Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Head Gasket ?'s

[GOlsen]

Looking for a replacement head gasket. I have the head machined and o-rings in it already. I'm not really interested in getting a cometic gasket. So my questions are: What are the advantages/disadvantages of the . 010 and . 020 over gaskets? Also, where do the marine gaskets fit in to the equation? Are the oversized also? TIA.

Dave

 

[Signal73]

All 12V HG's made are marine gaskets now.
Cometic supposedly does not make ones for the cummins anymore because of the high failure rate happening with them.
. 020 Advantages are thicker which means stronger, lowers compression about a point for longer life but ya loose a little on the bottom end.
Disadvantages are rough cold starting.

Stock is just the opposite. I went with a . 010 as a happy medium and I am happy. been to 80lbs boost many many times and no problems.

 

[GOlsen]

Just the type of info I was looking for. Thanks! Now, where's a good place to buy one?

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

I usually get my Cummins gaskets directly from Cummins, are you around NW Philly area in the general vicinity of King of Prussia or Reading? Looks like closest place is east in Bristol PA

Bristol, PA Headquarters:
2727 Ford Road
Bristol, PA 19007-6895

Local: (215) 785-6005
Toll Free: (888) 785-6005
Service after 5:00 pm: (215) 781-3691
Fax: (215) 785-6151

Business Hours:
Monday - Friday 7:00 am -5:00 pm
Service Only: Monday - Friday 7:00 am - 8:30 pm

 

[CumminsPower98]

If you decide to go with stock thickness I have one I'm trying to get rid of here: eBay Motors: Cummins head gasket P/N 3283335 B5. 9 Dodge Ram Truck (item 140263967136 end time Sep-10-08 17:46:10 PDT)
I thought I might have a bad gasket but it turned out to be fine so I don't need this one laying around.

I blew my first gasket due to an accidental over boost (according to my own set standard) and replaced it with a . 010 over. I ended up blowing that one too due to not doing enough retorques on the ARP studs and ended up putting a standard back in because I didn't like the little bit more cold start smoke. The thicker gaskets help when you are running high boost and advanced timing. I'm doing well keeping mine under 30 psi and 16 deg. timing on the stock thickness. I could probably run higher boost just fine but I'm more interested in reliability right now and any more than 35 is out of range for my stock charger anyway.

 

[JJanetka]

I get my cummins parts from Bergeys truck shop in Franconia which isn't that far from Pottstown. It's just north of Harleysville on RT113.

 

[GOlsen]

Thanks for the info guys. Appreciate it.