Long time reader, and thanks for the many tips and fixes.

I have a 94.5 7.3, been a good truck with 252,000 miles, stock except a 3" down pipe and a 4" exhaust.

Replaced injectors 18 months ago, new valve cover wire harness, a couple of new sensors, intake and oil, Fuel pump, and replaced all fuel system hoses and o-rings. Dry on top now. New turbo (rebuilt).

She cranks fine when cold has ok power, not like it did 100,000 mile ago, but when she warms up she idles rough and the power goes down and there is at least one bad cylinder, maybe 2, but I think only one.

I have an oil leak that is on the back side of the engine up high can't find it, I believe it needs a hpop and I would like to replace the piston and rings in the bad cylinder, if 2 thats ok.

I want to pull the engine find the oil leak, install a piston or two and put a new HPOP in and have the raidator and oil cooler flushed out, get all the build up out so the heat transfer is back to normal.

I don't have a ton of money to do this but I need to get a few more years out of the truck.

WHen you pull a head off do you have to replace the head bolts, head gaskett yes but is the head bolts ?

Any and all advice is welcome, thanks.

Ron

 

I'd almost guess the oil leak up high you are referencing is the EBPV leak that is a common occurance and why many people delete it.

I will say that head bolts are 1 time use, once they are torqued they are done, just like crush washers. Go ahead and purchase ARP Head studs, they will allow you to have more power.

Outside of that I wish I could help you, but its getting into areas I don't know much about.

 

EBPV or the oil gally plugs on the back of the heads is a common leak area.

 

If you're on a budget, arp head studs aren't going to be affordable. I've never torn down one of these engines, but I've re'used head bolts in many motors (not all) I've built with no problems. If you don't want big power studs aren't needed anyway. These motors are very high compression, so if you don't feel comfortable using the old bolts, I'd buy new stock bolts as they'd be cheaper than studs, I'd think anyway.

Have you done a compression test? Buzz test on injectors? 250k isn't that many miles, make sure before you go pulling the motor.