I just bought a 90 F350 super duty wrecker with a "bad head gasket", and would like to know the direction I should go...
Heres the story. Bought the truck knowing that the head gasket was bad. Unfortunatly, there was also some other "non disclosed" problems....(more than minor, but fixable...no PTO cable, rusted control, no brakes...uggh....) Supposedly a shop diagnosed this problem, and quoted $3000 to repair. So I'm not sure if I'm getting the WHOLE story...
Brought the truck home. Batteries were stone dead. Replaced one battery, and disconected the second to try some electrical accessories. After discovering some more dillemas (NON engine related) I decided to bump it over. Engine turns over, but I can hear compression leaking out of the top of the passenger cyl head area. Oil is THICK (whip cream type consistency).
After further evaluation, I see that a previous mechanic has removed all 8 of the glow plugs, and this is where the oil is being pumped out of....
I have no other history on this animal, with the exception that it has "102k" on it......could be 102k, 202k, 902k, who knows....I have no idea if it has been over heated, no idea of the condition of the lower rotating assembly. He did tell me that it ran good until the head gasket blew, and then he parked it. After discovering all of the other undisclosed dillemas, I'm not 100% sure I can belive the previous owner. He never did "lie" to me....but DANG he sure "forgot" alot of stuff.
I have several options to chose from here. I can either remove both heads, replace gaskets, and go from there. I also have another 7.3 that is available to me, running and yet to be pulled (being pulled for me), but it need the return lines replaced. The running 7.3 has 189k on it, and is gonna run me $250.
Now, as far as background, this repair is well within my capablities. My knowledge is the part that is lacking.....never touched a 7.3. I have done probably 15 motors, and countless head gaskets. Shop and cherry picker and all the goodies available....just havent done one yet.
I am also attempting to go the least expensive route. I do not want to get to the point where I'm married to this truck, I bought it as an investment, and intend on reselling it.
Thanx for your input!
