Big Coolant Problem
 

Ive got coolant blowing out of what looks like to me a plate on the drivers side of the motor behind the injection pump :argh:. it seems like its gunna be a project, but ive never heard of this happening. anyone know anything about it or have it happen to them? any info would be great. thanks.

I just had 2 motors ripped apart, by behind the injection pump do you mean between the ip and the engine block? If it is and it runs the length(front to back) that's the tappet cover, and it shouldn't have coolant behind it. If the leak is near the top of the plate I would guess head gasket, the top edge of the tappet cover is very close to the top edge of the block. If it's not that I'm not sure what it would be :humm: I don't remember anything else on the drivers side of the engine that could have coolant behind it.

Hope this helps

X2. :humm:

ya thats the plate im talking about. it was kinda hard to tell when i took a quick look yesterday. my first thought was the head gasket but if that was bad wouldnt i be having white smoke come out of the exhaust? thats the only thing that through me off. do you think there is an accurate way to check before i just start ripping things apart?

head gaskets dont have to leak internally could be external like it sounds and that sucks because the only thing there is the head gasket unless it is running from somewhere else :argh:

oh wow. i guess im not in any luck then. doin a head gasket is a pretty big job huh. do you know if anyone has any write ups on how to go about doing it? and whats a good high performance gasket to get for it?

The genuine Cummins gasket will work most reliably. And no, you don't need to go to 0.020" over by default. ;) A standard will be just fine with the most common, mildly bombed CTD. A 0.010" over is available for a more moderately bombed CTD.

I checked the 1st Gen "Sticky" in this forum board and didn't find a write-up about the head-gasket replacement, However. I've got one elsewhere ~ Replace Your 12v CTD Head-Gasket


Hope it helps. :)

ok. thanks for the help i greatly apreciate it. i only thought about a thicker one because i hope to someday be up to 400hp and i just dont want this to happen again on me. i got another question if you dont mind. do you have any thoughts on having the exhaust ports ported while i have it apart and changing the studs? oh and do you know where i could get the 0.010" gasket?

Changing the head gasket shouldn't be to bad on a first gen, You will most likely have to get the head surface machined but if your lucky the block will be ok.

I would go ahead and get the head machined for the tophat valve seals (costs about $50) and put in some 60lb valve springs (I replaced all 12).You can also lap the valves if you want, instead of getting them machined.

there is freeze plugs behind the tappet cover as well, maybe worth checking that out before tearing the head off