Indications are that I have blown head gaskets on my ’03 Cobra and I’m looking for advice on what I should look for when I take the engine apart plus the things I should absolutely do and the things I should absolutely not do during the repair. I’ve been researching online and found a lot of contradictory information. It looks like early on, people felt the heads on modular engines had to be replaced rather than machined if the flatness was out of spec but now the consensus is you can take them to any reputable shop?
Details on the car:
Car has 124k miles. I’ve daily driven it for 6 years/80k miles. Car was fine going to work but overheated on way home. It didn’t lose much coolant when it overheated but the heater went stone cold like there was no water at all. I test drove it after bringing it home from the dealer: the temp gauge shows the engine coming up to temp like normal, it stabilizes at normal operating temperature for 5 – 10 minutes but when it starts climbing again, it pegs the gauge within a few minutes.
The radiator tests positive for exhaust gases. The Ford dealer used a bore scope and said one piston on each side look like it had been steam cleaned so both head gaskets are probably blown. They think maybe bolt stretch let the heads lift? The only time this car sees boost is merging onto the highway. I drive like an old lady and try very hard NOT to spin my snow tires. It does have 100k+ miles, though.
Thoughts?
Details on the car:
Car has 124k miles. I’ve daily driven it for 6 years/80k miles. Car was fine going to work but overheated on way home. It didn’t lose much coolant when it overheated but the heater went stone cold like there was no water at all. I test drove it after bringing it home from the dealer: the temp gauge shows the engine coming up to temp like normal, it stabilizes at normal operating temperature for 5 – 10 minutes but when it starts climbing again, it pegs the gauge within a few minutes.
The radiator tests positive for exhaust gases. The Ford dealer used a bore scope and said one piston on each side look like it had been steam cleaned so both head gaskets are probably blown. They think maybe bolt stretch let the heads lift? The only time this car sees boost is merging onto the highway. I drive like an old lady and try very hard NOT to spin my snow tires. It does have 100k+ miles, though.
Thoughts?
