Found the Chicken
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Elder User
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 559
Likes: 4
From: On a farm.
Found the Chicken
Got my 6.9L out and apart and discovered the source of my problem.
The head gasket blew out violently on #7 at about 8-o'clock on the cylinder to the lower water jacket. It must have happened suddenly while I was cruising at 65, overpressurized the cooling system and blew out that freeze plug at the back of the block. Looking closely at the area where the gasket blew, it doesn't look like there was any signs of long term prior leakage.
I guess I get to go the ARP head stud route now, check everything over well and fix anything marginal. I'll likely replace all the rockers with the 7.3L type, reseal the engine top to bottom, get the injectors and pump tested. I think I'll get the turbo rebuilt as I noted a lot of slop in the shaft.
Engine is very clean inside!
Kinda dodged a bullet.
The head gasket blew out violently on #7 at about 8-o'clock on the cylinder to the lower water jacket. It must have happened suddenly while I was cruising at 65, overpressurized the cooling system and blew out that freeze plug at the back of the block. Looking closely at the area where the gasket blew, it doesn't look like there was any signs of long term prior leakage.
I guess I get to go the ARP head stud route now, check everything over well and fix anything marginal. I'll likely replace all the rockers with the 7.3L type, reseal the engine top to bottom, get the injectors and pump tested. I think I'll get the turbo rebuilt as I noted a lot of slop in the shaft.
Engine is very clean inside!
Kinda dodged a bullet.
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 6,900
Likes: 3
From: Campbell River, B.C.
Pictures would be nice but still, very good news!
There was some one on OBN that had a similar instant gasket failure. He was worried that something major had come loose inside because it had a knock. In the end he decided to do a complete rebuild anyway since he had the engine out. Last I heard he was tearing a layer off the roads somewhere in Nebraska....
His 1986 now has a moose pump, turbo, intercooler and 5 speed.
There was some one on OBN that had a similar instant gasket failure. He was worried that something major had come loose inside because it had a knock. In the end he decided to do a complete rebuild anyway since he had the engine out. Last I heard he was tearing a layer off the roads somewhere in Nebraska....
His 1986 now has a moose pump, turbo, intercooler and 5 speed.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 21,285
Likes: 15
From: Nutter Fort, WV
Another 6.9 lives for another couple of decades.
Glad everything was better than you were expecting Jim.
Just remember, torque the ARP's down and remove them 4 times before the final install.
You are going to have a sore arm the day after you do the head stud install.
Glad everything was better than you were expecting Jim.
Just remember, torque the ARP's down and remove them 4 times before the final install.
You are going to have a sore arm the day after you do the head stud install.
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Elder User
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 559
Likes: 4
From: On a farm.
I'll get around to pics.
I strongly doubt I'll do a full rebuild... mostly because it doesn't remotely need one. I'll freshen up anything that looks marginal but the truck now gets so few miles per year that it's got decades left in it even without a full overhaul or rebuild.
Where does everyone like to get their 6.9L engine parts? I'm definitely doing the rockers, so a full set is on my list.
I strongly doubt I'll do a full rebuild... mostly because it doesn't remotely need one. I'll freshen up anything that looks marginal but the truck now gets so few miles per year that it's got decades left in it even without a full overhaul or rebuild.
Where does everyone like to get their 6.9L engine parts? I'm definitely doing the rockers, so a full set is on my list.
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