Well, got my truck back from the shop and turns out I nead a new Head Gasket and a front timing cover seal.....Noticed the truck was leaking oil like a sieve and the coolent was disappearing....I don't even have big power so I am not too sure what the guy before me did to the truck because I bought it used.......The estimate to fix it was $3000!!!!! I am hoping to get a couple other estimates first..

 

3,000 seems kinda high. I've read around 1,000 or less is closer to normal for the head gasket job and the front seal is pretty much a shade tree mechanic repair. When you have the front seal replaced have them check for the KDP issue while the front cover is off. Good luck.
Glenn

 

Ya, I thought it was kinda high. As for the front cover, I read that I can just clean around the cover and run a bead of Mopar Grey RTV? The guy at the diesel shop said he recommends a new head because he has seen too many warp and crack. What do you all think? I would like to just have it decked...

 

If the head is cracked that sure would add to the cost. A cracked head is not a good for core exchange either. If its your cover leaking I guess you could do a good job of just cleaning it and resealing it. I would still take the cover off to clean it and check that VP dowel pin too.

 

Thanks for the advice...I will take it off anyway!

 

I just removed my front cover and cleaned and resealed it with blue RTV and it has not leaked a drop since. As for the head gasket, they are hard to do./

 

How hard is the front cover? What is involved in taking it off?

 

The front cover is not that hard to do. I had a leak between the gear case and the front of the block. To replace that gasket is far more involved. I did not replace the gasket I just tightened the bolts. None were really loose but I could turn them all a little. That stopped that one.
When I did mine I pulled the radiator which gave me far more space to work. I tightened the bolts holding the gearcase (5 torks head if I remember). Be sure and check the dowel pin while you have the cover off. You will also need a new front crankshaft seal.
My radiator needed a good cleaning from all the oily build up on the fins. Most 2nd gens with the blowby located where it is from the factory will need the radiator cleaned at sometime.
Stan