Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Should I do my head install myself or pay to have it done

[BigDan]

I'll be getting my twins this week so I need my head O-ringed and studded.



Question should I drive 900 miles and pay for 12 hours labor to have them do the work or spend a couple hundred dollars on shipping and do it myself. I am pretty mechanically incline, but im no mechanic.



Also when should I install my twins before or after the head work, and or before of after my trip to PDR.



Thanks

 

[ASTAR]

I was just wondering the same thing! Maybe we'll have an O-ringing party eh? Are you driving all the way to PDR to pick up your twin kit? Also, ya got something to lift that head off the motor? I hear it's silly heavy!

Seems like it'd be way better to get the head work done first, for simplicity doing the head R&R but it's just a guess.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

The weight of the head alone is enough to scare me!



No rental places here locally to get a decent hoist, and the way the engine sits back under the cowl makes for a VERY difficult lift OUT of the truck, along with breaking the head-to-block seal. THEN, there's the potential difficulty in getting all elements of gaskets, misc. hardware and such all lined up precisely on the REinstall...



Add to the above the needed expertise and precise measuring tools for evaluating head and block warpage, etc... . And, I'd just chicken out and pay an "expert" with all the tools and experience to do the job! Mind you, I have done my share of gasser head work - but THOSE were a piece of cake compared to one of these Cummins heads!

 

[BigDan]

I was just wondering the same thing! Maybe we'll have an O-ringing party eh? Are you driving all the way to PDR to pick up your twin kit? Also, ya got something to lift that head off the motor? I hear it's silly heavy!

Seems like it'd be way better to get the head work done first, for simplicity doing the head R&R but it's just a guess.

Oh yeah the weight... I didnt think about that one. I have a cherry picker though and if that wont work I can always go back to my 22R swapping days and use a rope, a tree limb, and a truck.



I bought my twins used off the classified's from back east, a guy from east coast turbo B1/B2. So $100 in shipping later there on there way.



Its still up in air as far a DIY goes????? I remember what a PITA thoes #5 #6 injector was, let alone valve adjustment and head studs

 

[ASTAR]

Dude, I would not do it myself and I'm not to afraid of mechanical stuff. Someone told me that head weighs like 400lbs!!! I could be wrong but I swear that's what he said. Maybe we can work something out to split driving, hotels and fuel, and tow one truck with another that 900 miles!

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

A little tip:

When putting a head back on, lay the new gasket in place, then lay two pieces of cardboard on top of it, one at each end. This will protect the gasket as you maneuver the head into place. Once it's in place, pick up the head sightly from one end at a time and slip out the cardboard.



While a cherry picker is nice, I think a couple pair of strong hands can do a better job maneuvering the head into its final resting position. The head on my 12v wasn't as heavy as I thought, at least I was able to carry it around and pick it up off the floor by myself.



Vaughn

 

[OPoole]

Have the head work done first drive it for a bit. Then retorque it lash the valves if everythings good install twins.

 

[BigDan]

If I install the twins first and then do the head Piers they will be able to tell me if I screwed up the twins install... . but if ya think I should wait I will...



ASTAR sounds good, let me get **** figured out on my end first and we will make plans.

 

[justinp20012500]

Dude, I would not do it myself and I'm not to afraid of mechanical stuff. Someone told me that head weighs like 400lbs!!! I could be wrong but I swear that's what he said. Maybe we can work something out to split driving, hotels and fuel, and tow one truck with another that 900 miles!

400 LBS??????



If I can pick it up off the bench and put it in the back of my truck it does NOT weigh 400 pounds.



I never did weight it, but I would bet money that it doesn't weigh over 150.



O ya, do the head first and twins later. When HG go, they make a big mess under hood!!







Justin

 

[Jim Fulmer]

The head weights 130 and on the install just work it in the spot and screw in two of the long bolts in the short bolt spot and use that as your line up guide... ... works great.



Jim

 

[Cummins4Life]

Rip Rook & Co. are in south Portland OR, and are setup to o-ring, fire ring, install studs and just about anything else you could need. Might be a bit closer.

http://www.sourceautomotive.biz

 

[RonA]

Head replace is pretty easy with 2 people. My son and i used a pole to with one of us on each side to lay it in place on plastic spacers with short studs for alignment. Then removed the spacers and put the studs in. Remaking the oil lines, bottom turbo mounting bracket, turbo to intercooler pipe and machining a spacer for the top turbo took longer than changing the head.

 

[Bloomy]

I did my 12v HG. Head Doug at ATD do the o-rings. It wasn't that bad of a job for my first one. I was also under the impression that the 24v head is quite a bit heavier?



Thomas

 

[KatDiesel]

I bought my twins used off the classified's from back east, a guy from east coast turbo B1/B2. So $100 in shipping later there on there way.

So your the one that beat me to those... ... :{ Hope it works good for yo. u

 

[BigDan]

Yeah I couldnt pass it up. I was a week away form paying close to 2K for a B1 set up, so for $800 more I got B1/B2 twins w/ everything

 

[KSmid]

24 v head complete is 176lbs

just got one today from a core place.