Replacing head gasket..

Anybody ever replaced a head gasket? I'm trying to help a friend out, since they blew their headgasket. What kind of work can I expect? The Sable using a timing belt or a timing chain?

Which engine? Makes a real big difference. Are you referring to the 3.8L engine, by any chance? This is the one that was/is notorious for blowing head gaskets.

And what year of car? Might make a difference as far as relevant TSB's, I'm not sure.

EDIT: Oh yeah, It's a timing chain. At least on the 3.0L, and I think the 3.8L

1996 3.8L I believe. It's the GL trim.

It blew the headgasket at 108k. A true testament to the notorious head gasket. There any kind of recall for this? Will Ford reimburse?

EDIT: You might even have the 24 valve Duratech engine, since it's a '96. Let me know when you pin it down. Now, thank you for allowing me to blather on: :icon16:

To the very best of my knowledge, you're outta luck getting Ford to give you any sort of break with this problem.

You can at least see what TSB's are available if you go to the AllData website, even if you can't read 'em. I go there, get a TSB number I'd like to look at, and then ask a friend at a local dealership to run me off a copy.

I have a 1996 Taurus GL myself, although I have the 3.0L engine. I'd recommend lurking around www.taurusclub.com for specific info on the 3.8L and it's problems, my knowledge is fairly general.

As you probably already know, that aluminum head on a cast iron block is going to be a source of grief due to the different rates of heat expansion between the two metals. This was not one of Ford's Better Ideas!! Two things you can do to at least help the situation are: 1) Make sure the heads and block decks are not warped. Do you have a straight edge? If not, have a shop check 'em, aluminum heads are known for warping and if they're not flat, they're just not gonna seal.

Second, buy the best head gasket you can find! The Ford gaskets are obviously known for problems, so I'd look to see what McCord and Fel-Pro have to offer. Especially if there's some sort of high performance gasket offered.

Lastly, I don't know if there's a head stud kit available for this engine or not, but it would be something to consider if you don't want to do this job again - and your friend intends to keep the car. You might check out www.fordracing.com

With only 4 bolts around each cylinder, and aluminum head/cast iron block troubles too, anything that you can think of to improve this situation should help a lot! Older Corvettes with the small-block Chevy got away with aluminum heads because (IMO) the SBC has 5 bolts around each cylinder in roughly a pentagram shape. Most other engines just use 4 bolts, one at each corner of the cylinder.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Dan

Thanks Dan.. That's some good information. I'll talk to the girl I could potentially be doing this for and see if she still wants to.

I have a straight edge, and my pop has been using fel-pro gaskets for years.

I'll def. check out the websites you listed and see if I can find some more information.

EDIT: I just talked to her and she's playing with the idea of parting the car out as well. She wants to maximize the money she gets out of the car. What are the big money items from the sable?

If her car has a good transaxle, that's a BIG money item! :grinno:

These cars are notorious for tranny problems. It will also make a difference as to which trans she has. Look at the sticker located on the driver's door, around the door latch. The type of trans originally installled should be printed there.

The transmission codes are as follows: AXOD ('91 and earlier), AXOD-E, AX4S and AX4N. My '96 has the AX4N, and the letters are stamped into the bottom of the transaxle's pan, too.

Hopefully, she has the AX4N, which is said to be the best of the sorry bunch. BTW, these tranny problems are all correctable - the Transgo kit is said to work wonders. Gil Younger is to auto trannies what Smokey Yunick was to the small-block Chevy, according to my research.

Gil is the one who apparently designed the Transgo kits, and I've heard of a few shops that have used them with outstanding results (which means: Taurus/Sable trannies that stay fixed, and don't come back to the shop! )

Call junkyards in your area, to get an idea of what to ask for the transaxle.

Does she have the 12 valve or the 24 valve engine? I think it's cast into the top of the valve cover, if it's the 24 valve.