In the process fo head gasket change in 94 mustang and found this.

The seal between head and the intake looks buggered. What is up with this? Just the normal damage from an overheat? Both front seals on both heads were like this.

Overall

Passenger side

Drivers Side

That's normal. That is to say, that's a common failure. Will result in coolant hosing into oil as well as externally.

The anti Dex-Cool people say that is because of Dex-Cool eating the plastic. That doesn't explain all of the Fords with this style of gasket that suffer the exact same failure with non-Dex-Cool coolant...

When you put it back together, make sure the fasteners and threaded holes are CLEAN, meaning wire-wheel the bolts and the bottoms of the heads, then follow any torque and magic goo instructions to the letter. Very easy to overtorque this style of gasket so the torque spec is usually very low (GMs are down in the 132in-lb range) with a special Loctite to keep the bolts from backing out.

I do about 40 GMs to one Ford, mainly because that's also the ratio of GM to Ford that I see for any other service.

The real question is that the real problem and the head gasket may be ok? I know I only have about 20 more bolts to go to take the heads off and since I have the complete gasket set I should keep going.

Given the history of 3.8's, I would do the HG's for peace of mind and not cursing yourself for NOT doing them when they do decide to blow.

Yeah... it's always the back of the passenger side head that leaks. And when machining, we've never seen the heads warped. I think that there was just a torquing failure on the assembly line that would take 80k to manifest as a problem.

Since you have the water pump and accessories off, it'd be a good idea to replace the timing cover gasket. That's the most common leak on the 3.8.

common. age heat and antifreeze do that to the plastic gaskets. if im not mistaken felpro makes gaskets that use a steal carrier instead of the plastic. (they do for all the gm's for sure) not sure if they do for the essex but id bet they do.

I will find out soon I got a complete felpro set. I am one head bolt away from getting the 2nd head off. What a PITA it is being I have to go get an extractor tool as even with a 1/2 drive 6 point it rounded the edges of the bolt.

Knurled wrote: Since you have the water pump and accessories off, it'd be a good idea to replace the timing cover gasket. That's the most common leak on the 3.8.

Good Call!!! I did not think of that. Thanks!!!!! I will probably be replacing the water pump as well. I did find my oil leak it was at the front driver side corner of the intake manifold where it meets the block and the head. Oil all down the front of the motor. I thought I had a bad main seal. I don't have the balancer off but I should probably consider that as well.

In reply to dean1484:

Seems to be turning into one of those, "Well, while I'm in there...." projects

I don't do V6s but that exact failure is very common on Windsors when Felpro gaskets are used. I see you have a Felpro gasket set ready for reassembly---don't say you haven't been warned...

Jeff

I've always trusted Felpro... wassup w/ that?

fasted58 wrote: I've always trusted Felpro... wassup w/ that?

The Felpro intake gaskets have a reputation for not playing well with Windsor small block Fords. Some engine builders have reported better results with their steel core version (1250-S I believe it is) but since I have never had a failure using Victor Reinz I simply stay with them.

Jeff

JKleiner wrote:

fasted58 wrote: I've always trusted Felpro... wassup w/ that?

The Felpro intake gaskets have a reputation for not playing well with Windsor small block Fords. Some engine builders have reported better results with their steel core version (1250-S I believe it is) but since I have never had a failure using Victor Reinz I simply stay with them. Jeff

Thanks much Jeff,

GRMers, are there any other FelPro gasket applications we should be concerned about?

fasted58 wrote: Thanks much Jeff, are there any other FelPro gasket applications we should be concerned about?

I have been almost exclusively tied up in the SBF world for the last decade so I really can't say with regards to others.

Jeff

JK,

I'm picking up a ford 5.0 that the owner said has just started losing water. I figure that it's gonna be an upper end gasket rebuild and a new water pump for sure Are there any parts houses (Auto Zone, Pep Boys, Allied Auto Parts, etc.) that carry Victor Reinz gaskets, or it an internet/mail order thing?

Thanks !

TC

Great. Now I am sitting here looking at the fel pro set I have and am wondering if I should get something else? Oh-ya this motor only had about 50K on it. Heads are now off so i can start the cleaning of parts.

Rock Auto has 'em but an easier solution is to go to Carquest---their gaskets ARE Reinz in CQ packaging.

Jeff

I found this nugit on the web about Felpro HG sets for these cars.

Felpro is phasing out the older style gaskets and switching to a new style. The old style gaskets are the graphite head gaskets and fiber core intake gaskets. The lower intake gaskets also had cork pieces to go between the intake gaskets. The new style gaskets use much better MLS head gaskets, Poly resin graphite lower intake gaskets with rubber sealing beads around all the ports and the middle pieces (front and back of lifter valley) are crush-proof rubber with metal core with metal clips to hold them in place. The upper inatake gasket is a steel core gasket with a rubberized graphite coating. Overall, the new Felpro stuff is MUCH higher quality then the old stuff and thus worth the higher price. I'd say the quality is on par with 99-04 OEM Ford stuff. BTW, 94-98 and 99+ gaskets have all been improved.

BTW, what that means is, the engine HAD the updated gaskets in it.

Last I heard, that is because the plastic carrier gaskets are not able to last a really long time because due to thermal cycling the mating surfaces 'slide' against each other, destroying the gasket. Still, if it ran hot I'd pop the heads and replace the HGs for the same reason.

Heads are already off. (see the stuck head bolt thread I posted today) I am going to replace the water pump and the cam cover seal "while I am there"

JKleiner wrote: ... go to Carquest---their gaskets ARE Reinz in CQ packaging.

And the oil filters are wix in a CQ box. I love Carquest.

... go to Carquest---their gaskets ARE Reinz in CQ packaging.

And the oil filters are wix in a CQ box. I love Carquest.

=====

Just for future reference, does anybody know if this applies to stores in Canada too?

CQ filters are wix. It's what we use in all our cars.

I know 8v vw intake gaskets made by fel pro are terrible (the bolt holes dont even line up right), and I think they sell a gasket set for the alfa 3.0 12v that has the wrong head gaskets (from a 2.0 turbo not sold in the us). Those are the only ones I know of.