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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 8,143
Hard-core CEG'er
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Hard-core CEG'er
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 8,143 |
Originally posted by Stryker:
Originally posted by ZetecNinja:
ok I'm about to attempt to change my headgasket.
is there any advice you guys can give me? things to look out for? where to start first? how to make it as easy as possible? level of difficulty?
i'm scared. 
clean the piston tops as best you can when you get in there. start at the top, remove the valve over, TB, intake mainfold, Exhaust manifold (possibly, not sure on those last 2 though...never done one on a tour.). then get at the head. dont forget to remove assorted hoses and stuff. your "oil" and "coolant" (more accuratly decribed as cooil and oilant seeing as they will be all mixed together) will basically be a light brown sludge...depending on how bad it blew anyway. but from what you described to me, you were losing compression so fast that the motor couldnt stay running...
level of difficulty: 6/10...(thats IMO, i havent ever done one a contour)
i could already see the brown lookin oil just from pullin up the dip stick...is anything gonna come out of the hoses I disconnect? guess it doesn't really matter anyway but I don't want any surprises...
i need a damn ford service cd
edit: oh yea does anyknow the socket size i need for the valve cover/intake manifold/exhaust manifold/etc...they all appear to be the same size. I tried a 3/8 socket and it was barely too much...I'm thinkin the next available size up is what I need? I'm borrowing tools so I need to tell them what size I need.
Last edited by ZetecNinja; 07/16/04 07:33 AM.
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 8,143
Hard-core CEG'er
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Hard-core CEG'er
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 8,143 |
Originally posted by ZetecNinja:
Originally posted by Stryker:
Originally posted by ZetecNinja:
ok I'm about to attempt to change my headgasket.
is there any advice you guys can give me? things to look out for? where to start first? how to make it as easy as possible? level of difficulty?
i'm scared.
clean the piston tops as best you can when you get in there. start at the top, remove the valve over, TB, intake mainfold, Exhaust manifold (possibly, not sure on those last 2 though...never done one on a tour.). then get at the head. dont forget to remove assorted hoses and stuff. your "oil" and "coolant" (more accuratly decribed as cooil and oilant seeing as they will be all mixed together) will basically be a light brown sludge...depending on how bad it blew anyway. but from what you described to me, you were losing compression so fast that the motor couldnt stay running...
level of difficulty: 6/10...(thats IMO, i havent ever done one a contour)
i could already see the brown lookin oil just from pullin up the dip stick...is anything gonna come out of the hoses I disconnect? guess it doesn't really matter anyway but I don't want any surprises...
i need a damn ford service cd
edit: oh yea does anyknow the socket size i need for the valve cover/intake manifold/exhaust manifold/etc...they all appear to be the same size. I tried a 3/8 socket and it was barely too small ...I'm thinkin the next available size up is what I need? I'm borrowing tools so I need to tell them what size I need.
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Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 78
CEG\'er
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CEG\'er
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 78 |
98k on the Tour
New drivers side CV joint
drivers side wheel bearing
new front rotors
new transmission sensor
new o2 sensor #1
new steering rack
but keep in mind this car was used for NYc Dept of Transportation for two yrs before I got it and Carfax showed it was in an accident xmas 1998 or 1999.
I bought it for a great price.
_____________
98 SE
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,262
Zippy Zetec on his last legs.
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Zippy Zetec on his last legs.
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,262 |
Originally posted by ZetecNinja:
Originally posted by ZetecNinja:
Originally posted by Stryker:
Originally posted by ZetecNinja:
ok I'm about to attempt to change my headgasket.
is there any advice you guys can give me? things to look out for? where to start first? how to make it as easy as possible? level of difficulty?
i'm scared.
clean the piston tops as best you can when you get in there. start at the top, remove the valve over, TB, intake mainfold, Exhaust manifold (possibly, not sure on those last 2 though...never done one on a tour.). then get at the head. dont forget to remove assorted hoses and stuff. your "oil" and "coolant" (more accuratly decribed as cooil and oilant seeing as they will be all mixed together) will basically be a light brown sludge...depending on how bad it blew anyway. but from what you described to me, you were losing compression so fast that the motor couldnt stay running...
level of difficulty: 6/10...(thats IMO, i havent ever done one a contour)
i could already see the brown lookin oil just from pullin up the dip stick...is anything gonna come out of the hoses I disconnect? guess it doesn't really matter anyway but I don't want any surprises...
i need a damn ford service cd
edit: oh yea does anyknow the socket size i need for the valve cover/intake manifold/exhaust manifold/etc...they all appear to be the same size. I tried a 3/8 socket and it was barely too small ...I'm thinkin the next available size up is what I need? I'm borrowing tools so I need to tell them what size I need.
it should be the metric "equvalent" (slightly larger). yes, your coolant hoses will have all kinds of nasty [censored] in them...drain the coolant system and leave it empty while you do this. then after you fix the gasket, try this:
open the drainplug at the bottom fo the radiator.
have someone pour water through the coolant tank with the plug off. when the water coming out of the drainplug is clear, your system is clean. then button her up and add coolant. make sure your headgasket is fixed before you do this. coolant is bad for the inside of an engine, but water is infinently worse. if you do this and your head gasket is not fixed, you are still leaking water into the cylinders. tap water+metal=rust.
ill repeat myself: MAKE SURE YOUR HEAD GASKET IS SEALED BEFORE YOU FLUSH THE SYSTEM.
but to answer your question: whast in your hoses will look alot like sewage and will smell about as good.
Regards, Cole.
Relegating to troll status sometime this week.
New Whip: 1990 Lexus ES250.
Old Hotness: 1995 GL MTX Zetec *IN TRIAGE*
"I had a little friend once, but it dont move no more...  "
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 8,143
Hard-core CEG'er
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Hard-core CEG'er
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 8,143 |
yea I planned on doing that anyway, I've got about 3/4 of new coolant left...not sure how much to add but thanks for the tip. I'm guessing I should also change my oil too. I'm just waiting for this socket piece then I plan to get started. 
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 2,489
Hard-core CEG\'er
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Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 2,489 |
sweet, keep us updated...
1998 T-Red CSVT 3.0L
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,262
Zippy Zetec on his last legs.
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Zippy Zetec on his last legs.
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,262 |
Originally posted by Nate S:
sweet, keep us updated...
what he said. oh and the oil will need to be changed, yes. off you go into the unkown. if it were me, i would change the rings while i was in there. but that requires a bit more work lol.
Regards, Cole.
Relegating to troll status sometime this week.
New Whip: 1990 Lexus ES250.
Old Hotness: 1995 GL MTX Zetec *IN TRIAGE*
"I had a little friend once, but it dont move no more... "
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 282
CEG\'er
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CEG\'er
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 282 |
knock on wood
163,327K had to fix o2 sensors and regular things like brakes and serpentine belt...
knock on wood again !!!
Silver
'98 SVT
3356 of 6535
8/29/97
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 8,143
Hard-core CEG'er
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Hard-core CEG'er
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 8,143 |
Originally posted by Stryker:
Originally posted by Nate S:
sweet, keep us updated...
what he said. oh and the oil will need to be changed, yes. off you go into the unkown. if it were me, i would change the rings while i was in there. but that requires a bit more work lol.
screw that! I just want this baby back on the road, its already been 2 months too long. I asked a couple more people and they wanted me to change the bolts too! I really don't wanna do that if I do not have to...
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3
Newbie
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Newbie
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3 |
~130K on a 97 Tour GL
Rebuilt Tranny and thats about it.
Even though once in a while I get Check Battery light that pops on.
But yeah I believe the Zetec is a pretty well build engine
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