After coming up with different ideas on how to put this 02 motor in my new-to-me 99, I somehow stumbled into an extremely good deal on a 99 motor with 293k. Guy that still owns it (as of 7/11 I have not picked it up yet) took the head off to check the cylinders to make it his race truck, but decided to do something else. Moral of the story is it needs a new gasket and I am wondering how many times you can reuse the bolts, can I save some money and reuse them? Or is it better to just go buy some ARP or upgraded bolts. Anything helps, thanks!!

 

TL;DR: How many times can I use the stock head bolts because I'm cheap.

2 minutes ago, 04Mach1 said:

Just a light coat of clean engine oil and nothing else. Too much oil in the bolt holes causing hydro-locking of the bolt and greatly reduces clamping force.

 

Make sure bolt holes in the engine block are clean and dry before installing oiled head bolts.

So just dip a finger in it and get it somewhat wet is the goal?

Yessir 

4 minutes ago, 04Mach1 said:

Yessir 

Sweet! Your help is very much appreciated sir! I'll definitely post some pics after its done and during the process!

7 hours ago, 04Mach1 said:

Actually as long as the bolts do not exceed "free length measurement" and have no corrosion or pitting they are re-usable.

 

 

Would you risk it? I don’t like to do things twice so I wouldn’t reuse the head bolts. 

3 hours ago, KMayborn said:

Would you risk it? I don’t like to do things twice so I wouldn’t reuse the head bolts. 

The Cummins engineers are a whole lot smarter than me so yes I would risk it.

I've reused torque to yield bolts on many head gasket replacements and rebuilds on turbo and non turbo gas engines with no problems.

Just clean and lube the bolts the way @04Mach1described and you'll be fine.

Just now, IBMobile said:

I've reused torque to yield bolts on many head gasket replacements and rebuilds on turbo and non turbo gas engines with no problems.

Just clean and lube the bolts the way @04Mach1described and you'll be fine.

Alrighty, sounds good! Thanks guys!

This isn't a bad deal for a head gasket set. It also comes with the cap screw length gauge.

 

https://m.ebay.com/itm/Dodge-Cummins-UPPER-Cylinder-Head-Gasket-Kit-for-98-5-02-5-9L-24V-6BT-4090035/202073074529?epid=1536930335&hash=item2f0c7e6b61%3Ag%3A4loAAOSwTtFZ1RNr&_pgn=5&_sacat=0&_nkw=2002+dodge+cummins&_from=R40&rt=nc

2 minutes ago, 04Mach1 said:

This isn't a bad deal for a head gasket set. It also comes with the cap screw length gauge.

 

https://m.ebay.com/itm/Dodge-Cummins-UPPER-Cylinder-Head-Gasket-Kit-for-98-5-02-5-9L-24V-6BT-4090035/202073074529?epid=1536930335&hash=item2f0c7e6b61%3Ag%3A4loAAOSwTtFZ1RNr&_pgn=5&_sacat=0&_nkw=2002+dodge+cummins&_from=R40&rt=nc

I have to change my HG pretty soon. Weeping water at the right front corner. Would buy some thing like that before knowing how much you might have to shave the head?

10 minutes ago, dripley said:

I have to change my HG pretty soon. Weeping water at the right front corner. Would buy some thing like that before knowing how much you might have to shave the head?

If your shaving the head yes this HG set will work since you are not doing anything to change piston protrusion. Usaully just a minimal amount needs shaved from the  head to resurface. If there are any cracks or major warpage I would recommend a Cummins new or reman head. If you shaved the block it would be a different HG.The fire rings on the Cummins HG are definitely beefier than aftermarket.

3 minutes ago, 04Mach1 said:

If your shaving the head yes this HG set will work since you are not doing anything to change piston protrusion. Usaully just a minimal amount needs shaved from the  head to resurface. If there are any cracks or major warpage I would recommend a Cummins new or reman head. If you shaved the block it would be a different HG.The fire rings on the Cummins HG are definitely beefier than aftermarket.

How much is that set from Cummins directly? I might go ahead and get that if it's a good deal.

I'd say from Cummins dealer like Cummins Rocky Mountain probably around $250 - $300. Average market is $220 - $250. This one is a pretty good deal.

On 7/12/2018 at 5:39 AM, KMayborn said:

Would you risk it? I don’t like to do things twice so I wouldn’t reuse the head bolts. 

Ok @04Mach1 and Mayborn check this, BRAND NEW bolts from Pure Diesel Power..... Supposedly stretched, BOTH CUMMINS OEM 

As we identified in your other thread, that's the wrong gauge. 

 

If you do get the correct gauge I'll bet every single OE bolt is within tolerance. 

 

If you're going to spend money get ARP, otherwise reuse the stock ones.

Take a ruler and mark 5.2" from the top of a legal pad. Cut a stripe of about 1/2" from the right top to the mark you made. Hold bolt flange to top of legal pad.

 

Over here I check them in metric measurements, and use an A4 pad.

I never got the right Cummins gauge in any set I bought.

 

I prefer to use the stock measurements as per cummins and grind away the same amount as I removed when resurfacing the head and I mark the bolt as shortened with the letter S on the head. (So nobody uses the gauge to check a shortened bolt)

Edited August 18, 20186 yr by AlpineRAM
Typo

1 hour ago, AH64ID said:

As we identified in your other thread, that's the wrong gauge. 

 

If you do get the correct gauge I'll bet every single OE bolt is within tolerance. 

 

If you're going to spend money get ARP, otherwise reuse the stock ones.

What's your thoughts on sending the new ones back since the old ones aren't far off from the new ones? I haven't measured them but they're pretty close to each other

On 8/18/2018 at 9:56 AM, TheGreatWhite said:

What's your thoughts on sending the new ones back since the old ones aren't far off from the new ones? I haven't measured them but they're pretty close to each other

 

If they are all in spec I don't see a reason to not reuse them.