Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Got the new head installed, finally....

[JGheen]

Well, after 3 weeks of waiting for parts and getting only the weekends to work on the truck, I finally got my new Piers head installed and thought I would share some photos and install pains with you.

First, let me say, what a major PITA it is to get that head in with out a proper way to support it from the cherry picker. :-laf Me and a friend of mine ended up lifting the head onto the engine after the support was not going to clear the cowl. Just rested the head on my leg, grasped the hooks on the lifting brackets of the head and we set it on there. Kinda difficult to get the dowels lined up but it set on the deck nice and should seal well with the studs.

Speaking of studs, I didn't have to grind on my ARPs! I was so surprised that they fit that well, but I did bottom tap each hole. I think the threads in each hole were already there they just got cleaned up from the tap cuz it was effortless and nothing but rusty corrosion stuff came out. The studs on the pedistals ended up torqueing flush with the top of each nut. I had another friend mill the valve covers on a Bridgeport the night before so that added some great clearance for the nut and washer. Wish I had some pics of the valve covers and stud clearances but I'll get those soon. So here are some pics and no the head is not aluminum, it was just the only attractive high heat paint I had in the garage. :-laf



Joe

 

[csutton7]

good to hear---chris

 

[Forrest Nearing]

anyone else got one of these new heads from Piers? I've got one sitting at the machine shop, and I'm debating having it ported. They aren't licensed by Cummins, but are the really the exact same castings? if so, I'll go ahead and have it ported. but I'd hate to throw money at an inferior casting and have it crack a few months down the road

 

[JGheen]

Inferior head? I do believe it is a bit different than an actual Cummins casting as there is no recess for removing the overflow valve and there is also a couple spots on the head where there are no water jacket bungs like between the inj. pump and side of head. There is a recess there but that seems to be an optional hole. The one for the water temp sensor is there.



Forrest why would you think this head is going to crack, even the stockers crack from time to time? I need to get my original head magnafluxed to make sure it is not cracked for re-sale, but it very well could be.



Joe

 

[Forrest Nearing]

I DON'T think it's going to crack prematurely... otherwise Piers wouldn't put his name on them... but they DON'T have Cummins' name on them either... just making sure I'm not going to be throwing away $2000 on a chunk of iron!



the notch for the overflow valve and some of the tapped holes are "optional" depending on the application... so no worries there. I'll just break out the grinder to notch for the overflow (heck, I had to do a little grinding on my 97 to get the OF valve out)



Forrest

 

[JGheen]

I DON'T think it's going to crack prematurely... otherwise Piers wouldn't put his name on them... but they DON'T have Cummins' name on them either... just making sure I'm not going to be throwing away $2000 on a chunk of iron!



the notch for the overflow valve and some of the tapped holes are "optional" depending on the application... so no worries there. I'll just break out the grinder to notch for the overflow (heck, I had to do a little grinding on my 97 to get the OF valve out)



Forrest

Wish I had noticed that the OF valve notch wasn't there cuz now if I need to change it I am gonna have to remove the pump to get it out. :{



Joe

 

[Forrest Nearing]

nah, just hit it w/ a die grinder and a carbide burr (the head that is)



you can notch it yourself no problem.

 

[hsmith]

$2000. 00????? Think the price of the head is more like $600, or was when I purchased mine.

 

[csutton7]

I think he means after porting and other goodies--but with that being said you got a deal if you got a new one for $600..... chris

 

[JGheen]

Yeah, just a bare head is about $650 as far as I know. Mine came up to around $1500 shipped so that was still a hell of a deal to me instead of machining the original for over $1500.



Joe

 

[csutton7]

ok bare head makes sense--I know Nowel bought one from cummins 4 or so yrs ago and I think it cost him over $1000, but it wasn't bare--chris

 

[SFrey]

check out http://www.acheinc.com/chryslerproduct.htm, go to the bottom of the page. cummins 6bt head loaded for 395. 00. i talked to haisleys about one of these heads, and he said he has used them.



scot

 

[bgilbert]

www.tristatecylinderhead.com is another option for a good price on a new head. I have one, no problems yet.

 

[Signal73]

Lookin good! whos intake plenum is that?

 

[tshort]

That's a Bank's Twin Ram top plate. Don't have to machine plenum for it.

Ryan

 

[Bobcat698]

Nice! I wish my build was that far along... .