DOHC Cylinder Head Info AF, AG, DA, DB, DC, blue stripe, head tick Cobra, Mach 1

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[@Lethal_Venom]

Lots of great info thanks. Glad I have a set of DB heads on my Cobra.

[@josephf593]

Great info Danny, congrats on almost 35k subs!

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

Thanks 🙏🏼

[@Joe-rx7ht]

This is the video I was looking for. Thanks for all the great info! 🐍

[@poot111111]

Great Video Danny, when I get some time I am going to check my Marauder

[@overheadcam32]

I bought my 2003 cobra in June 2002. I developed the head tick at around 1500 miles. My tech was an old school ford mechanic that had worked at the same dealership since the 60s. He said my cam bolts were loose on the driver side and tighten them 1/4 of a turn to get spec. He said that they learned the torque wrench used when building the engine was out of calibration. No new valve guides or new head. At such low miles I don't see how there could be damage to valve guides. 28000 miles now and no tick.

[@Wretched2JZ]

Wow I didn’t know that! Good to know it’s just a matter of tightening them a little more.

[@tturi2]

what an excellent comprehensive video about this, I have a 2004 and 2006 ba xr8 both with boss 260 engines

[@MikesGarageRoute66]

Lots of great information! My 2003 Mach 1 has DB heads as well.

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

Nice!

[@tonygraham6003]

Awesome video thanks for the information...

[@addictcyclist]

Have had 2 terminators and always wondered if my current 03 had a revised head. Can’t get the camera down there but can get the image of my sticker on drivers side with the phone ... 4/9/03 Have a faint tick but I also have headers and can just be drivetrain noise. These engines are not quiet. Thanks for the video.

[@2brandonguerrero2]

So helpful. Thanks Danny!

[@halstonhilburn]

Awesome video! My 03 DSG Mach 1 has the DB heads.

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

Nice!

[@mamrich1818]

Hi Danny, I've become a loyal fan of your channel since buying an 03 Termi. Would love to compare notes someday

[@jeschreindl]

The motor on my 03 Mach one is a reman. It has a DC on the drivers side but an AG on the passenger. Oh well i guess it’s glass half full lol

[@canadianmarauder1923]

Yeah I got the crap AG 4 thread heads. Was a lengthy discussion on modular Ford’s about the head tick recently. Ed the resident guru figured the tick could be the guides or the exhaust seats. I’m gonna replace both cause I can’t stand that noise.

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

Grab some Lincoln aviator DC heads 👍🏼

[@Wretched2JZ]

Eyes are playing tricks with me! When you had the 3 cars lined up towards the end, the CO in center looks like a lighter shade of red haha I know it’s just the lighting

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

It’s hard to get some colors on camera for sure

[@motocracy4828]

Recent subscriber, been enjoying the technical/informational videos. I do have a question, I recently picked up a 2001 Cobra, 1 owner car, all factory and the only issue I have found so far is water intrusion into the gas fill port when it rains and/or I wash the car. Is this a common issue with the SN95 (New Edge) Mustangs? I thought about drilling a drain hole in the plastic shroud around the fuel pipe, but I don't want the water draining into my trunk? The water level can come all the way up to the base of the fuel cap, which is a little concerning. The other thought was a using a rubber seal to place around the perimeter of the fuel lid. Any recommendations for this issue? Thanks!

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

I just tested mine by pouring water into it and it drains on its own. See if you have something that’s clogged up in that area. Maybe even try power washing down into it as long as the gas cap is on

[@motocracy4828]

@@dannyjohnsonsgarage So I definitely felt something that appeared to be a drain port, but it was up against the fender and I couldn't visually see it. I tried running a pipe cleaner and then a plastic bristled wire brush used for cleaning straws. I could not get either one started down what I thought was the drain port so I even tried some hot water and degreaser thinking I could dislodge whatever might be clogging the port. Due to the position of the drain port, I was pretty sure I wouldn't be able to actually get the nozzle of my water pressure directed on to the correct spot, so I took the easy way out and using a 1/4" drill bit bore a new drain hole at the base of the plastic cover. Drains fine now!

[@anthonykaz]

Are there any differences between these heads and the heads from a Lincoln Navigator (5.4L)

[@derekkarp9497]

i got a 05 aviator that runs great for scrap and someone swapped engine it has 02 AG and 02 DA Heads looks like motor is a termi according to heads unless someone has more info

[@BigYellow1500]

I’m about to buy a vortech charged 2001 cobra , can someone please tell me if the 01 heads develop head tick I’ve never heard of it but I’m curious

[@freddygalvan669]

Great video as always mine was built 12/18/02 should I take it in

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

The recall is far over by now, so run it as it is. Even if it ticks its harmless

[@alexrichards2784]

So ultimately if I’m not mistaken, a head cooling mod on a pair of DB heads would be just fine or is it worth it to just find DC heads instead? I’m eyeing an 04 aviator with a build code of 06/04 with DB heads but I’m not sure if I should stick it out and get DC heads to have that final revision? Either way I’m throwing on a head cooling mod no matter which heads I get.

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

Either should be fine, but no question it’s best to get dc heads for internal revisions if you can

[@jordanwendell6279]

Dropped an exhaust valve seat in my 03 4 thread heads.. have a set of 9 thread DB heads being shipped to me now

[@Wretched2JZ]

Did you drop it trying to replace something?

[@jordanwendell6279]

@@Wretched2JZ no. It dropped on its own, exhaust valve seats in c heads have a pretty poor fit. It’s cylinder 7 or 8 where they’re known to get a little hot, head cooling mod may have helped prevent it.

[@modularv8624]

Hey Danny great video here. I have an 03 torch red Mach 1. It seems to have a slight tick when it warms up on the driver side. It never ticks when it's cold. Only when full operating temp. It runs strong. Is there anything to worry about? It only has 53000 original miles Thanks.

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

It sounds like it may be the head tick (normally at idle only). From what I’ve seen it won’t hurt anything. I wouldn’t be concerned unless it gets really bad and is Rod knock or something else. Head tick isn’t detrimental. Just a sound inconvenience. It’s not worth tearing the car apart to fix in my opinion. It would be interesting to see which heads you have. It can also be a mild exhaust leak

[@modularv8624]

@@dannyjohnsonsgarage Thanks for your quick reply Danny. Yeah it's not a very loud tick. It actually sound more like a "tap" And it's only when it gets warmed up. And you have to open the hood and put your head under there to really hear it. It kind of sounds like it's coming from the intake manifold. But it's definitely the driver side head. The car pulls really hard! So It definitely doesn't have any performance issues. I'm going to try and get my camera down there and get a picture to see what heads it has. Thanks again.

[@modularv8624]

@@dannyjohnsonsgarageHey Danny, I finally found out what heads I have. There DB heads with an 03 stamp. So is that a good thing?

[@Daywalker78]

I have a strange sound coming from my exhaust, some have said exhaust leak, some have said, bad throw out bearing, some have said head tick. My question is, is it possible to have the head tick and only hear it from the exhaust out back and under the car? There's absolutely nothing coming from the engine bay. Thanks!

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

It’s only said to be heard from near the engine

[@alexsherman1978]

I have a pair of DC heads which is said to have the coolant flow fix. Would it be worth it or even possible to use a head cooling mod on them?

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

Yea, It’s always helpful to do the head cooling mod as well

[@alexsherman1978]

@@dannyjohnsonsgarage ok will do. Thanks!

[@OH3REDFIRESVT]

Just check mine on my 03 cobra , I have the DB heads with a 04 stamp for the year

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

Lucky 🍀

[@OH3REDFIRESVT]

@@dannyjohnsonsgarage how late in 04 were they producing the heads?

[@Wretched2JZ]

@@OH3REDFIRESVT following

[@Tacticoolpapi]

Great channel ! Also subscribed to your brothers channel. Can tou do an instructional video on a 2v to 4v swap ?

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

It’s really a lot of work to make it work- you’d need both engines for the most part. This is mostly the process kzbin.info/www/bejne/hIWYi2iCZ9x0qdU

[@matthewfogt2861]

@11:00 Probably won't receive an answer from an old video but I'll shoot my shot in case anybody knows. I have an 04 mach 1 and will be rebuilding the motor. Figured I most likely have the "DB" heads and already planned on the head cooling mod kit for them but now I'm curious for reliability if "DC" heads would be better so my question is... Do the "DC" heads still take the cooling mod? If so what fix exactly did they do to help coolant flow? Thanks!

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

Yes, you can still do the head cooling mod on the dc heads and they also are “said” to have coolant passage revisions within the head. Its a great option if they are good Heads

[@matthewfogt2861]

​@@dannyjohnsonsgarageThank you very much!!!

[@bleu7364]

What’s the for sure way to know if they have 9 threads or 4 threads, besides counting the threads?

[@Wretched2JZ]

You serious? Did you watch this video at all?

[@Jesussavesyouandme]

I just inherited a terminator mustang 2003. It looks like I got the old head. What do I do to fix it or make it better or do you recommend getting new heads

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

I wouldn’t do anything with it unless it makes a horrible noise. Even if it ends up getting the head tick it isn’t likely to hurt anything. MRT raced theirs with head tick and didn’t have any problems. It’s just valve guide wear if it has the tick. If you do have major problems, get the heads off a Lincoln Aviator that has the DC castings and have them installed, but only if you have a major problem

[@Twinturbomach]

So I have a 04 Mach 1 with DB heads arnt they suppose to be DC on the Machs?

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

No mustangs came with DC heads. They came on the aviator and ford racing (or a remanufactured engine).

[@Super6-Four]

Can i still walk into a dealership and have them fix my headtick ? Mine has 48k miles

[@jalexs5283]

Sadly, no.

[@magnoliophyta2251]

I have a DC with an 2006 casting # in my 03 Mach 1. A bit confused about mine.

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

The heads have been changed, or most likely, you may have a remanufactured engine, in which they commonly used DC heads. Look for a silver remanufactured tag on the side of the block towards the rear (usually driver side but may be on the passenger side) The only thing to watch out for on the remans is they deck the block to need a special head gasket that is hard to come by and not known about by many.

[@magnoliophyta2251]

@@dannyjohnsonsgarage Thanks Danny! Indeed is a reman, found the tag. Anything else I should be aware of one of these? Haven't found much online

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

@@magnoliophyta2251 it may not have the 8 bolt forged crank anymore if it’s a 5 speed car. Not a big deal for a n/a car. Auto mach 1s came with the 6 bolt cast crank.

[@Chingon1]

Can the DC heads be put on a 98 cobra short block and Mach 1 intake?

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

Yes, in fact a lot of people use the teksid block from the 98 cobra for their cobra build

[@Chingon1]

@@dannyjohnsonsgarage hell yea thanks for the info, I came up yesterday in some 05 aviator heads for the low. I’m barely getting into the 4.6 stuff. I have some 98 cobra cams aswell to go with the DC heads. I was planning on sending em to get ported too.

[@_j_v_s_h_u_a_22]

What heads does a 96 cobra usually have ?

[@qward2174]

B heads

[@Nazareth69420]

Does all this apply to the 1999-2001 Cobras?

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

Yes, they will say AA, AB, AC, AD and be 4 thread only.

[@BigYellow1500]

@@dannyjohnsonsgarage but why do you never hear about head tick on the 99-01 cobras

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

@@BigYellow1500 I don’t think the 99-01 had problems with the valve guides. It was a 03 cobra thing

[@captainsledge7554]

What was ford thinking when they only put 4 plug thrrads in the head... just why... why do you hate us

[@tturi2]

would you happen to know what cylinder head YR3V-6049-AA that could be? a guy is selling them and is making big claims lol

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

www.fordpartsgiant.com/parts/ford-cylinder-head-assy_4r3z-6049-aa.html