I have two first gens and the head gasket went on one so I thought maybe I should change out the head bolts on my other truck to prevent that problem on this truck. My question is can I just change the head bolts or do I need to replace the gasket. My plan was to do one bolt at a time of course.

 

I have heard of people doing it both ways.
The only time I went through the trouble of installing head bolts. I also installed a new Cummins head gasket, had a shop mill the head smooth, new 60#s valve springs, new valve seals, new injectors.

It can be a slippery slope, and you can find yourself in it pretty deep, pretty quickly.

 

I'm a firm believer in, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."