Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) 01 headgasket question

[jdrury]

here is the deal, i sold my 01 24v 6 speed a year ago and now have the chance to buy it back, and i would love to but... . i noticed a oil leak at the front of the cylinder head gasket. As it is running i can actually see it pooling up at the edge of the gasket. The truck has 100hp injectors and a edge comp box. I know the new owner has run it hard, but no harder than i would have, i just dont know how close he has watched the egt's... my question is - do these engines normally just require a headgasket change or do the heads often crack? under full load it produces about 37 pounds of boost. are head studs reqired also? On a final note, the current owner installed a south bend clutch and it seems you have to double clutch into sixth or it grinds a little. . is this normal or do the syncronizers need to be repaced? the engine has about 120k on it. . any input would be helpfull, Thanks

 

[HBarlow]

My '01 had a set of Bosch 275hp MH injectors installed when it was nearly new. At around 250k miles I had a headgasket replaced due to coolant seepage at the front. The head was perfect, no cracks, no warpage. My mechanic, a personal friend and experienced Dodge dealer tech, cleaned and inspected the cylinder head and block surface and installed a new Cummins head gasket. It still runs good at 350k miles. I think the Cummins cylinder head is tough. It's probably not hurt.

I should emphasize that my truck was unmolested except for the Bosch injectors and was limited only to stock boost but it did produce higher than stock EGTs due to the injectors and I always let it pull grades while towing under full throttle down to 1600 rpm so it was exposed to long pulls at 1300* many, many times.

 

[Huff N Puff]

There is also a risk of

here is the deal, i sold my 01 24v 6 speed a year ago and now have the chance to buy it back, and i would love to but... . i noticed a oil leak at the front of the cylinder head gasket. As it is running i can actually see it pooling up at the edge of the gasket. The truck has 100hp injectors and a edge comp box. I know the new owner has run it hard, but no harder than i would have, i just dont know how close he has watched the egt's... my question is - do these engines normally just require a headgasket change or do the heads often crack? under full load it produces about 37 pounds of boost. are head studs reqired also? On a final note, the current owner installed a south bend clutch and it seems you have to double clutch into sixth or it grinds a little. . is this normal or do the syncronizers need to be repaced? the engine has about 120k on it. . any input would be helpfull, Thanks

Piston #6 may start to score the cylinder walls,if EGTs were high,from too much fuel and not enough air to keep the cylinder cool.

 

[rkressg]

That NV5600 is a nightmare inside. It is a complete PITA to repair any parts inside, way more complicated than a 4500. Most transmission shops will not touch that transmission, and getting parts for it is hard.

A good rebuild will run $3,500, so watch out.

As far as the head gasket, the heads are tough. If you replace the gasket, use a set of ARP studs, and while the head is off, have it checked for straightness/flatness and you might as well get it O-Ringed.

If #6 is scored/damaged, you will not be able to see this until you pull the head anyways.

 

[HBarlow]

I had the NV-5600 rebuilt in my '01 Dodge at 302k miles early in '06 by Standard Transmission in Ft. Worth, TX. At the time the complete transmission tear down and rebuild including a complete new clutch assembly and labor to R&R was only a little over $2000. I'd guess the price is a little higher now but I don't think it is $3500. Standard is a TDR advertiser and a great company. It's easy to call them and ask.

 

[jdrury]

thanks guys, i bought the truck back yesterday. I will be ordering parts today and tearing the head off this week... I will try to keep you posted with the results!