resurecting headgaskets! good idea? bad idea?

[myredtruck]

Hey everyone.
i just signed up because i need someone thats smarter than me;s opinion. i just picked up a 99 stroker, pre 99.5. good looking truck but it has a blown head gasket. it runs like it has a slight miss thats not consistant. is that because of the headgasket or like these dumb injector rails? anyway it randomly blows antifreeze out the overflow and has airpockets because the heater gets cold.

So my first real question is , is it just a headgasket? next is how bad are these to do. ive decided to do the task myself because iv worked on quite a few cars just not many diesles.

now to finish. while im there what else should i be doing? i plan on future mods so are the uprgraded head studs really needed? iv not alot of cash but would injectors be worth doing while im there? and what else that i dont know about?

thanks for the help. even if ya only answer one question that would be awesome!

JD

[07OUTLAW]

I'm no help with your quetions..... but



Someone will be along in the morning that can help you out

[bigcountrysg]

Head Studs aren't really needed with the 7.3L's

If you know you have a blown headgasket. Fix that problem, as it maybe the cause to your possible miss and poor running engine. If you still have the rough running engine then we can trouble shoot it.

Before you tear the truck down, scan it for codes. Being you have a possible blown head gasket I do not know if an injector contribution test would work very well. This test would tell you if you have any bad injectors.

First off lets trouble shoot the possible blown head gasket. I suggest you do a compression test on each cylinder before you tear it apart. Something is pressurizing your cooling system. After you do the trouble shooting for the blown headgasket. Then do your tear down and inspection. During your inspection use a straight edge to check the head for warpage, look for cracks new the water jackets, especially near the exhaust valve, since you have the heads off might as well have them machined and do a valve job to them.

Then assemble using quality parts. Also check the uvc under valve cover harness for any possible breaks or shorts. As this could be the cause to your inconsistant miss and rough running engine as well.

[99 7.3]

if you are pushing coolant out of ur overflow it probably is a head gasket, if it is happening during boost. that is what mine did when it blew. headstud it if u plan on running over 40 lbs. of boost or so. i headstudded mine for future mods. check the block also to see if it needs some work. my heads were fine. i needed the block decked.

[myredtruck]

you have to do quite a bit of mods to get over 40 psi boost right? i think i might just stick with the stock studs sounds like

[95and05]

I am reusing my head bolts but i am sending my injectors off to be checked and upgraded while its apart. I was told its smart to at least have them checked and i agree. but i am going to upgrade them while they are gone.
I agree it should be check for codes b4 tear down too. but the head stud upgrade seems to be necessary for the 6.0 only.

[myredtruck]

i had ford diognost it and they confirmed the headgasket. should i still look for codes or would they have found them?

[95and05]

call the shop and ask what codes they pulled if they did.