Hey duallymax, found that after the dealership did the flush though the bottom hose and was leaking there. Have done the pressure test and past. No smell in exhaust. Best way to make sure to get all air out of system. And new cap.
If you're doing both heads and head studs, it would probably be easier to pull the motor, or if you have a lift, lift the cab like Vinny said. I've never done it that way, but I can see where it would be quicker. I think it would be easier to work on the motor with it on a stand rather than in the frame of the truck though.
The ones I do I take off the rad support , head lights ect and front tires. Obviously alot more but thats the main part off the the front, you gain huge amounts of room and it makes bending over alot easier to do. I am also working on a lift so making adjustments to truck height are a push of the button away.
As far as head studs, they can be done in truck, but are much easier to do out of it. There is alot of clearance issues doing them in truck.
Is the weak link in this whole equation of coolant and exhaust the head bolt or the gasket then.......or both together???
I don't wanna be going through this anytime in the near future again. Trucks going to stay a stock turbo/stock cp3 truck for a while. I just assumed that the head bolts were worthless if they coldn't keep the heads on the gasket, started planning on replacing them with studs. That necessary??