Hello
Got a head gasket that is leaking a little coolant at the front of the head. The 2 dodge dealers I called don't even have them in stock. Need to know where to get one and if there are any upgrades I should do while I got the head off. Any other tips would be great, this will be my first diesel head job.

 

Sure its that gasket and not the block? I think it was the 53 blocks that had some problems cracking in that area.

 

I'd go to Cummins to get the gasket. While you're in there you could do o-rings and head studs, but that's only necessary if you're going to be making 45psi+ boost. Studs are around $400-450 and o-ringing is about $350 IIRC, but depending on your plans for the truck it may not be necessary.

 

Call Napa also...They may have a head gasket kit also.

 

I would go with a genuine Cummins gasket. You can go to www.cummins.com to find a dealer near you. If you go to Dodge they are just going to repackage a Cummins product and charge you double the price. Is it from the front of the head, passenger side? If so this is a common spot for leakage, so there should be no worries of a cracked block.

 

As stated, if the seep is up front by the thermostat, it is pretty common. At abour 195k miles it bugged me enough to replace the gasket (from Cummins). The leak was totally external, none into the cylinder. If you plan on adding a governor spring kit or an exhaust brake, it would be the time to install 60 pound valve springs. The valve guide seals come with the Cummins head gasket kit so do them also.

BTW, letting people know where you are located won't hurt.

 

I've got this leak up by the thermostat as well. It is bugging me right now. On long hauls pulling a 6K trailer I loose a couple quarts of antifreeze. It also appears to be external also. I'm trying to decide if it is worth messing with at 258K miles. I also want to turn the power up a little but wouldn't do it with the head leak.

Eric

 

Thanks for all the help
I got the gasket from Cummins and torqed down 90lbs, wow. It came off surprisingly quick, replaced 4 exhaust manifold studs. Have Rough idle?? Injectors?? I'm in Houston, Cummins Southern Plains helped me out a great deal. Can I replace 1 injector?? It's a pain to get the air out of the lines after pulling the fuel lines. Have 348k miles on it. I need a 97 3500 dulley with less miles to buy for my fleet and prefer a flatbed but would take a truckbed.

 

I was loosing 2 gallons of coolant every 700 miles next to the thermostat.