took a chance and changed the oil cooler... Didn't help, and I could have had the head off by now. Anyway, I'm pullin' the head now. Do I need to buy new head studs? It's already got ARP studs in it. What do I torque them to? Is there a certain brand of HG that you guys recommend? Anything else I should know?

 

Buy a CUmmins stock HG
The studs are fine, Torque them in 3 steps, 40, 60, 90#'s .. then run and retorque to 100#'s ..

 

If I were you I would go with a mlx layered headgasket much stronger than stock hg, thats what I did with arp 2000's (12mm studes)haven't had a problem , you can find the head gasket on jegs performance website.

 

The only way I would do the MLS HG is if you had the block and the head milled ... the MLS HG will not seal with micro scratches on the head or block surfaces ...

The stock HG with studs with out o-rings will hold about 60# boost... with o-rings around 90# boost ( depending upon the type of studs used of course ...

I am doing a Stock HG, with ARP 2000's , seen manny trucks at near or above 600HP with out rings ..

 

Sounds of it he might end up milling the head

 

IMO personally I would have the head checked at a machine shop make sure the heads not warped...seeing as that was supposed to be a new HG....and you putting a new gasket on a warped head or block is gonna put you right back in the same boat you're in already.... once you see If it need machining then you can decide what thickness HG you'll actually need


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So I pulled the head, and I can't see any signs of the HG leaking at all! Can't see any cracks in head either... Where do these heads normally crack? I'm going to get it magnafluxed again and pressure tested and checked for straightness. Anything else I should check while it's off?

 

Start looking for cracks in block around the bolt holes .. if you can .. Go get some Dykem and clean you block real good .. then smear dykem all over the HG surface and allow it to dry .. then with a nice 2x4" piece of box steel and some 600 grit .. gently sand over the deck at a Diagnial direction .. after you have done this in 2 directions .. you should be able to wipe block with a bit of Aceotione and there maight be streeks that would indicate cracks ..

 

Got the head off and can see no signs of HG leakage anywhere. Took it to a really good machine shop and they said the head was perfect! I was looking on another forum and ran across a post saying that it could be the Tappet cover (expansion plug leak). Is there any chance that that could be the issue? I'm so frustrated, just want to find a smoking gun!

 

Tappet cover would leak oil on ground .. an Expansion plug .. maybe .. or a crack in the block somewhere .. BUT . Just cause you dont see the leak in the HG dosent mean it wasnt the issue .. Get some studs and get that bad boy back on the road !!