Head Gasket on 3.5L LX5 V-6

[krivasauto]

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[carbon02]

Wow-- Thanks for all the great documentation you provide. I've got to do plugs this spring, and those pictures will come in handy.

Do does the crossover need to come all the way out to do the headgasket. You removed a few bolts, I imagine those are in the head so they need to be removed.

The crankshaft locking tool then attaches where the starter goes.

Wow-- Youve got a lot done, and a lot yet to go. I can see why this has caused so many Shortstar's and Northstarts to end up in salvage yards due to costs of this repair.

I really hope your headbolts come out cleanly. So many forums I've seen strongly suggest inserts into the block.

While I'll never tackle it to the level that your doing, the steps and pictures will help in spark plug and possible injector removal.

I hope there is enough clearance for you to be able to get the side cover off for the timing chains with the engine in the car. Good thing it's the front gasket..

Thanks and Good Luck-

[danielsatur]

How about a home video, and put on Youtube!

[danielsatur]

I'am thinking of buying a 2002 taurus with a blown head gasket for $900, and
use some of that www.SteelSeal.com, that google tagged at the top of your Thread.

It would be cool to put this project on Youtube, there's alot of How to Auto repair videos.

[carbon02]

I've seen some posts over on the caddy forums where they have acutally lowered the engine on the cradle to the ground, and used a standard engine hoist with a strap around the bumper supports of the car to lift the entire body off the engine and suspension. Seems like a crazy high lift of the body in the air, but a pretty convenient way of working on the head and timing cover.

It probably doesn't save that much time vs. pulling the engine, but the cradle acts as the engine support table, and they didn't have to pull the axles from the transmission to pick it from the top.

[krivasauto]

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[carbon02]

Yea I think lifting that way would be risky to start with, and on your driveway I can see that being a problem.

Just throwing out suggestions. I hope you don't have problems with the back gasket in the future. This engine is in the "second" Intrigue and has high miles over 170K? I hope it wasn't overheated. The paint on those cam covers look like they've seen some underhood heat. But that could be ambient Texas heat as well, vs. running hot.

[krivasauto]

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[carbon02]

Well I don't think that running the fuel level low, can contribute to this. I'd think that would be more fuel injector related. If it ran rough, it might be the computer trying to adjust for fuel mixtures.

The prestone cleaner for 6 hours? Well that's a pretty long time to leave it in there, but could it really eat a gasket? But I'd think that if that's the case the gasket was on it's last leg.

I guess it's possible, and with wet plugs it's impossible for a new plug to cure the misfire.

I would be leary of doing just one headgasket with the milage this high on an all aluminum engine. It's worth a shot to see if you can get the head off with the engine in the car, and see how things go. If there's a lot of corrosion on the surfaces/holes, then you can decide what the other head might look like, and the potential work involved in preparing the block, vs. just swaping engines.

[danielsatur]

Too late with the Steel seal video, see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3suQy44G_B0

[danielsatur]

Here's a good Redneck head gasket repair, see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BjuAHBxnEw

[LittleHoov]

Originally Posted by danielsatur

Here's a good Redneck head gasket repair, see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BjuAHBxnEw

Wow....just wow. Sad thing is I'll bet it actually works!

I think my favorite instruction line was "secure securely to the vehicle"

[danielsatur]

He probably got $4500 Cash for clunkers, and had to drive it in!

[Tobey]

Heh, bet your stomach dropped to the floor before you realized the rear pack wasn't connected.

Congrats. And thanks for all of the photos, although this is something I would ever attempt...