assoc .
Re: Any Ford Mechanics on here? (300 l6 head gasket) [Re: Forest] #7020582
10/18/20 04:11 PM
10/18/20 04:11 PM
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 5,365
New York border
Cragar Offline
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Cragar  Offline
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 5,365
New York border
You mention a bit of oil loss , didn't state whether it is leaking or burning it. Since you have the head off , I would replace the valve guide seals. Easy to do if you have a valve spring compressor , if not the machine shop can do it. Parts are relatively cheap. On that mileage/age it is common for them to be shot a bit.


NRA benefactor member
Re: Any Ford Mechanics on here? (300 l6 head gasket) [Re: Forest] #7020597
10/18/20 04:41 PM
10/18/20 04:41 PM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 4,817
central arkansas
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the Blak Spot Offline
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 4,817
central arkansas
How much for a rebuilt head compared to "checked and resurfaced "?


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Re: Any Ford Mechanics on here? (300 l6 head gasket) [Re: Forest] #7020602
10/18/20 04:53 PM
10/18/20 04:53 PM
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 16,150
Tennessee
Scuba1 Offline
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Scuba1  Offline
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Posts: 16,150
Tennessee
I like the new fords with the forklift pocket exhaust pipes. It makes stacking them at the scrap yard a breeze grin


Let's go Brandon

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Re: Any Ford Mechanics on here? (300 l6 head gasket) [Re: Forest] #7020604
10/18/20 04:55 PM
10/18/20 04:55 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,638
Williamsport, Pa.
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jk Offline
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jk  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,638
Williamsport, Pa.
Not a Ford fan but that was a GREAT engine. Many friends had them and they lasted a long time. Put these questions to your mechanic if you really trust his judgment......jk


Free people are not equal. Equal people are not free. What's supposed to be ain't always is. Hopper Hunter
Re: Any Ford Mechanics on here? (300 l6 head gasket) [Re: Forest] #7020660
10/18/20 05:57 PM
10/18/20 05:57 PM
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 4,739
Beatrice, NE
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loosegoose Offline
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Beatrice, NE
If you're having oil burning problems, and thing long and hard about a rebuild for the lower end too, or go the cheaper route and get a junkyard motor. It's burning a quart every thousand miles, and that's not going to magically get better, it's only going to get worse. It''d sure suck big.time to pay to have that head rebuilt, only to tear that engine apart again in a year because it's burning too much oil.

Re: Any Ford Mechanics on here? (300 l6 head gasket) [Re: Forest] #7021001
10/19/20 12:06 AM
10/19/20 12:06 AM
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 491
Adirondacks NY
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Forest Offline OP
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Forest  Offline OP
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Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 491
Adirondacks NY
Yeah I’m not sure if it’s burning it or not. It doesn’t have noticeably blue exhaust. Now that the head is blown it obviously blows white.
I am inclined to think that it it’s more of a leak. But I can’t figure out from where. It used to leak coolant, atf, and gas, but I found those leaks lol. Wasn’t tagged for a few years before I got it and has a lot of Red Green repair work I’ve been sorting out. Luckily it was free with a fresh can of gas to get it home. So I can’t complain.


Paul Smiths Forestry ‘22
Re: Any Ford Mechanics on here? (300 l6 head gasket) [Re: Forest] #7021045
10/19/20 05:57 AM
10/19/20 05:57 AM
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 13,958
Michigan
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Trapper Dahlgren Offline
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Trapper Dahlgren  Offline
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Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 13,958
Michigan
300 is a great motor , easy to work on an lots of parts easy to get, fine where oil is going before you go any farer, I had a 300 in my 77 f-150 sure wish I still had that truck smile

Re: Any Ford Mechanics on here? (300 l6 head gasket) [Re: Forest] #7179257
02/12/21 01:10 PM
02/12/21 01:10 PM
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 491
Adirondacks NY
F
Forest Offline OP
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Forest  Offline OP
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Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 491
Adirondacks NY
So I’ve had the truck done for a few weeks now. The cylinder head was cracked in multiple places. I found an entire engine and some spare parts on Facebook marketplace for $150. The donor engine was in worse shape and had defined shelve on some cylinder walls. My truck had some minor scoring but it was hardly visible. The guy at the machine shop recommended I replace the cylinder rings because they can get damaged when an engine overheats, but I didn’t want to get that involved and decided to just run with the old ones for now. Seems to be running well now. There is no loss of power and it actually seems to shift smoother now that it runs better
Runs a little rough at idle, but that problem existed before I started.
Here are the items I replaced with price that includes shipping. I ordered from Rockauto, Amazon, and LMC truck. Amazon shipping was the fastest. LMC Truck sent me an EGR with a missing fitting, but they made it right and sent me a new one. I got some of the basic stuff from local auto parts stores.
$102 EGR Tube
$179 Gaskets, fuel injector, injector kit, lower radiator hose, steering gearbox rebuild kit, bolts, etc.
$30 Waterpump
$150 Donor truck cylinder head, alternator, alternator bracket, etc.
$233 Rebuilt head machine shop (checked the old head and then checked and rebuilt the donor truck head)
$40 serpentine belt
Oil change
$35 Power steering lines
$78 Muffler/tail pipe
$25 brake caliper
All in all about $900 in repairs and preventative maintenance.


Paul Smiths Forestry ‘22
Re: Any Ford Mechanics on here? (300 l6 head gasket) [Re: Forest] #7179279
02/12/21 01:33 PM
02/12/21 01:33 PM
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 363
PA
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cmj Offline
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cmj  Offline
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PA
Its good for another 200,000 or more.
That $900 is 2 months payments on newer truck that can breakdown as easy as your old one. I like no payments on my stuff.

Re: Any Ford Mechanics on here? (300 l6 head gasket) [Re: Forest] #7179323
02/12/21 02:09 PM
02/12/21 02:09 PM
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 793
Norborne MO
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BBarnes Offline
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BBarnes  Offline
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Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 793
Norborne MO
The 300 6 cylinder was one of the best motors made.

Imo
B

Re: Any Ford Mechanics on here? (300 l6 head gasket) [Re: Forest] #7179647
02/12/21 08:26 PM
02/12/21 08:26 PM
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,779
Northern lower Michigan
Feedinggrounds Offline
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Feedinggrounds  Offline
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,779
Northern lower Michigan
They are great engines, Chevy had a 292 that was great also. Lots of low rpm torque in those high cube inline sixes.


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