Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Head Gasket Choices?

[LFalconer]

All,



Need to buy a head gasket for a mildly modded 12V. Head was slightly warped, but checked good.



Not sure the gasket blew, but with head off, replacement is the right thing to do.



So - We are not going to Studs etc as we don't plan on twins etc, but the truck is running around 300HP and 700Tq.



Is the stock Cummins HG adequate?



Any answers ASAP would be great as the head is slated to be replaced on Saturday!



Thanks, Luke

 

[MMcCallie]

DDP recently told me that the stock head gasket does not need to be replaced, that i could have added studs and been fine. I assume they believe the stock Dodge head gasket is adequate. I never pulled the head, just retorqued the stock head bolts and has held up so far to several bursts of over 40 psi. I should have done head work when i had the chance, i'd feel better about making use of the power i have.

 

[LFalconer]

Thanks for the info, I have a . 010 gasket on order as the head needed to be milled to correct some warpage. Heck with 142K on the engine, the HG replacement is to me good insurance.



The cross hatching is still visible at 142K, no scoring etc. Should be good for another 142k++



Thx, Luke

 

[JFlagg]

Heck, from what I have seen on here, should be good for alot more miles than that!

 

[WaynesWorld]

LFalconer,

If you put your truck info in, we can see what you are driving.



If you drop the $$$ for a head job, why not throw in the studs then?

With the head off, you can chase the threads all the way to the bottom. That way , if you decde to do the studs later they will be ready. The studs that hold the rockers will then be easier on the valve covers. IMHO!

That way you don't need to take the head off again. #@$%!

Either way torque them, run the motor, then break them loose 1 at a time in order & retorque them down.



Save a $$$ with your brain will save you the pain later------been there.



WAYNES WORLD

 

[Eric_B]

What ever happened to the possible MLS (12v) headgasket that was supposed to be close to/in production? It seems that it would be another possible option.

 

[Jetpilot]

We use the marine gasket..... Numbers are as follows:



Stock: 3283335

. 010 over: 3283337

. 020 over: 3283339



Doug

 

[CumminsPower98]

The marine has been the stock gasket since '98 so need to ask for it. The machine shop took . 012 off my head to get it cleaned up. I blew it at about 38 psi and 247k miles (towing in sub-zero wind). The first time I went with the . 010 over but didn't like the extra startup smoke and probably not as easy starting in cold. I blew that gasket because I didn't retorque the studs enough times so I went back with a standard one and have been happy for about 100k miles since. I'm running 16 deg timing and holding my boost at 30 for now to be safe while towing for a living. I am also in about the 300 RWHP range as near as I can tell.

 

[LFalconer]

All, Thanks for the info. Time was short to get the gasket as the guy working on it found the head slightly warped, necessitating milling. I bought the . 010 over HG from CarQuest [Victor made by Dana] the box that it came is said 89 to 93. Umm is there and issue with the 1st gen to 2nd gen 12v?



I hear ya about the studs - if it was in my garage I could take my time, but that is not where I am at.



Not sure the boost I am running [I know guages are good, my 02 Ferd with the 7. 3 is running column mount EGT, Boost and transmission]



The HG doesn't appear to have "Blown" but the additional boost and fuel along with warpage might have caused the issue with pumping coolant out of the overflow. Interestingly the oil cooler went bad the month before, even with flushing, the radiator is kinda sludgly. So a new radiator is going in, along with flushing the block via the removable plugs. .



We hope it is the HG...



Thanks, Luke



1997 2500 4WD Club Cab LWB 12V, NV4500,Dana 80, 142K mi

AFE Stage II, MBRP 4" Turbo Back Exhaust, Pump at 16, Fuel Plate and AFC turned up.



2006 3500 4WD Dually, CTD, G56, Stock [for now] 34K miles

 

[CumminsPower98]

If it was blowing coolant out the overflow it was almost surely blown. I don't have any experience about other brand gaskets but I personally would not put anything but a Cummins gasket on especially on a modified engine. Maybe others are fine but I think most on here will say the same.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Thanks for the info, I have a . 010 gasket on order as the head needed to be milled to correct some warpage.

Luke, a couple comments after looking at your posts:

I have never heard of Victor/Dana head gaskets, but I doubt you'll find one that's better quality than what Cummins offers. I would only get the HG from Cummins.

If you're not planning to boost your HP a lot past where you're at go with the stock thickness like CumminsPower98 ended up doing. . 010" does knock the compression down. Also note that how much you have milled off the head has no bearing on what thickness of head gasket you go with (doesn't affect compression like it does on a gas engine). You can take . 010" off your head at least 3 times before valve-to-piston clearance becomes a concern.

Vaughn

 

[WDimig]

you mentioned that you found the head slightly warped, i think imho, that all 12v heads are almost always somewhat warped when taken off the truck, the 12v head is just prone to that, i know that i woudl reccomend annyone taking the head of thier truck to do a gasket, even if the head checks ok with a straight edge, i would have it resurfaced, the 12v head can be resurfaced 3 times @. 10 thousandths off before there is a valve/ piston clearance problem. good luck!



wes

 

[LFalconer]

Vaughn, Thanks for the info. My thought with the . 010 over after milling is 2 fold:



1. Ensures valve to piston clearance stays within spec...



2. Perhaps the . 010 HG will somewhat compensate for the warpage.



Regarding the HG itself, from what I have found out, Dana does make the HG for Cummins as the OEM P/N [cummins # is on the listing as well] Gasket making is a specialty, especially in diesel and industrial business. Victor Reinz was a German company at one time acquired by Dana, with significant business in the industrial market.



Similar to Fleetguard making all the OEM Cummins filtration products...



Anyone with exact knowledge on this I'd be interested to know who the OEM gasket supplier is for Cummins, but I am betting it is DANA.



Thanks, Luke