Gulliver - 10-27-2014 at 02:04 PM
I'm headed South to Mulege for the Winter. One of the exhaust gaskets (between the head and the manifold) on my old class B motor home is getting
worse and worse.
With these old 351W Fords there is a fair chance that the manifold to head cap screws will break off and the whole repair will become time consuming.
Might have to pull that head off and take it to a place that can remove broken off bolts and such
My current thinking is to nurse the beast to Mulege, wait until we able to move in to the house after the flood damage is far enough along for that,
and then drive it up to a shop in town.
Assuming that I bring along new gaskets and exhaust pipe gaskets, what are the chances of finding a place in town that will take it on with some hope
of success?
Bob and Susan - 10-27-2014 at 03:51 PM
the heads don't have to be removed...
if the bolts break while you repair...
you just drill them out while the engine is in the car...
I've had a couple of fords that did that...it probably leaks on the right side
3 years ago I had my f-250 done...same problem...4 bolts broke
I would fix it BEFORE the trip...
you could burn a valve if you continue to use it that way
Mulege mechanic
John M - 10-27-2014 at 04:14 PM
There was a series of posts maybe two months ago about the same thing. Some good recommendations. I'll post now the place we were quite pleased with,
just south of town. Others agreed this is a pretty good place.
Shop is directly across the highway from this mileage post
john M
David K - 10-27-2014 at 04:58 PM
Great photo posting John!!
Gulliver - 10-27-2014 at 05:16 PM
I'll have to take a chance on getting cold air in there as I'm half way there.
It's pretty tight in there on a van. Maybe with a right angle drill you could do it.
Mostly it's embarrassing to have it making rude noises at stop signs.
I'll nurse it along. Thanks for the recommendations troops.
willyAirstream - 10-27-2014 at 06:27 PM
Pac and Danni are also good. They are located just past the last tope, 100 yards, heading north out of town on the left. Either place is good.
mulegemichael - 10-27-2014 at 07:20 PM
pac and danni have been really good for us...reliable, fast, affordable, everything...git it fixed before you come south....you don't want a blown
headgasket in catavina altho "gotta peso" will probably be able to provide you with a world class mechanic....named marilyn...who plays the drums like
ringo...etc, etc.
Gulliver - 10-27-2014 at 07:45 PM
I spent my whole adolescence in my father's automotive machine shop. I have built a hydroplane engine based on this same block that put out a fairly
reliable 630 h.p. Believe me, a blown head gasket is not likely (grin).
What I will have to watch for is the exhaust leak setting fire to something nearby in the engine compartment! And needing to drive with a bag over my
head because I am making such embarrassing noises. Nothing lower rent than a bum exhaust.
At least it will likely be fixed before I head up that grade just North of Santa Rosalia next Spring. Remember that burned out class A RV that that
sat there for months back in 91? Too much engine compartment heat.
