1994 3.9L Head Gasket question

[Lucas]

Well it looks like new head gaskets are in my future. I haven't pulled the plugs yet to verify but I noticed this weekend the exhaust has a sweet antifreeze smell to it. The coolant looks normal and the level looks OK. I haven't done a head gasket change before. So I have questions. My D1 has 126,000 miles on it. While I have the heads off what other repairs should I do? Valve job? I was planning on changing the camshaft, timing gears and chain, tappets, rods and lifters next year. If I change the valves and head gaskets this year can I wait till next year for the other list of repairs without damaging the valves?

I could use alittle advice from those have done this before.

 

[adamsclarke]

I have 95 3.9....When I put in my motor..I have to say if you re planning on doing a new cam, chain gear etc.....It'd be easier to pull the motor. For just heads...you can keep it in the car. But other than new bolts and torque them correctly..pretty straight forward for the heads. If you do the timing gear and chain...get the metal one..not the cheap plastic one. I belive it was off a 67(?) buick skylark? Like $30 from napa.

 

[ptschram]

Definitely have the heads surfaced and the valves cut. if you can afford it now, do the camshaft. I fyou order directly from Crower, you'll save some bucks over D&D as your truck doesn't need the modified cam. A double roller timing set is only a little more than the stock one from D&D.

Replacing the cam in situ is not that big a deal. Just evacuate the A/c and remove the condenser.

 

[Lucas]

I have 95 3.9....When I put in my motor..I have to say if you re planning on doing a new cam, chain gear etc.....It'd be easier to pull the motor. For just heads...you can keep it in the car. But other than new bolts and torque them correctly..pretty straight forward for the heads. If you do the timing gear and chain...get the metal one..not the cheap plastic one. I belive it was off a 67(?) buick skylark? Like $30 from napa.

Can the cam, chain, etc be done without pulling the motor? I ask because at the same time I plan on pulling the radiator for replacement or rodding.I think that will give me enough room up front.

 

[Lucas]

Definitely have the heads surfaced and the valves cut. if you can afford it now, do the camshaft. I fyou order directly from Crower, you'll save some bucks over D&D as your truck doesn't need the modified cam. A double roller timing set is only a little more than the stock one from D&D.

Replacing the cam in situ is not that big a deal. Just evacuate the A/c and remove the condenser.

If I could afford it I'd do it all now, but am hoping I can do the heads and valves now and the rest next year. Will I do any damage to the new valves if I run the engine on the old lifters till next year? I will use Crower when ready.

 

[Lucas]

:bump:


Does anyone know if the new valves will be ok till next year when I change the lifters? It's not my daily driver and there are currently no lifter issues other than normal wear.

Any more tips for a head gasket change?

Where does everyone go to have the heads planned and valves installed? Local machine shop or is there a specialty shop that they can be shipped to for repair?

 

[bmn1965]

Yes it will be ok the valve only makes contact with the rockerarms then to the pushrod then the lifters and then the cam. Don't mix up the lifters if you pull them out thay have a wear pattern and need to go back to were thay came from. As far the machine shop the best thing to do is ask around about the local shops and you do some times get what you pay for!

 

[ptschram]

Don't pull the lifters!! Keep the pushrods in the same order as you removed them.

Find a local machine shop. Any more, they are all competent at working with aluminium as som any other vehicles have aluminium heads. You might wnat to print out the page of your Rave CD that deals with the heads.

 

[Lucas]

Thank you to both replies!

That is good news. I have the disc and will make a copy of specs for the shop. Now.... to find a shop in southern Massachusetts. The search is on.....

 

[bksspear13]

Is it better to throw new rods in it when doing the heads mine are pretty gunked up, and I am in need of emorying them to clean em up , so new rods???