Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Head Gasket

[Cummins360]

Hi just curious how difficult a job it is to replace the head gasket on a 12 valve. Do you need an engine lift to lift it or can two guys lift it??

Thanks, Travis

 

[RBratby]

its not a bad job. i did my head gasket working slow in a weekend. i pulled my head by myself. i had my dad help me put it back on. just make sure you clean everything and keep everything clean. richard

 

[Cummins360]

Yea do you have to resurface the mating surfaces or anything?? I've done lots of head gaskets on gassers but never on a diesel.

 

[Cummins Thunder]

Its best you have two people or a hoist of some sort for pulling it and re installing it.



The head is bit heavy.

 

[cluckmaster]

I wouldn't want to try to pull it out by myself and I'm 6'7" 225# and deadlift over 400#. Haha- My dad helped me hoist out mine. I had the head decked at a machine shop- I'm pretty sure you have to, and should have it magnafluxed as well. Have them take as little as they absolutely have to to get it right so they don't raise your compression, and you may want to look into a thicker marine headgasket. Think the Cummins part # is 3283339.



97 4x4 SLT Ext cab/ 252k mi/ 35" MT Claws/ Lukes linked/ # 8 plate/ 3k GSK/ Hogue cam/ DIY ported head/ marine head gasket/ ARP head studs/ Scotty II/ MBRP 4"/ 17*/ KDP tabbed

 

[JGheen]

It's not too hard of a job, just time consuming. I used the 'ol cherry picker to get the head off by myself, but a friend helped me get it back on. We removed the hood, raised the head up with the cherry picker and with each of us sitting on each fender, we lifted the head off the cherry picker and set it down on the block.

Next time I am going to fab up a custom hoist to use the picker so I don't have to break my back. Just something that has a hook in the middle of a bar that can be bolted to the head and keep it level as it slips under the firewall.



Joe

 

[Cummins360]

Why exactally do you have to get it decked and magnafluxed?????

 

[cluckmaster]

Well, I guess if they check the head and it's perfectly flat they don't have to deck it. They barely took any off of mine. I had mine magnafluxed just to check for any cracks/microscopic flaws that may get worse and cause serious problems down the road, particularly if you're going to spend any money and/or time on the head (ie port work, valve job, o-ring, etc. ). I guess the magnafluxing is just a precaution.

 

[WDixon27]

i removed and installed my head with a engine hoist by myself, a pair of ratchet straps (one as a safety) and i was able to sit it right down in the dowels with the hoist, i pulled mine at around 309k miles because of the common front corner external coolent leak, i checked it with a straight edge and it looked fine so after a good cleaning it went right back on, i wanted to get it o-ringed but nobody around here could do it that i trust (nothing worse then a crap machine shop) i went back with a marine gasket, studs and a ats manifold as it was the handy time to do it (the stocker was almost 1/2" too short)

 

[RBratby]

sorry i guess i should have said i used a engine lift to pull it. it is quite heavy. to heavy for me to even try to lift by myself while it is on the engine. again sorry.

 

[JGheen]

Why exactally do you have to get it decked and magnafluxed?????

Heat causes warping of cast iron and the deck of the head can get warped causing areas of the head to be not perfectly flat which is key to getting a good seal with the new gasket.

Magnafluxing will tell you if you need a new head or not by detecting any possible cracks that may have developed over the life of the head. I have heard cracks typically develop if the head has seen various runs into the high EGTs, maybe 1400*+ for long periods of time.





Joe