Cylinder Head Rebuild

I just got my 2.25 gas cylinder head back from the machine shop. If anyone is contemplating a valve job in the near future I've provided the parts and figures so you can budget to do it yourself or to have it done. You UK folks may be interested in the US parts prices.

Buying a reconditioned head:

    Special Tools Needed:
  1. Torque Wrench
  2. Bottom Tap - same size as head bolts

    Parts
  1. Reconditioned Head ERC5266 $ 695.00
  2. Head Gasket ERC6380 $ 19.50
  3. Valve Cover Gasket ETC6439 $ 4.00
  4. Valve Cover Nut Seals (3) 506069 $ 3.45
  5. Oil Feed Pipe Washer (2) 232039 $ 1.30
  6. Exhaust Manifold Gasket 274171 $ 4.90
  7. Breather O Ring 268887 $ 1.10
  8. Thermostat O Ring 527235 $ .90
  9. Thermostat Top Gasket 527110 $ .95
  10. Thermostat Bottom Gasket 247874 $ .95
  11. Bypass To Thermostat Gasket 90511958 $ .75
  12. Plasticote, Ford Green N/A $ 4.00
Total $ 736.85

Doing it yourself (with the machining done at your local machine shop):

    Special Tools Needed:
  1. Valve Spring compressor
  2. Torque Wrench
  3. Bottom Tap - same size as head bolts

    Parts
  1. Intake Valves (4) ERC7150 $ 33.00
  2. Intake Valve Guides (4) 568686 $ 32.00
  3. Intake Valve Seals (4) ETC4709 $ 8.00
  4. Exhaust Valves-Stellite (4) ERC7151 $ 63.80
  5. Exhaust Valve Guides (4) 568687 $ 32.00
  6. Exhaust Valve Seals (4) ETC4751 $ 10.00
  7. Medium Freeze Plug top (4) 549702 $ 4.80
  8. Small Freeze Plug top 525497 $ 1.00
  9. New Springs (8) ERR317 $ 24.00
  10. Head Gasket ERC6380 $ 19.50
  11. Valve Cover Gasket ETC6439 $ 4.00
  12. Valve Cover Nut Seals (3) 506069 $ 3.45
  13. Oil Feed Pipe Washer (2) 232039 $ 1.30
  14. Exhaust Manifold Gasket 274171 $ 4.90
  15. Breather O Ring 268887 $ 1.15
  16. Thermostat O Ring 527235 $ .90
  17. Thermostat Top Gasket 527110 $ .95
  18. Thermostat Bottom Gasket 247874 $ .95
  19. Bypass To Thermostat Gasket 90511958 $ .75
  20. Plasticote, Ford Green N/A $ 4.00

    Machine Shop Work:
  1. Boil & Blast Head $ 15.00
  2. Resurface Head $ 24.00
  3. Install Hardened Exhaust Valve Seats $ 60.00
  4. Cut Seats $ 32.00
  5. Install Valve Guides $ 44.00
  6. Install End Freeze Plug $ 2.00
Total: $ 427.45

Tips: Degrease the engine thoroughly before starting. Gunk and an old toothbrush are a real help. After disconnecting the oil feed tube from the head put a plastic bag over it with a rubber band to keep the dirt out.

Place a deep well socket on the valve spring collar & tap with a hammer to break the collets free before compressing the valve springs.

Use a bottom tap to clean the head bolt threads in the block. Smear a little grease in the flutes to catch the crud. Do this 3 times for each or until they come out clean. A can of brake parts cleaner will make cleaning the tap a snap. Roll a small paper towel into the size of a pencil and feed it down the bolt holes into the block to soak up any oil or water. There must be NO liquid in the bolt holes. As liquid is non-compressible the best that can happen is that you get a false torque reading due to the pressure of the liquid while torquing the head bolts. The worst that can happen is that the pressure on the liquid causes the block to crack. Ouch!

Check your head before ordering the top freeze plugs. They come in different types and sizes. These figures are for a 76 Series III.

I must confess that I did not replace the valve springs. My reasoning is that they all gave equal and stiff resistance when compressed, the mild cam profile taxes them less than most engines, the second spring should keep you going should the other break, and they are fairly easy to change without removing the head if you can borrow an air compressor and an air fitting spark plug adapter.

Have fun.

Bill Maloney

88 IIA & 109 Wagon

W-201 428-3491

H-201 835-1796

wmalon@cbnewsl.att.com

AT&T Rm. CC24

4 Woodhollow Rd.

Parsippany, NJ 07054

This document was translated to html on Wednesday, May 25, 1994 15:08:27