Blackvenom01

youll get it just take your time mark and remark and mark again and double check that mark lol

Lugnuts1967

Before you go through all that, check the gasket between the oil filter housing and the engine block. You have to drain the oil and coolant first or you are gonna get a bath - coolant passes through here as well. A leak in this formed gasket can cause this symptom. A leak here means that the higher pressure wins - oil into water but not water into oil. Clean all surfaces and make sure there are no nicks or gouges in either and re install. No gasket sealer needed.
This could save you a lot of work and could be the problem.

Texastboneking

that is a very plausible answer there. but if i remember right (and i could be wrong) the cobras in 97 are the only mustang with the oil cooler. but if i am wrong. its highly unlikely unless he has had that cooler off before. those gaskets rarely fail. ive personally never seen one fail. but like you said. it would be easier to check and a lot cheaper too

vargas

head gasket.

tmason45a

I was thinking along those same lines (easy fix/save money) so I removed and checked the oil cooler and the filter adapter and replaced the gasket and o-rings, flushed the coolant, refilled fluids, crossed my fingers and started it. No luck, still getting oil in coolant. Thanks for the input though, I've been impressed with the help I've received. BTW I don't know which engineer designed the 2 brackets on the back of the drivers side head, but evidently they never planned to pull the heads with the engine in the car. Can't wait to try to put the heads back on, lol

tychotb

i just did this with my 97 GT, thaaaaaaat was fun

tmason45a

I bet, any tips or tricks you learned that can make it easier? Machine shop just called and said the heads are ready, so it won't be long now. How long did it take you to get the dipstick back in? not sure if you can even see where it goes with the heads and manifolds on. And you did put the manifolds on the heads b4 installing the heads, right?

tychotb

after i got the heads back, i ended up taking it to a ford dealer and had them put it back together

tmason45a

SUCCESS!!! Got it all back together, timing wasn't hard at all, but the dipstick was a tremendous PITA. Wish I had another pair of hands to guide it in as the head went on. Oh well, lesson learned. She started right up, though I think the passenger side may have an exhaust leak at the manifold/tailpipe connection. But now I have a P0174 code. Any thoughts on where to check first? All thoughts will be appreciated. Thanks for all the help so far.

foru2nv4

That code means system running too lean on bank 2