Head Gasket 03 cummins

[collegekid]

Wanting to change the HG on my 03 cummins, does anyone have a write up or step by step for this?

[Mark Nixon]

In all truth, the only thing that is problematic is actually getting the head off the engine while still in the vehicle.
You'll find that there may actually be holes in the cowl to access the head bolts on these trucks.
In most respects it's not really any more difficult than doing a VE or P-pump engine.
The only real "extra" you need to worry with is the valve cover spacer and the injector wiring.

Just take it a step at a time and mark stuff as you go, or even take pics.

I'm playing around with an early '04 Commonrail engine that I bought.
I just had it fired up on the bed of my old '91 earlier.
These things intrigue me and I intend to play with it at least a little while longer, since I can't seem to sell it, anyway.
In truth, it's not a whole lot different than any port-injected gasser engine.

Mark.

[collegekid]

I successfully completed it, the back head bolts were a pita but other than that, she went pretty smooth, in and out rather quickly....like you said, getting it out was the hardest part, other than that, smooth as glass

[Mark Nixon]

How was priming it back up, fuelwise?
I understand all you have to do is crank on it for a while and the injectors self-bleed?

Mark.

[collegekid]

Ya, I turned it over 3 times and the filter was full, then on the 4th it hit, and the 5th just purred

[collegekid]

Mark, how did yours turn out

[Mark Nixon]

Didn't have to pull it.
Turned out it was an adjuster backed off and popped the bridge out.

Mark.