My head gasket has started to leak at the front of the block so its coming off soon to get a new gasket and studs. While the head is off I am going to have in cleaned and checked. While its at the machine shop is there anything I should have done/checked? Im shooting for around 500hp with the truck. I have seen many threads about head gaskets, studs, and o-rings... but have not noticed anything about head work.

 

If there are miles on it will probly need to be milled. I blew mine and ended up with 12 new exhaust valves and guides. I went ahead and had mine O-ringed and F1 valve springs installed too. I would say if your planning on beating on it with 500hp a $300 O-ring job would be cheap insurance. I cant remember the tolerances exacty on how much the head can be warped but it's not alot. I would say why it's off go ahead and have them do a valve job too though.

 

Have it washed, install #60lb valve springs, O-ringed, resurfaced, pressure tested/magna fluxed
.020 over gasket, 12MM studs if your lookn to push a lot of boost

 

You should get up with Seth at Innovative cylinder head and machine or Tim at TRE Diesel, Seth is in Elizabeth City NC and Tim is in VA Beach. They have worked together on allot of heads with great success. They are both very fair and honest, a pleasure to deal with and a wealth of info. Good luck with your project..

 

I am planning to do the same exact thing this spring for the same reason. When I take mine off I think I am going to get it all trued up and cleaned valve job then I might take a dremel to it and clean it up a bit maybe spend alittle time cleaning out the slag maybe alittle short turn work? Then I am going to use a Marine Gasket withe a set of O-rings and new bolts direct from Cummins. I think if done right I could run twins in that configuration without worry..

 

I ordered my studs and gasket from Tim. Told him what I had and what I wanted to do with the truck and he tought I would be fine with the stock gasket.

Do you use o-rings with a stock gasket? Where is the best place to get o-rings?

I am not very familiar with heads... When you say have a valve job done what is invloved?

 

Again I am begining to thin k that studs are not alway nesessary on evry truck out there thats making power. I am also seeing a lot of guy's that are having big issues with them so That is way I am staying with the o-rings and a marine gasket with new bolts I think this will be a more than sufficiant for the majority of the guy's as long as you are not looking to make 750 hp...

 

Tim is good people he did all my head stuff just a few weeks ago.

 

If I decide to do o-rings would they work with a stock gasket? Should any automotive machine shop that works on heads be able to do the 0-rings? Or do I have to get special cummins 0-rings?

 

any tips? do i need to get the o-rings somewhere nd then get the head machined?

 

ya you'll have to get them from somewhere! i dont think cummins makes rings.