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Hi guys, i have a 2001 f150 7700 with a 5.4 w/170k. I while i replacing the drivers side exhaust manifold, i was drilling out the last stud and drilled through a coolant passage. I tried draining the cooling system and putting some rtv on the threads of the stud in hope of sealing it up it didnt hold up the the pressure test. Im stuck between replacing the head or swapping the motor. Ive read that pulling the motor or changing the head gaskets are a hassle. Im also womdering if a 97-99 5.4 would work in my truck? I've read the 00-03 the heads are different. So would it be worth the money to replace the head and the other associated gaskets on my 170k motor or just find a new motor?
Thanks
Oh maaannnnn, that sucks. You might try packing the hole with JB weld, it actually should work in this predicament. Use a short bolt, like say a header bolt, - easy on the torque. What have you loose and there's a great chance it'll work. JB weld has been used for coolant line modification in the past (creating tappable ports into manifolds) with great success, so your chances here are real good.
Ok, i'll give it a try. Thats more or less what i did with the copper rtv. I drianed the coolant and sprayed brake cleaner in the hole and stuffed a series of napkins in there until i was sure it was clean and dry. Then I put some rtv in the hole and coated the threads of the stud and threaded it in and let it dry for 24hrs. But it started leaking during the 15psi coolant test. Im just wondering if the jb weld will hold up to the continuos heat cycles. Ill give it a try no doubt
Ok, i'll give it a try. Thats more or less what i did with the copper rtv. I drianed the coolant and sprayed brake cleaner in the hole and stuffed a series of napkins in there until i was sure it was clean and dry. Then I put some rtv in the hole and coated the threads of the stud and threaded it in and let it dry for 24hrs. But it started leaking during the 15psi coolant test. Im just wondering if the jb weld will hold up to the continuos heat cycles. Ill give it a try no doubt
Yea that will just plug things up that shouldn't be I expect. Copper is good stuff, but absolutely not for that. Any kind of RTV will get suck into the core most likley. That's where it will stay. JB weld will be there forever as long as you prep right. Coolant or heat cycles wont wear on it. It's all it preparation, if it's prepped correctly it'll work.
Just throwing this out there. If this happened to me, I'd use a set screw and some PTFE tape. Then a shorter header bolt. An hold hot rodders trick to retain header bolts is PTFE tape to retain header bolts in the head (it works great).
As I recall, Dodge had some heads that they manufactured like that on purpose. Freakin' exhaust bolts were always touching coolant. Might have even been a Hemi. I've hung around hot rodders for years, and this has always been a Ford and Chevy slam on Dodge.
As I recall, Dodge had some heads that they manufactured like that on purpose. Freakin' exhaust bolts were always touching coolant. Might have even been a Hemi. I've hung around hot rodders for years, and this has always been a Ford and Chevy slam on Dodge.
Did you ever run across an old rodder named Ray Christian by chance?
Last edited by screamineagle; 04-09-2016 at 08:15 PM.
04-09-2016, 05:41 PM
2001 5.4 drilled through coolant passage
