Going to be changing mine soon over in Winston-Salem. Could you elaborate further on how to use the dollar bill to check and see if the heads need to be machined or not?

I'm down the hill from you in Greensboro. I used your video to guide me through my head swap on my 98 Ram 1500 4WD. I've run into a few issues after everything is put back together. How would you feel about a trip to Greensboro for a little cash?

@keithcalhoun9772

3 жыл бұрын

Are you still needing help?

How did you get it super clean from all that sludge??

@keithcalhoun9772

3 жыл бұрын

Acetone and a stiff brush and used a shop vac on the block so the grime wouldn't fall into the bottom end

I have a 1999 Dakota 5.2/318 4x4 auto. I might have to change the head gaskets. I have never done it before. Lots of work. Would it be easier just to pull the engine? Thanks.

@keithcalhoun9772

4 жыл бұрын

If you plan on swapping motors, maybe easier. But wouldn't pull it just to change the heads

I wish there was a video of how you were able to clean everything.

@keithcalhoun9772

3 жыл бұрын

Acetone and a stiff brush

@keithcalhoun9772

3 жыл бұрын

And also used a shop vac on the blockside

Are those the same heads after sending to a machine shop, or new heads?

@keithcalhoun9772

3 жыл бұрын

I never sent them any where because after checking them with a straight edge and Dollar bill they were still good

Coil?

Shouldn't the head bolts be changed? I believe they are stretch bolts and shouldn't be reused. Not a big expense but quite the hassle if it causes an issue down the road.

@keithcalhoun9772

2 жыл бұрын

It's probably a good idea, didn't have much money at the time, thus the reason I did the work. Still drive it every day and it's been over 2 years and close to 300,00 miles with no engine or transmission problems since. At the same time I switch out the pressure switches in the transmission and of course changed the transmission fuild, because the transmission wasn't shifting right at that time

@keithcalhoun9772

2 жыл бұрын

If you can afford to, I would also have the heads gone over. I check mine with a straight edge and it was with in the tolerances. A crisp dollar bill will not slip easily out from under the straight edge and the matting surface of the head

@davidbentley7198

2 жыл бұрын

@@keithcalhoun9772 I understand that. Glad you didn't have any issues with it

@davidbentley7198

2 жыл бұрын

@@keithcalhoun9772 I also heard of checking with a a thick piece of glass. Never done that though.

One head gasket goes upside down, he cut the video when installing the right side but if you look closely you can see it isnt the same as the other side. This is because the head gaskets exactly the same but the block dowel pins are not. So you have to flip the head gasket on the right up side down in order for it to fit. I wouldn't take everything he says as facts.

@keithcalhoun9772

Жыл бұрын

I am still running the same vehicle and haven't had any problems. The gaskets were supposed to have one side with the rings in the gaskets above the pistons touching and it was supposed to go down but the cheap gaskets I got from Amazon didn't have one sided like that,