Went to start her up this afternoon and she seemed to bind for a second then bang! She started and there was a loud popping noise and coolant running on the ground! I got her stripped down tonite (pulled the passenger side head while still in truck). Head gasket let go at back cylinder. I don't see any damage to the head or piston. I also didn't hear any loud clattering like a rod so hope the damage is just the gasket. I will tell that having the 4" lift made things kinda easy to get to (other than having to do so climbing lol). I will order new gaskets, get some oil and filter and coolant and try to have her back together by friday.

 

Damn that sucks!


Wish ya luck!!!!!!!!!

 

best of luck keep updated

 

could have been leaking small amounts of coolant in and that is what caused the bind and then the let go of the gasket caused the bang and each successive compression stroke caused the popping. Hope it wasnt internal bro. Git er done!!

 

Been there not long ago. Hope it all comes together for you.

 

Man, now that sux. Good luck! You have my moral support, I can ESP it to you. LOL

 

While the head is off check the deck hight of all the cylinders on that side. Recently another member bent the rod in a similar incident...... roll all the cylinders to TDC head off........found one did not reach the correct height due to the bent rod.

 

Thanks for all the moral support guys. I will check the hieght tonite.

 

Ok went out and rolled her over by hand. All pistons come up top the same. Looks like I got real lucky this time guys. But on the bright side I will finally be putting the 7.3 rockers in lol.

 

thats great none are bent.. mine was 1/4" down from the deck!

 

That would suck! I just dread the torqueing of the studs this time around. Was a pain when the engine was out last time.

 

What is involved in taking the heads off. I assume the rockers have to be disassembled.

 

Valve covers, removing all the random stuff attached to the engine. And taking off the head bolts....after that, the 125 lbs/ea head itself.....

 

That friggin torque sequence is what stops me from wanting to upgrade the HG to better ones and studs.

 

Tell me about it! I just finished up getting the head bolted back down. That multiple torqueing for those studs really sucks when it is in the truck lol. And lifting that head into place about killed me! but now I have also have the rockers all swapped out and retorqued the other head while I was in there. Got viton o-rings coming at work tomarrow and I will get her finished up.....I hope.