Head studs or O-rings?

[gear jammer 91"]

I just blew my head gasket, for the third time in six months. To say the least I am not happy right now. I am only seeing about 35 to maybe 40 psi of boost max, and I'm not running much timing, just an 1/8". This one let go with out the help of my w/m, I romped on it once with the engine not up to temp and now it's puking coolant out under the exhaust . Back to my question, what is the best option for keeping a head gasket alive when money is an issue? Should I buy studs and install a stock gasket?, or have the head o-ringed (which I know very little about ) and use stock head bolts? I only have the cash flow to do one or the other at moment, so any advice would be appreciated. If it blows a fourth time I think I'm just gonna hook a chain to the block and use the engine as a boat anchor .

[cummins king]

wow thats got to suck. I was running twin turbos with more timing and a bigger pump that you and i was hitting 60, 63 psi with stock head bolts and gasket.

I would put a new gasket in and buys some new stock head bolts (only if there cheap if there expensive then go for the studs) and do a cold torque to 125ftpd's.

[KTA]

With your mileage most likely the deck surface of your block needs resurfacing. Since that is a major operation o-rings would be your best solution to addressing the problem of the uneven block surface.

[cummins king]

With your mileage most likely the deck surface of your block needs resurfacing. Since that is a major operation o-rings would be your best solution to addressing the problem of the uneven block surface.

i didnt even think of that,

[gear jammer 91"]

That make sense ( what KTA said ) I don't like it, but it makes sense. The first head gasket was of unknown origin, being in the truck when I bought it, so I was kinda waiting for it to go. After it blew I got all new head bolts and a new gasket. Two weeks later my cheap crappy thermostat I previously installed stuck closed and I over heated it bad. I had the head resurfaced, installed the marine head gasket, and all was well until this morning.
So it looks like it's time to call source and see who they recommend around here to do O-rings. So, after I get my head O-ringed, how much boost should it be able to hold? ( More than my turbo can handle I know )
Thanks for the help.

[mprmn08]

dont quote me on it but i believe with o rings a head studs at least you should be able to around 70-80 lbs. i know someone on here will know for sure but thats just what i think it is.

[PToombs]

With all of the above advice, all I can add is;
Let it warm up!

[gear jammer 91"]

After talking with the guys at source I think I can pin point my problem back to operator error . Every time I've lost a head gasket I've been beating on my truck with a cold engine , unfortunately I didn't put that together until now. If my block checks out with a straight edge, I think I'm gonna try just replacing the gasket and not pushing 40 pounds of boost until the thermostat opens.
The next question is, would you pay to have a non-intercooled head O-ringed?

[mprmn08]

ya, why not?

[PToombs]

Told ya so!

I would have it magna fluxed and checked closely for cracks before I went and spent money to have it o-ringed. The 9mm heads are known to crack, so check it good!

[gear jammer 91"]

I had it checked last time and it was good, but I hate spending money, especially on a part that may fail for a different reason down the road. I will have it checked again if I have any work done to it.
I got a hold of a machinist's straight edge, the block checked out perfect. The head was about 3 thousandths low on one end. It was ok diagonally, but low when checked straight. Is that enough that you would have it resurfaced?
I think I have decided that o-rings are not necessary, just a driver who thinks before he floors it.

[Richie O]

Ya. Gettin on a cold diesel is not good. A local boatyard on an Island has there crew boat here in our harbor and they had trouble with there 3126 ( junk ) cat cracking heads and blocks. They ended up putting in a diesel fired heater to keep engine warm all the time. I guess they were starting it and floggin the piss out of it to and from the island every day. Seems to have helped. But then again the 3126 and 3116 are lousy motors.

[BC847]

So why don't you O-ring the block in-frame.

[gear jammer 91"]

no one told me you could o-ring the block in frame. I have never heard of this, but it would sure be nice in my situation.

[BC847]

Supposedly the big-dawg gassers have been using a Groove-O-Matic tool for years. (self-centers in the cylinder bore). While rather easy to cut metal, there apparently might be a, . . . umm, . . . . "Minimum Skill Level Required".

Consistent groove depth, width, etc. being key.

Read about them over on CompD.