Hi folks...does anyone have a good set of directions and tips for replacing the head gasket on my truck (listed in the signature). I need to do some cleaning on the engine, but I think it is leaking at cyl.#1 on passenger side of engine. I am planning on going back stock with everything. Thanks in advance for the help.

 

Well a head gasget isnt that bad. I did one on my 1st gen last spring.

1) disconect fuel lines.
2) drain oil and coolant.
3) pull ur turbo, and intake horn
4) pull valve covers, then pull rockers, and push rods. keeping each marked so the get installed in the same location.
5) pull the rest of your bolts, and pull the head.

You might want to take the head to a shop and have them check for cracks, re surface it, and to a valve job on it.

Then your going to want to check the head bolts for stretching. cummins makes a lil paper tool for this.

you will need to tourq the bolts corectly. It would be best to buy a service manule to help ya. its not all that had. The only problem I had was getting the indexing on the VE pump right. took me a couple day to get her fired up.
But I am new to the p-pumps. But its not that bad of a deal. I did mine myself. hope this helps

bob

 

ONE OTHER IMPORTANT THING IS TO, MAKE SURE YOU PULL THE COOLANT TEMPERATURE SENSOR ON THE BACK DRIVER SIDE OF THE HEAD. Otherwise is an extra $70 wasted.
I said forget it and just bought new pushrods. They were under $4.00 a piece from Cummins.

 

Make sure you clean the block thoroughly, chase all the threads to the bottom, and get all the oil out of the blind bolt holes. Also get a bolt checker to see if you have any bad bolts. Mine were all good when I did mine. You will read they are not reusable, but cummins makes a stretch guage specifically for checking them for reusing.

 

Thanks for all of the tips. I have a factory manual and a Haynes manual and I know there are always little details that go unnoticed until you actually do the job.

I'll let you know how it goes. Thanks again for all of the help.