[vonwolffe]

Hi guys,

I am creating this post in hopes of getting some solid advice. So here's the deal …

I have a 1993 Bronco with a 351W & a E4OD and we're at 276K miles. Recently the passenger side exhaust manifold cracked in half. Needless to say this created a huge exhaust leak and the heat burned up a couple of plug wires.

So I thought, great time to bolt on some headers and rebuild the entire exhaust (which was way overdue) … This is my daily driver BTW. So I bought Hooker full length headers and all the other components needed thinking this was going to be a quick and easy fix and upgrade to boot.

WRONG.

The passenger side manifold was a wreck, not only was in broke in half, but it had 2 other large cracks and the EGR tube was also broke in half. I guess no big deal at this point but I was concerned about exhaust valve damage. Both manifolds came old fairly easy except one rather large issue. Each cylinder head has a broken off exhaust manifold bolt in it. From the looks of it these have be broken off for years.

All that being said, I'd have to pull the heads to remove the broken bolts. Mind you, this engine has never been opened up. I wasn't looking for a rebuild project right now and I'm not sure what can of worms I'd be opening up by removing the heads on such a high milage engine. I've thought maybe I could have the heads reworked or replace them with aftermarket, but is that a really bad idea w/out rebuilding the engine too?

This is where I am stuck. Because I've done little to the truck since I bought it 8 years ago. There are cleaner Broncos out there to start with for a project vehicle, of course I'd have to turn this one around and buy another when this one was paid for the day I bought it. And there's the tranny that has the same amount of milage. Is it not a good idea to just do the heads and move on for now?

Anyway, any advice is welcome. Thanks.

 

[killeratrod]

well this all depends how much cash you have

have cash then rebuild it.and then you can take your time and find a better body to put it in.

also was it running fine before you took it apart.

if it was, and you do not have the cash for a rebuild. but it back together and plan on rebuild down the road.

 

[vonwolffe]

the truck was running fine before, so as far I can tell the bottom end is okay. I haven't pulled the heads yet but obviously that'll have to be done because of the broken studs.

so in your opinion you would deal w/ the heads, button it back up and move forward?

 

[vonwolffe]

@killeratrod … I could handle the engine rebuild cash wise, but it certainly was not on my plans right now. that money had another goal in mind

 

[[email protected]]

If you send the heads in for a rebuild. It is common for high milage Fords to need new rocker arms, valves, new valve guides, heads milled flat and shims/seals.
Your best bet for a high mile engine, on a budget, is to have the heads cheched for crack/warp and corrected. Replace valve seals. This will stop some oil consumption and will not effect the rest of the engine. You can then do the complete build at a later date.

 

[vonwolffe]

I just called Joey's Engines in Houston and they can rebuild the heads for $175, providing new parts aren't needed.

 

[[email protected]]

I just called Joey's Engines in Houston and they can rebuild the heads for $175, providing new parts aren't needed.

"providing new parts aren't needed."

Thats the catch all.
My shop also gets the same basic rate. But that set of high milage heads WILL cost you well over $400.00. I see it every week.ain:

 

[vonwolffe]

well if that's the case I can buy new aftermarket heads for about $200 more. Summit has Ford Racing heads for $550 & Edlebrock for around $600. Not that I am looking to dump a boatload of money into this right now, but if they re-quote me for $400+ I'm confident another $150-200 is money better spent vs. rebuilding heads designed 20+ years ago.

 

[BogiesAnnex1]

Hi guys,

I am creating this post in hopes of getting some solid advice. So here's the deal …

I have a 1993 Bronco with a 351W & a E4OD and we're at 276K miles. Recently the passenger side exhaust manifold cracked in half. Needless to say this created a huge exhaust leak and the heat burned up a couple of plug wires.

So I thought, great time to bolt on some headers and rebuild the entire exhaust (which was way overdue) … This is my daily driver BTW. So I bought Hooker full length headers and all the other components needed thinking this was going to be a quick and easy fix and upgrade to boot.

WRONG.

The passenger side manifold was a wreck, not only was in broke in half, but it had 2 other large cracks and the EGR tube was also broke in half. I guess no big deal at this point but I was concerned about exhaust valve damage. Both manifolds came old fairly easy except one rather large issue. Each cylinder head has a broken off exhaust manifold bolt in it. From the looks of it these have be broken off for years.

All that being said, I'd have to pull the heads to remove the broken bolts. Mind you, this engine has never been opened up. I wasn't looking for a rebuild project right now and I'm not sure what can of worms I'd be opening up by removing the heads on such a high milage engine. I've thought maybe I could have the heads reworked or replace them with aftermarket, but is that a really bad idea w/out rebuilding the engine too?

This is where I am stuck. Because I've done little to the truck since I bought it 8 years ago. There are cleaner Broncos out there to start with for a project vehicle, of course I'd have to turn this one around and buy another when this one was paid for the day I bought it. And there's the tranny that has the same amount of milage. Is it not a good idea to just do the heads and move on for now?

Anyway, any advice is welcome. Thanks.

Since you don't want another project, I'd go at the minimum. It's a high mileage engine that's running fine, so one can appriciate that fixing some issues like a valve job may create new issues such as pulling oil past the rings, and/or increasing blow by. So it's important to be conservative in what you do to keep from causing new problems. your obsevation about the tranny is valid, if you restore compression which will increase power output, the tranny could well suffer under the additional load and fail simply because up to this point they are aging gracefully together.

I'd pull the heads trying to get as little coolant into the engine as possible. First remove the push rods and identify each of them as where they go so as to keep wear matched parts of lifter at one end and rocker at the other together. The same goes for rocker arms ID each, then inspect them for wear, replace only if needed.

I'd clean gasket surfaces but not the entire head any more than needed for decent part handling. Then center punch the bolts to be removed then drill them out and touch up the threads. Then clean all threads a air blast closed holes to be sure no debris is trapped in them.

Keep plenty of rags on hand to keep debris out of the cylinder bores and anyplace else such as ports, the less trash that gets into these areas the better the chances that some unseen piece of grit, coolant, or solvent won't end up somewhere to do damage when the engine is restated.

Change oil and filter before starting the engine.

Done carefully this should be an event that goes unnoticed by the mechanicals.

I wouldn't ignor parts worn or damaged to where it just doesn't make sense to put it back together with them, valve stem seals for example or a rocker riding on the spring retainer, but at the same time I wouldn't be hunting for wholesale parts improvement either and that includes a valve job. Keep in mind that simply removing the valves can do more harm than good as often the stem tip is mushroomed so it won't pass through the guide, driving it ou will ruin the guide, the stem tip edges need to be dressed so the stem will slip through the guide in these cases. Check compresson before starting, if the cylinders meet the minimum spec continue on. At the same time if it has a burnt valve replace it. Just use good judgement, if you have fix too much you might as well starting hunting for a replacement engine and transmission.

Bogie

 

[Ghetto Jet]

Taking the heads off is an easy job, I wouldn't turn it into a rebuild that isn't needed. You could probably grab a better set of heads off ebay/craigslist or a ford forum for cheap.

 

[vonwolffe]

i think what I'm going to do is replace the heads with a new set. I'll keep it mild and close to stock. The cost of having the originals reworked is just to close to the cost of a new pair with a better design.

So, pull the heads, swap with new, hang the headers and off to the exhaust shop for some pipe work.

If anyone thinks this is totally stupid feel free to speak up. Doesn't mean I'll listen to you, but feel free to speak up jk

 

[vonwolffe]

anyone have prefs on Ford Racing vs. Edlebrock? And why.

 

[killeratrod]

anyone have prefs on Ford Racing vs. Edlebrock? And why.

if you use these your bottom end will go boom. an old motor does not need hp thrown at it. just get the old bolts out that broke off . and rebolt them on. you say you do not want to throw money out the window. put on new heads and you will spend a lot more down the road as most of the parts will not be useable on the rebuild. like the block with a big old hole in the side of it:nono:

 

[vonwolffe]

if you use these your bottom end will go boom.:nono:

it would make that much of a difference? well, hmmmm … what about swapping out the exhaust? That's what started all of this. it would probably be a 25-35hp gain from what I've read.

 

[killeratrod]

you will get around 10 to 15 with them. you will not have a problem with putting on them on.

 

[Ghetto Jet]

if you use these your bottom end will go boom. an old motor does not need hp thrown at it. just get the old bolts out that broke off . and rebolt them on. you say you do not want to throw money out the window. put on new heads and you will spend a lot more down the road as most of the parts will not be useable on the rebuild. like the block with a big old hole in the side of it:nono:

I've seen engines making real horsepower run over 300,000 miles without issue. This 351 will probably be making a whopping 260 horsepower, the extra stress will be negligible. Although I would change the timing chain if its original.

 

[vonwolffe]

as of right now I'm just pulling the original heads so I can remove the broken bolts, replacing the head gasket and reworking the exhaust