2005 LLY head gasket advice

[mechman3]

Ok it is time for my 05 to have the head gasket s replaced. The truck is stock. I am not really looking to go over 500hp. What should I do as long as it is apart?
I have a lift pump but after that where should I go? EgR delete, pcv reroute planned.

 

[fbh31118]

ARP head stud kit is a must have. jmho

 

[mechman3]

oh yes thanks for the reminder

 

[frankenstien]

ARP head stud kit is a must have. jmho

This, it seems silly to do all that work or pay someone to do all that work and not do it while you have it apart, its a bit of added cost, but good piece of mind, it was for me anyways, especially if you plan on keeping the truck

and your sig says it has a juice with attitude? i would ditch that and get some efi live tuning, probably just a coincidence, but my truck had one on it when the hg's popped

 

[mechman3]

oh sorry I still have that o5 listed in sig but I am getting another one with the HG issue and it is a 3500. I do plan on the efi live after I get things right on the new 05. But thank you for that advice

 

[cstephens93]

ARP studs, maybe water pump

 

[Robby05]

Creatures of the night performance or LDS has the best prices I've seen. Call them & see if they'll put a package together for all the stuff you'll need

 

[Brent@LDS]

I would recommend going with ARP studs as well. We carry a complete HG kit at a very competitive price. Let us know if we can help.

 

[mechman3]

Any reccomendations as far as the actual head gasket itself?

 

[cstephens93]

OEM grade C gaskets seem fine

 

[Brent@LDS]

X2^^

 

[frankenstien]

I have 23k miles on my OEM grade c's, with studs, had to have the heads and manifolds surfaced, milage was right at 100k

 

[chandler583]

Mine went at about 124k miles. I went with the Creatures of the Night kit it has everything you need and then some. I also did the ARP studs and also replaced the FPR. I put it all together and the fuel rail pressure sensor went out, so be on the look out for that. Other than a big PIA, my truck is better than ever and I have more confidence in it.

 

[andy-stevenson]

Could also throw a LML drivers side manifold on.

 

[chandler583]

^^^ that too, but I had to modify the heat shield to fit the LML manifold. There's some wiring that run in that area and I didn't want to take any chances.

 

[mechman3]

Thanks for the input guys. After all said and done I went with LDS for the grade c HG kit with ARP studs, new stats, egr block off plate. I also have 2 heads with a fresh valve job and decked enroute. I also have a Kennedy lift pump going on. I will in all likely hood go with a 4" exhaust with muffler( or the wife will shoot me) I will tune with EFI. What is the advantage to the drivers side exhaust manifold? I will prolly not run this truck above 500hp. Tear down starts Monday!

 

[andy-stevenson]

All years previous to LML have a dent in the driver's side manifold for unnecessary clearance of the steering shaft. The dent is just before the #8 cylinder so they say the dent restricts the flow of the front 3 cylinders by ~20%. It's not going to make a noticeable difference but for the $90 it can't hurt to balance the exhaust flow.

 

[andy-stevenson]

There's a couple really good pictures in this thread that show the difference

http://www.duramaxdiesels.com/forum/showthread.php?t=31036

 

[cstephens93]

Sounds about like what I went through when I did my head gaskets

I did ARP studs/bought from Creatures Of The Night (cheapest i found them)

LML Drivers side manifold....too easy NOT to do

3 inch Pro Fab downpipe

5 inch Diamond Eye full exhaust (wish i just stuck with 4 inches)

Pro Fab EGR delete tube

and I resurfaced and did a slight bowl blend port job myself on my heads

 

[mechman3]

What does the down pipe do for performance?