7.3 idi regasket questions

[RLDSL]

HAve teh heads checked. With those miles, you can bet that at least some of the guides are shot. If you caught them soon enough you may be able to get by with false guides, they are much cheaper than full guide inserts. If you don't do this now, you will be pulling heads in another 50k miles. Make sure to get the good gaskets Either the Victor Reinz or ones from the IH dealer( one and the same )
Rings usually hold up pretty good, but considering it's down that far already, rings aren't very expensive.

 

[reklund]

I'm here in Vegas too if you need a hand. Been tinkering with mine for quite a while, and have a pretty good idea of how it all works. Feel free to PM me here or on Pirate- I assume you're the same PT Ranger from there?

 

[idiabuse]

HAve teh heads checked. With those miles, you can bet that at least some of the guides are shot. If you caught them soon enough you may be able to get by with false guides, they are much cheaper than full guide inserts. If you don't do this now, you will be pulling heads in another 50k miles. Make sure to get the good gaskets Either the Victor Reinz or ones from the IH dealer( one and the same )
Rings usually hold up pretty good, but considering it's down that far already, rings aren't very expensive.

New rings on used pistons will not last any longer than 50,000 miles
Ring lang clearence is crucial for any engine performance and efficiency.

New ring tension on old tapered bores and worn ring grooves is a complete waste IMO

This practice is one reason why you should change your oil every 3000 miles or sooner cause them combustion gases are polluting the crankcase oil in a much bigger hurry than if everything was new and tight.

But usually I am proven wrong

Javier

 

[RLDSL]

New rings on used pistons will not last any longer than 50,000 miles
Ring lang clearence is crucial for any engine performance and efficiency.

New ring tension on old tapered bores and worn ring grooves is a complete waste IMO

This practice is one reason why you should change your oil every 3000 miles or sooner cause them combustion gases are polluting the crankcase oil in a much bigger hurry than if everything was new and tight.

But usually I am proven wrong

Javier

Using that logic, no engine will last longer than 50,000 miles from today
Granted, it is best to go all the way down and cut a hole oversize , do the new piston bit, but it certainly doesn't hurt to pop new rings with fresh tension in and get the grooves all nice and clean while in there if on a budget . Way back when I ran a machine shop we did ring only jobs all the time and they regularly went WAY over 50k miles and thats usually on gassers that generally only average about 125-150k anyway with typical abuse.

 

[dyoung14]

I have never had a problem re-using pistons

 

[idiabuse]

well I cant disagree with both of you guys, but without knowing the condition of said pistons, sometimes you have to give the customer what He wants so you can make some pocket change...

I always try to steer clear of the individuals that nickle and dime from start to finish, hanging out with that crowd always makes for real crappy jobs on a ferris wheel in front of my door, Kinda like 20 yr old know it alls on a MTV reality show.

Thankfully many places close to me will take that work, I wont touch it.

I use a .005 feeler gauge if it fits the ring groove with the ring installed and you want me to install it, I put it all back in the box and set it gently outside my gate...


Javier

 

[txquigly]

Ok, I've got to chime in on this one. I've got one on the stand right now that was in the same boat. Sat for a long time, dry and in the shop. Busted it off in the floor and wow, ran great. Had a few leaks, but not bad ... through it in the truck, and drove it for three days and ran super. Day three the head gasket let go in a coolant passage where the sealing ring had rusted out from sitting dry for so long ... Crap! Yanked it out, put it on the stand and yanked the heads in three hours ... practice makes perfect.
Anyway, as good as it ran, the deeper I went, the more I found to fix. Everything was just on the worn side of the tolerances and the upper halves of the rod bearings were just into the copper. The upside was that there was sooo little ridge, that with a good honing, you could hardly feel it.
The long and short of it is that for about $600, it'll have rings, bearings, valve job + all new gskts and seals. Now for the big PLUS. I know I'll have a good engine and I have a turbo, pump & injectors on the shelf that I won't have to wonder how long it'll last when I stick it back in the truck next week.

These are amazing engines ..... they usually run great until they just die! But you can bet, if it leaks from every pore, then this engine is telling you that it needs attention because these engines just aren't leakers. Just my .02 worth

 

[dyoung14]

Every last main bearing was worn to the copper on the engine in my 86, held 15psi of oil pressure turning as high of rpm as it could and boosting as high as it could, never let go- just ate a head gasket

 

[idiabuse]

I have a 7.3 I collected years ago from a running truck.
That engine is soooo worn out it is amazing how it ran.
the STD bores will not clean up if I cut it .060 over! the piston
pins have so much clearence you can fit tooth pick in there!
Yet the crank looks real nice and not scored up.
I feel sorry for the last owner that probably had to add 3 quarts
of oil everyday to that engine!

Javier

 

[pt_Ranger_v8]

Well, as I was pulling the dash apart last night, I realized the cluster that was in the truck was for an automatic - complete with functioning PRNDL indicator.

Now I don't know how many miles are it .


Oh well, it just goes to show you that you never really know what you have

 

[gatorman21218]

Well these engines are tough. I have 280k on mine and while it seems that everything leaks, she still runs like a top.

The only thing I would be concerned about is cavitation in an unknown engine

 

[gatorman21218]

Well these engines are tough. I have 280k on mine and while it seems that everything leaks, she still runs like a top.

The only thing I would be concerned about is cavitation in an unknown engine

 

[dyoung14]

Well these engines are tough. I have 280k on mine and while it seems that everything leaks, she still runs like a top.

The only thing I would be concerned about is cavitation in an unknown engine

My girlfriends 89 that i bought her has over 200K on it it still purs like a new born, leaks a little oil here and there but it runs great

 

[idiabuse]

I would have slapped it together without the heads and have him sign off that it was not going to be done correctly. I also would have done it for the heads in trade... The only thing better than a set of 429 cobrajet heads are the super cobrajet head..... I understand your reputation is extremly important too. Sometimes we walk a fine line around that ...

Ahh some time has passed and to update on the 429, the kid/team mud truck they fubared everything, the perfect heads got ported till they leaked water, the engine ruined the mudding event, wouldnt run, hydrolocked, the new engine makes no power and the nice 1997 monster truck sits with no engine.
I did get a chance to tune and work on another FORD mud truck with a 521 and the owner tells me and everyone that he has a problem, "I cant get my truck stuck" It has like 66 inch tractor tires and you need a 6 foot ladder to get in the truck.


Javier

 

[icanfixall]

What a shame to ruin a great set of heads... That boy should have his junk kicked up around his neck for killing those heads.... Damn fool....