sooty

well, took a trip, up the coast to pismo beach, visiting relatives, with some good climbs, saw 35/scratching 40 psi, after parking the camper, i could hear the feared coolant gurgling noise, the motor ran fine at normal driving habits, i goosed it pretty good, passing, and noticed it missing, it still made the return 5 hours drive, with a big climb up tehachapi, running cool, and im happy to have made it back. im pretty sure no one has been into the head, just getting to 300k, im thinking maybe i should be checking torque along with valve adjustments, at my boost pressure, i thought i was safe, ive loosened the head, and will have it off, this am, to see the culprit. i did notice all the rocker stands were looser, than the other head bolts. i guess this will be a .020 gasket replacement, ive still got the original head bolts, since the head is torqued to 93 lbs, are these bolts good to the 120 lbs, you guys are torquing them to, or my question is really, if they do torque to 120 lbs, will they hold the torque? ive built a lot of later gasser motors, with the throw away, replacement stretch head bolts, they never got my vote, ive seen the new bolts fail, using the determined torque value number, and a 90 degree turn/another 90 degree turn, to full torque, they feel like rubber. back to my truck, im happy with the power ive got my truck at, and wanted moderation for heavy towing, and dependability, do the early bolts have problems stretching, or did they change, the bolt, in 1991, creating the problem? blown gasket club

Crossy's son

I think with your mods you should upgrade the HG while your in there.

Go for the. .20 over headgasket. Its for marine applications.

http://www.agkits.com/Cummins-B-Expt...ad-Gasket.aspx

crewcabxlt

sorry for dumb question, i read your post but couldnt figure out what year your truck is? non i/c trucks had a poor headgasket and different head bolts,less thread up the bolt shank. Ive done several headgaskets, just get genuine cummins as stated above, I torque to 120 ft/lbs cold with oil on threads. never had a problem. good luck.

sooty

edited sig. will these older head bolts, handle the 120lb. torque, to hold this thicker gasket down?

grandpa ralph

welcome to the club, some good folks in it.

sooty

upon inspection, im suprised the gasket leak didnt look obvious, there were barely signs of combustion pressure passing between 1-2-3, mainly outboard of #2, toward the exhaust, no gasket damage, and no water intrusion, ordered cummins parts, should get it assembled this weekend, thanks for the replies, blown gasket club