What head gaskets should I use when I replace them in the next few weeks. I am rounding up the parts annd wanted to know what ones to use. I know the ford ones come with the bolts but I am using the studs when I do it. Thanks in advance.

 

I'm no expert but the general consensus around here from what I've read is that the stock Ford gaskets are fine,you just need to use the studs instead of the TTY bolts.Hope this helps.

 

Yes stick with the oem hg. It's as good or better than anything on the market. You can get the gasket with out the bolts online. You just have to do some looking around to find them. I think I saw a set on tdg other day. I will look and see.

 

Are your HGs bad or are you replacing as a preventative measure?

DSMMH

 

Look in the classifieds at powerstrokenation. There is a set on there now for $100. If you haven't brought the arps yet you can get them plus the black onyix gaskets from rcd for 699

 

I have a coolant leak that does not leak externally. So it is preventative maint and a coolant loss repair. I already have the egr delete kit to go on. I am going to do it all at once. I can get the studs locally for $390 so I just need the gaskets.

 

So your motor is not puking? I would investigate the coolant loss further unless you just want to do the stud/HG job for reliability. Could possibly be the infamous coolant hose between the EGR and oil cooler is leaking a small amount of coolant that evaporates before you see it on the ground.

You can purchase a Combustion Gas Leak Kit off the net for around $50. That will tell you if you have a HG leak. That is what I did. In November 2008 I had puking but no exhaust gas in the coolant. However, in April 09 I had a very small HG exhaust leak but no major HG failure like coolant out the tailpipe or oil in the coolant. The amount of exhaust gas barely turned the blue fluid green. In fact I had to hold it up to the sun to see the color change. I concluded that the OEM TTY bolts stretched and the HGs were probably still good. So I decided to replace the OEM bolts with ARP studs, replace the EGR cooler with a Neal Technology Upgraded EGR cooler and I did not replace the HGs. I still had a minor puking issue but only under heavy load and no exhaust gas in the coolant. So in December 09 I replaced the oil cooler HX and pressed a freeze plug in the EGR cooler exhaust inlet, deleting any exhaust gas flow through the EGR cooler. I have no repeat puking issues at all. In January I removed my Juice with Attitude and loaded SCT X3 custom tunes from IDP. Truck runs awesome!

If you are interested in just changing the head bolts, just search "DSMMH" and read my ARP stud install thread. Don't know how many miles you have on your ride but just another option to consider.

I would highly recommend that you replace the oil cooler HX while you have it apart. That is the reason I had to go into mine a second time and the cause of the puking after the ARP stud install.

DSMMH

 

The purists will disagree with DSMHH about this procedure. I happen to agree with him. His post about his bolt swap is informative and many have been successful. I do not recall seeing anyone post a non-successful bolt swap. It is a gamble but it can be done without even removing the hp oil rails. This lessons your exposure to additional issues from that operation. Heck, life is a gamble.

Regards

 

I work for a gm dealer and fix **** all day long. If I am going to work on this thing it will be ONCE. So I am going to change the gaskets reseal the injecters repalce the oil cooler delete the egr and flush the system and insatll the filter all at one time. I WILL NOT GO BACK IN! Working on cars os not fun for me I would rather brew beer in my free time.

 

I hear you! Just offering another option. I'm not just a plan A guy. I like to have plan B, C and sometimes D in my head.

As I use to tell my management before I retired in '02, "if you don't have the money and time to do it right the first time, then you have the money and time to do it over". They never liked that saying.

Good luck!

DSMMH

 

My friend works as a millright in the union and there saying is "we do so much with so little for so long that we can soon do anything with nothing". I guess all buisness is the same. I just can't stand having my work come back. I only do it once at work and only want to do it once at home as well. I guess it is a pride thing that comes with being a GM worldclass tech.

 

I still didn't get an answer as to what gaskets to buy. I don't want to buy the fords and throw out the bolts. Are the black onxy gaskets worth it? Or do I just throw out the bolts with the ford gaskets?

 

The Blackonyx gaskets work great. They are usually half the cost of OEM. Most of the mod shops that also do installs sell them and use them.