Removing Cylinder heads with engine in car

[sbutler83]

So after a circus of troubleshooting my friends Marauder I have found low compression on #6 and #7 cylinders. When I pressurize them with air, I can hear it slowly coming into the exhaust pipe, and intermittenly through the intake as well it seems.

The car only has 60K miles on it so compression issues caught my by surprise. I think he is a victim of this:

http://www.mustangforums.com/mustang-tsb/View-TSB/Year-2004/Model-Mustang/TSB-06-5-13/ENGINE-MISFIRE-WITH-DIAGNOSTIC-TROUBLE-CODE-%28DTC%29-P0301-P0302-P0303-P0304-P0305-P0306-P0307-P0308-AND-P0316.html

Regardless I need to pull the driver's side cylinder head. It appears if I take out the radiator and remove the power brake booster from the firewall and set it over to the side that the head could be pulled without removing the motor from the car. Does anyone know otherwise?

Thanks

[JohnE]

In my opinion it is easier to pull the engine than to replace the head while in the car. I've never needed to pull a radiator in the numerous in-car repairs nor when pulling engines. Also been also been able to keep the A/C charged, by leaving the compressor in the car.


I'm assembling an iron block with forged internals for my Marauder today. I'm reusing the original heads, but only after having them reworked at a machine shop. Mine were still sealing okay, but the valves were slightly bent. In time they may have gotten as bad as yours.



Get yourself a head changing and cam timing kits through Ford Racing. Also consider a new oil pump, just consider that insurance while in there. I do not recommend the Fel-Pro gasket kits, go with Ford. I don't like the quality of many things that came in my Fel-Pro kit, like the exhaust gaskets and Chinese o'rings, wrong size valve stem seals.



John

[ktt]

Ive done this job twice and never removed the engine/brake booster or radiator. Its really easy. Ford says to remove the engine from the car but all u have to do is loosen the motor mounts one at a time and jack the engine up. The head will come out. The reason u gotta loosen both motor mounts is to replace the right side valve cover gasket. Might wana check timing chain guides and chain.. Water pump.. Belt while your in there. But to answer your ? Yes u can pull it out without pulling booster and rad. If u have ?s just hit me up