kas83

Got a ton of oil in my radiator, and it leaks all over the place down the sides and back of the block. The oil is dark honey colored, doesn't appear to have any coolant in it yet. I've been contemplating getting rid of the truck for a quad cab, and this put me at a real cross roads. I do feel I will keep the truck now.

I know my options as far as repair, from simply replacing it to fire/o-ringing the head, studs. I feel that the present power level is more than adequate, I may upgrade to an HTT SuperStock 62 SS to cool things down, and maybe get a 4K GSK so I can get some rev's out of it. Will install 60 lb springs while the head is off, only looking to turn 34-3500 rpm. Currently running a quickspool B-1(62/65/12), DDP 2's, #100 plate. In this case, what would you guys do? Thanks.

joshua smith

I just popped mine today. I had a cometics on it since december. I know that im gonna fix mine, but its just a matter of if i will pull the motor too and build it bigger. If I was in your shoes, Id fix it. Id just rather have the 12v over anything else. Id trade my 04.5 for another 12er

ratsun

Been down your road a couple of times and I would highly recommend you oring the head and use a stock gasket of your desired thickness. You can use the stock bolts with reasonable safety and in the future if you want to bump up the power you can run in a set of studs.

HOHN

I think it would be penny wise pound foolish to go back to stock bolts.

If you are yanking it apart and pulling the head, you might as well use studs.

99globalwarmer

alot of big wigs over 100 psi trucks use stock head bolts, but they use fire rings and ive not had any problem with my fire rings and stock head bolts for 25,000 miles and seeing over 80 lb boost daily. i probably would have gotten studs but i couldnt afford them. i would say if you fire ring then go ahead and use factory bolts but if you oring then get studs.

Fishin2Deep4U

I would also get studs.

The factory bolts are torque to yield. Not the best thing to locate a head properly. I know some have had success. But then again I have seen a few stretched more than a little too.

Dave

kawi600

Theres a chance its popped an oil cooler. If it is the head gasket, Id just go all out and stud / o-ring it and get it done. Selling the truck as-is will just hit you in the wallet harder.
Ill be running a similar setup soon. Hope I dont have the same problem.

dzlfarmboy

I'd go with a .020 marine gasket and a set of 12mm ARP's some have had luck with using stock head bolts but there is a trick to torquing them that is about 90% of making the stock bolts hold. And make sure you bottom tap the holes in your block when you yank the head. And going with a 62/71/13 would be a good choice over your 62/65/12 help open up the exhuast side, Along with a 4k kit to let her rev some.

Brett

kas83

How much does machining for fire rings cost? Puredieselpower.com has a good price on a fire ring/gasket set, and I'm thinking about picking it up.

Need95-00CTD

Wait on pulling the head. From the sounds of it, if you have a ton of oil in the radiator it sounds more like you blew the oil cooler. I had the same thing happen, and it was indeed the oil cooler. Now these do have a pretty bad effect of the headgasket, because the instant it pops the pressure on the water jacket spikes, and can pop the gasket (thats what happened to me). Its about $80 to have Cummins pressure test the oil cooler, and if it holds pressure you know its the HG, but if it doesn't, you know the oil coolers shot.

dodgediesel

This was my exact set-up but I o-ringed my head. Costed me $1500.00 to totally work over the head with o-rings and gasket. $500.00 for ARP 12mm studs. Did everything else myself and re-torqued 6 times in total following PDR's guidelines. This is the only way to go for total peace of mind!!! Excellent turbo choice too. I hit 55 psi multiple times and it's still strong to this day as my buddy drives the pants off the truck which he now own's...

afoulk

I agree, its more than likely your oil cooler that popped. Since the oil pressure is so much higher than the pressure in your coolant system, you shouldn't have to worry about getting any coolant in your oil. When we flush a cooling system at work after an oil cooler failure, we always use Spray 9 or Lestoyle (spelling?).

kas83

I can see what you guys are getting at with saying the oil cooler may have went, but this thing is leaking oil all over the place, coated both sides of the motor down. In addition to the radiator being full of oil. I picked up my new headgasket set Friday afternoon, and will hopefully have it installed by midweek. It's going together stock, and the sticks and turbo are coming off, will be sold after it's fixed.