For diesel mechanics,can the head be removed on a 99 Ford f-350 without taking the engine out?

Yes you can remove the heads on a 7.3L with out pulling the engine.

The Passenger side has the heater air box in the way and is a bit snug.

I use rubber bands to hold the head bolts up as their is not enough room to remove them.

Have to come out with the head.

Removed a few as a ford tec

you have a 7.3l and yes the heads are pull in cab. I have seen this before and the last two have been caused by push tube's being installed upside down. There is a brass side of the push tube wich should be up. What happens when there in upside down is the wear the rocker and then bind.

Is is the same cyclinder that broke and how long ago did it happen last time. also how long does the truck sit before you use it?

If you truck is sitting for weeks or months at a time then it could be being caused by the vales binding form varnish or carbon build up.

By the way the heads are very heavy we use a chain and an engine host to remove and install them

well sure yuou can remove any heads without removing motor but might not see what problem is by just removing head rocker arm sure thats in or on head push rod runs thru heads to cam which come out thru from either over reving it or cam maybe bad more likely just running it too hard

If you have had the same pushrod, and rocker break more than once, you either have a bad cam lobe, or it's being adjusted too tight...

Yes, I know a mechanic that pulls the heads off the stroke before he pulls the motor, says it is easier that way

yeppers you can! you have to remove quite a bit of garbage to get it/them off however, but its still easier to pull the heads than the engine to get the heads.

sure you can, you dont drop an axle to changr a tire, so why pull the motor to pull a head????