updating heads on an lly?

[varaho_69]

So I am pretty sure I have a leaking head gasket on my 05 with only 80k. I have herd there was a problem with the lly's warping heads? My question is... If I pay the 5k to have this fixed what are the chances of it happening again in another 80k or so? And can I have the heads updated to a better head and if so how much more will i be looking price wise? Thanks all!

[SickLB7Crenshaw]

Just take them to machine shop for inpection, use grade C new headgaskets and ARP headstuds. Then u should be set bud.

[varaho_69]

Thanks! I appreciate the info. I am hoping the prob is with the EGR but knowing my luck it probley a head:-(

[SickLB7Crenshaw]

What's the symptoms and what does the truck have on it as of modifications?? Is the coolant system pressurizing? Just trying to narrow it down for you.

[TDFDiesel]

Form what I hear, head studs seem to solve the issue.

[MTL_Dmax]

Bypass the EGR coolant hose first, then if you still have issues it's probably your HG's. If you do the HG's be sure to have the heads pressure tested and checked for flatness, do a valve job (w/seals), use grade C HG's and ARP studs and the issue should be gone for good......good to change the water pump while you're in there too.

[varaho_69]

Thanks all! yes my cooling sys is pressurizing. no white smoke, no over heating issues. just puking coolant out the over flow bottle. the valve or whatever it is called is going to the turbo looks ok. iv noticed even after not running the truck for over 48 hours when i unscrew the overflow cap there is still quite a bit of pressure. I spoke with a tech here locally and he said he has done quite a few of these 05 dura's and the its a common problem with the HG's on # 5 and 7 cylinders. He told me he would replace them with the ARP studs, EGR delete, have the heads checked, all for around 3800.00 from what i have researched that seems to be a pretty good deal. He said he would do an actual diag on it before replacing them though. and thanks for the tip on having the water pump replaced while I am at it.

[varaho_69]

mods on the truck are MBRP 5" turbo back. Bully Dog GT tuner, Air raid intake, and i believe that's about it.

[terryk]

I haven't seen anyone comment about the heads themselves being an issue. It's the crappy gaskets and insufficient clamping force. Better gaskets and studs seem to solve the problem although it appears stock bolts with good gaskets hold up well if you aren't pushing the power with a programmer. I will likely do studs if and when my gaskets go even though I don't run a programmer. That said, not all LLYs loose their gaskets. There are a ton of LLY's out there without the problem but we only hear about the failures.

[MTL_Dmax]

Originally Posted by varaho_69

Thanks all! yes my cooling sys is pressurizing. no white smoke, no over heating issues. just puking coolant out the over flow bottle. the valve or whatever it is called is going to the turbo looks ok. iv noticed even after not running the truck for over 48 hours when i unscrew the overflow cap there is still quite a bit of pressure. I spoke with a tech here locally and he said he has done quite a few of these 05 dura's and the its a common problem with the HG's on # 5 and 7 cylinders. He told me he would replace them with the ARP studs, EGR delete, have the heads checked, all for around 3800.00 from what i have researched that seems to be a pretty good deal. He said he would do an actual diag on it before replacing them though. and thanks for the tip on having the water pump replaced while I am at it.

That's pretty reasonable (ARP studs and EGR delete included) so if you don't do it yourself I would take him up on that. I would try and get him to do the water pump (TIG welded) at the same time while he's got the motor all torn down already. I would also switch over to EFI because the BullyDog may be part of the reason why the HG's went on your truck.