Hey Guys, So I guess this is just poetic justice.

 

I installed my ARP stud kit Wednesday Night, and logged about 200 miles since installation. I originally planned to re torque everything and re check valve lash sunday. Unfortunatley disaster struck this afternoon and I am defeated.

 

Firstly, I haven't beat on the truck very much. I left the Boost defuel on the quad set to 45 PSI.

 

I left a stop sign on my way home from work today, and according to the data log I hit 37PSI of boost. I came to a stop and had a #2 cylinder miss, and White steam from the exhaust. I limped the truck a half mile back to my office, and now I sit here waiting for my wife to pick me up.

 

I guess I am going to get some seat time on my CBR 1000 this week lol.

 

What I know so far:

 

-Missing Antifreeze

-No coolant in oil.

-#2 Intake rocker came loose, Bolt pulled 4 threads from the head.

- Push rod is not bent, and during cranking it moves up and down correctly.

 

My suspicions:

 

-Either I overtorqued or undertorqued the #2 Rocker, and it just decided to fail two days later. (Yes I checked the lash after installing the studs, I planned to re check it Sunday)

-When the rocker failed, The added negative pressure on the intake stroke blew the head gasket.

 

My Hopes:

 

-Just need to re machine the head, and replace the gasket. Might as well do fire rings and valve springs while I am at it.

 

 

That sucks. Better luck in the future.

Apparently this is a common issue on 24V Cummins. 

Are there a lot of similar stories about this failure? I guess I just haven't heard.

I dont think it is a common failure on trucks like ours @JAG1. Maybe with jacked up twins it is, but not ours. Dont know for sure.

Edited December 17, 20168 yr by dripley

Never heard of this happening with the rocker coming loose.

 

However, considering it is an intake rocker that came loose I don't see that blowing the gasket. No intake means no air, which means less pressure. 

 

This is why I ALWAYS break the studs back loose and re-torque them at least 2 more times before the truck moves. On my motor I did 3 times. Live and learn I suppose.

Head gasket is def blown, but the quad says I only hit max 37 psi of boost. I read on other forums where people had intake and exhaust rockers break. Unless I over torqued the rocker bolt IDK why it would fail 200 miles later

Stock valve springs?  When you pull the head i would look for any piston to valve contact.

Edited December 17, 20168 yr by CSM

@CSM yeah stock valve springs, but boost was limited to 45 psi. the quad logged a max of 37 PSI when the gasket blew. Keep in mind I already drove the truck three days before this happened.

 

I am pretty sure at this point that it was just bad luck and doing the studs with a stock head gasket was a bad idea.

 

I am going to have a shop near my work (that's where I parked the truck) pull the head and see what I got to work with. If the head passes NDT, I might rework it.

 

Anyone have recommendations on head mods that are a good idea while it is off? I am already going to replace the pushrods, valve springs, guides, seals, and put rocker studs in.

 

anyone have opinions on best head gasket for the 24 valve? I want to turn 60PSI when this is done. I was thinking fire rings but research shows mixed opinions up to 70 psi. From what I hear good gasket/studs/springs should hold up up to 70psi (weekend warrior)

@TFaoro @Me78569 @CSM, Head is off and out to machine shop. Looks like a bad head surface and over-torqued rocker bolt is the root cause. I guess the previous owner running 1500+ EGT's warped the head. LOL there went 2 grand.

 

New mods coming:

 

Fire rings

60Lb Hamilton Valve springs and upgraded push rods

3 piece exhaust manifold

Water Meth. (February)