1992 Head Gasket Update

[CERES2]

OK. So a few weeks ago I had a cooling problem and suspected the HG. The consensus "MUD" advice was: (1) baseline the cooling system and (2) do a cylinder leak test to make absolutely sure the HG is the problem.

I set out to take apart the cooling system and found some general neglect in terms of bad hoses and nasty sludge. One hose actually came apart just before the operation (see pic). I'm fairly sure I will buy a new water pumpy and the blue fan coupler recommended by you all.

Next, I puchased a compressor (with the savings of doing all this myself) and a Cylinder Leak Tester. I suspected the #6 cylinder to the problem based on the various threads I have read. Interestingly I found that all but #3 were OK. #3 was blowing air back through the cooling sytem.

So on to more disassemly and today I got as far as removing the manifolds. Interestingly, the #3 exhaust port had a totally different color from the other ports. This confirmed the leak test diagnosis.

I took an sample of oil for testing but I think this may be wasted time. It just looked wrong and I think the above seals the HG diagnosis quite conclusively.

My questions to the forum:

1. Has anybody experience a cylinder #3 failure of the HG? If so what do you think may have caused it?

2. Most of the bolts and nuts of the manifold and air intake were so loose I hardly needed any tools to take them off. However it did not look like anybody had been this deep before. Is this normal?

I could really need some feedback.

BTW, this has been fun but I fear the process of putting t all back togehter.

Greetings.

 

[Beowulf]

I'm fairly sure I will buy a new water pumpy and the blue fan coupler recommended by you all.

Get your parts from Cruiserdan. I believe the "blue" fan clutch is a 1FZ-FE thing. You have a 3FE and you have to be careful about translating solutions from a different engine/year model to your truck.

2. Most of the bolts and nuts of the manifold and air intake were so loose I hardly needed any tools to take them off. However it did not look like anybody had been this deep before. Is this normal?

No, this is not normal.

-B-

 

[PHAEDRUS]

The blue one IIRC will not fit on the outer hub of the water pump on a 92, You can play with the oil weights on the 92 clutch if you are feeling brave.
For what its worth I agree with -B- Your gasket is toast, when you pull your head make sure to have it checked for true, On my 92 I had some issues in the water jacket going through the head that had to be adressed. I wish I had some better info but I chickened out and sent the truck out for the headgasket replacement as I was extremely busy at the time.
Dave

 

[CERES2]

Thanks for the feedback on the blue fan clutch issue. I will get a hold of CruiserDan for my HG parts this week.

With respect to the loose bolts and nuts: whoever owned this rig before must have been a complete moron or had a really bad mechanic. Somebody must have worked on this before because I found that the clips that connect the wire harness to the fuel bar/tube are missing. I also found a connector that was not connected to anything: In the picture below, does anybody know what the grey plug in the center of the picture (partly behind the wire bundle) should be connected to?