blown head gasket 1999 dodge diesel 3500
 

i just blew the head gasket on my 1999 dodge 3500 didnt want to start would start to turn over then just lockup i noticed white smoke coming out of the tail pipe cranked a little more then i got out and say collant running out the back of head where the head and block meet is there a way to take the head off with out removing the rocker arms and valves just want to remove head check and see if its warped change head gasket and reinstall i plan on installing fire rings and head studs

you will have to remove the rockers and pushrods to get the head off then the machine shop will have to remove the valves to do their machine work before you reinstall the head

fire rings or orings? head only? daily driver?

well it is a daily driver but i do tow a 20 foot enclosed trailer with 3 four wheelers in it i have installed a lot of goodies ats aurora 3000 turbo,ats air intake,bd exhaust brake,snow water/methonal injection,edge with attitude,fass ddrp fuel pump and plan on more so i think ats fire rings and head studs is the way to go can you recommend a good head gasket if i change my mind on the ats fire rings

a genuine cummins gasket and arp studs would be plenty, problem with fire rings on a daily driver is that when doing the head only like your talking about the rings tend to break after about 30,000 miles of heat cycles and your right back in the same spot again

Like was already said, studs and a new gasket should be fine for you. If you're set on doing some sort of rings, do the o-rings. They're a lot more forgivable on the street trucks.

who makes a good set of o rings im new at this on a diesel engine never had to do it rebuilding a gas engine i do plan later maybe next year on compounding turbos

For o-rings, the machine shop will machine a groove into your head. Then they will press in wire to make an "o-ring." You'd use a standard headgasket, so there's nothing you'd really have to buy for it.

i have been hearing about a marine head gasket anyone used one just trying to put the best head gasket i can on the truck im ordering my arp head studs should have done the last year when i put all my mods on but forgot to order them

X2

well thank you all im just going to put a new head gasket amd arp head studs

Like you said in the original post, make sure the head is straight or you'll likely never get it to not leak. As far as the marine head gaskets, I think usually the only difference is they're thicker. This will lower your compression a little bit. I don't think they're necessarily stronger though. A stock replacement will be fine. :tu:

Most of the marine head gaskets i have used had a stainless steel core and fire ring instead of regular steel

Learn something new everyday. Do you know the purpose behind this?

Most marine engines are around salt water which is hard on the steel. Most small recreational engines are raw water cooled and the salt water eats the head gaskets from the inside out unless the core and fire ring is stainless.

Ah, ok. That was kinda what I was thinking. Thanks! :tu:

just wanted to thank everyone for there help got injectors pulled had water in 4 out of 6 cylinders could not turn it over by hand to had my brother do it with the starter man when that water come shooting out it looked like a hugh super water gun but engine turned over just fine no horable noises even check rocker arms with shimes everything looks good

Marine engines also circ salt water for cooling ie no rad stainless freeze plugs also

or brass freeze plugs

you do not have to remove the rockers, you just have to loosen them enough to get the pushrods out, you dont have to mess with the ajustment screw at all.

you (what everyone calls a marine gasket ) .020 oversized they run about 120.00 each

since you have already (or going to) taken the head off, I would have the head checked out, rework the seats (if needed) , I would check to make sure your head is straight and the block as well.