I successfully installed a new head gasket on my 250 inline 6. However it runs really rough now. Also has very hot exhaust at tailpipe and some light occasional white smoke from the passenger side of engine (exhaust???) It seems to want to stall without adding some pedal, but even with some pedal, it just runs bad. I know I need plugs, wires and cap and rotor, but I needed that before the head gasket work, and it didn't run as rough as it does now. It used to feel like it just needed a tune up. Now it seems like timing or not firing on all six. Any ideas Mav/Com gang?
do you have any of the plug wires crossed? if not, i would pull the plugs and look for any differences in each of the cylinders on the plug coloring. that will give you an idea of where to look. a compression test and or a leak down test may be needed.
Yes, I removed the rocker shaft because they were awful and needed work. The plug wires are in the right order and the plugs are all worn properly l, but are orange because of octane booster. Is it the rockers causing the problem I'm assuming?
I read that it was needed it to run better because the gas is different now. Guess I'll stop using it.
From everything I hear it's not, and not not needed. Don't let anyone pee on your 250. It's a awesome motor, they are just blinded by the V8. The V8 is great to, but I would use Octane booster in my 250, and do actually. I also put in premium gas.. its all choices, as any premium product has marginal improvements at best, but it makes me focus on the feeling of PRIDE and ownership towards my Egg beater. Which is driving my passion to fix it up. Sorry I just woke up and my mental filter is off
Well I also take pride in the Comet and that's why I try to do as much of the work as I can on my own in in my driveway. So when things happen that I dont understand yet, like the rough running condition after the head gasket work, it makes me more determined to get her fixed up. But is also frustrating at times too. Yeah, I get the....is it a 302?" Question all the time.
So does anyone have a clue of where to start troubleshooting? All torque specs done correctly, 55, 65, 75 on head and 35 on rocker shaft, according to repair manual. Otherwise, plug wires are correctly in order and I never touched the distributor.
I am actually going to be replacing mine as soon as I hear how you fix yours. And what manual? I need to buy some so I can stop annoying everyone with stupid questions.
Same problem I had... They no longer make steel shim head gaskets for the Ford small block straight six, thus the new head gaskets are thicker and your compression has dropped towards 7:1 or 8:1 depending on what year your engine is. So you may notice less power from the get go. Second if its the aftermarket fel pro gasket, heres some tips the head gasket must be aligned spot on, no room for error for the water jackets or piston walls. if you compare it with your original you'll notice its a littlesmaller and wider in spots. get the motor good and hot after you install the felpro, they dont seal tight as they have some rubber/silicone based seal along the whole base that pretty much wont seal until you get the motor good and hot. Don't just drive around the block, but really drive it. Took me 2 attempts to properly get the stupid fel pro headgasket to align right and not leak on the 250 that I did a head swap on. and I'm not a novice when it comes to engines, I just prefer steel shim...but they dont make em anymore. If you didn't buy a felpro then ignore my rant and instructions. my 2 cents.
I am actually going to be replacing mine as soon as I hear how you fix yours. And what manual? I need to buy some so I can stop annoying everyone with stupid questions. Had mine in for a estimate on cost to replace exhaust system.. and they told me you know you need to replace your head gasket... I said no...but I did know I needed a Valve Cover Gasket. I am going to autozone...to pester them now... lol
If you have power brakes, look to see that the vacuum hose is hooked up as well as all the rest. Ask me how I know!
When I did my head gasket(s) (302), same issue, and it was the distributor not lined up correctly. When you drop the dizzy in, it starts where you want it, but as it drops in, it rotates out of line. So you need to pull it back up, and turn it a bit so when it drops in, it is still lined up.
