Help Please

timlyttle

timlyttle

New member
ok bought a 1990 3.0 with no rust running and everything works for 600 bucks. only issue hole in the radiator. Well i got screwed. I replaced radiator, fan, shroud, water pump still boils the water. not once has the truck smoked. ive owned it for a week. After replacing the water pump i knocked it out of time and now i have to fix that with no know how but thats a different thread. Today i moved it from the front yard to the back and thick white smoke and alot of it. I am thinking i blew a head gasket. I cant afford a shop and i want to learn how to do this stuff myself. what im looking for is a list of parts i will need to fix the head gasket and maybe some lessons learned. I am kind of mechanically inclined but by no means an expert. i really like this truck cause i know it has potential. Any help would be great. thanks for reading
 
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Download our buy a factory service. There is a sticky with them in on the top of the classics section. That will tell you how to do everything.

Rock auto has HG gasket kits for a good price. Test the knock sensor, replace the knock sensor wire.

Take lots of pictures of everything from every angle as your taking it apart so you remember how it goes back together.
 
I went threw the same thing on my 95 3.0
It cost me 1700 to get the head gasket and everything done and it still runs like crap. Iv had mine for sale at 2k for a few weeks and no one is interested in it. I wish I had just gotten a 3.4 , I believe I could have for about the same price
 
did you do all the work yourself? if it still runs like crap maybe it was another issue. i might look into the 3.4....would that be a bolt right in or would i have to upgrade the tranny...i think i can get all the parts i need under 1000 then do the work myself..i only got 600 in the truck so if i get this squared away this truck will have alot of life left in it...it only has 176000 miles on it
 
the 3.4 is not bolt in....its a crap load of work. you need wire harness, change the exhaust, battery, air cleaner to the other side, & im sure there is more Im forgetting off the top of my head. (I just woke up.)

1 pice of advice for the 3.0 is to label every single vacuum line & the nipple it fits on....... Oh & some of the water hoses cant be replaced unless you remove the plenum so do those wile your there.
 
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YES CHECK THE COMPRESSION FIRST

Ive done a few 3.0 HGs. the hardest part for me was getting the cams loose, and getting the stupid exhaust manifolds off. But its doable, just think of it as a big greasy.

The 3.4 swap is not that bad either. Lots of well documented swaps all over the interwebs. Best way to do it is to buy a complete donor truck/runner. That way you have most of the part. You reuse your 3.0 tranny which helps keep the costs down, and you can part out whats left of the donor vehicle, after your done of course. The added power is well worth it.
 
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timlyttle said:
I am kind of mechanically inclined but by no means an expert.
Click to expand...

Gauging from the above statement, the head gasket job will be pushing what he knows & or is capable of doing.....
Modifying all the parts, re-wiring, welding, etc.... will probably be out of his abilities & most likely tool range.
 
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Not trying to be negative. just dont want to misinform the guy or give him false hope.
as long as he has the tools or $ to buy/rent them, time, a place to do all the work & desire.... its doable...
 
I do have the tools and friends with more know how then I...all I needs was a part list needed and some point in the right direction and maybe some lessons learned...thanks everyone
 
Hyde802 said:
Download our buy a factory service. There is a sticky with them in on the top of the classics section. That will tell you how to do everything.

Rock auto has HG gasket kits for a good price. Test the knock sensor, replace the knock sensor wire.

Take lots of pictures of everything from every angle as your taking it apart so you remember how it goes back together.
Click to expand...

i got the parts i needed for the HG fix. Will be starting this project tomorrow. Really looking forward to it. I got the HG gasket kit and the head bolts and a Duramax exhaust all for under 300 bucks!!! Cant beat that at kroger. After the HG i have to set the timing which should be fun. I will post a Thread for the complete head gasket fix to maybe help some other guys out to learn from my mistakes and such. Thanks everyone for the help
 
Good luck I'd get son jb80 or pb blaster and soak exhaust bolts today and then right before you start. And exhaust bolts would be the first thing i took off.
 
difference in power

Hyde802 said:
YES CHECK THE COMPRESSION FIRST

Ive done a few 3.0 HGs. the hardest part for me was getting the cams loose, and getting the stupid exhaust manifolds off. But its doable, just think of it as a big greasy.

The 3.4 swap is not that bad either. Lots of well documented swaps all over the interwebs. Best way to do it is to buy a complete donor truck/runner. That way you have most of the part. You reuse your 3.0 tranny which helps keep the costs down, and you can part out whats left of the donor vehicle, after your done of course. The added power is well worth it.
Click to expand...


My engine just went out on my 90 with 220,XXX miles on it. Does the 3.4 make a big difference compared to the 3.0?
 
ok ive broke it down to the cams. now im stuck im affraid of taking out the cams is it really really important on how i put them back in or will i just put them back in and not worry about it because im gonna have to time the truck anyway since i had to remove the timing belt?
 
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