Want to change head gaskets and a few others while my engine is out. Head gasket is seeping coolant a bit between #5 & #6. Local parts dealer can get Victor Reinz head set w/ .010 thicker head gasket for about $75. Includes valve cover gaskets, manifold, etc. In searching here, most say to use the
.020 head gasket, which I believ is a Victo gasket. Truck is a daily driver and occassionaly tows (maybe every month or two).

Will I be ok using this set? Not wanting to install and have to pull the head again. Will also do seals and pan gasket while its out.

Thanks

 

While I'm not familiar with the Victor version of the CTD head-gasket, I recommend you go with the genuine Cummins HG.

Further, if you're not planning on hot-rodding the engine, you'd do well to stick with the standard thickness. The reason one would go to a thicker gasket (other than making up for metal removed when machining), is to drop the exaggerated peak combustion pressures commonly seen in a hopped-up engine. Running a thicker than stock gasket in an otherwise stock engine will result in a reduction of bottom-end power.

. . . As I understand things.

 

What he said.

 

Also makes it harder to start by lowering compression

 

Who actually makes the gaskets for Cummins? Just curious, as I'm sure they only rebox them and charge twice as much.

 

Good question, but if Victor Reinz is anything related to Felpro, I would certainly not use one of their POS headgaskets. Looking at the price I would guess inferior product.

My advise, go to your local Case/IH or Case construction dealer and get the Cummins gaskets and parts from them for slightly cheaper than from Cummins direct.

 

Every time i've priced parts at the local case and also at cummins, they've always been cheaper directly from cummins! don't know why but weird.

 

Go with Cummins