What's with all the head gasket replacements?

[pdm66]

Thought these engines were bulletproof? Why do I keep seeing ads all touting head gasket replacement?

Are they confusing the HEAD gasket with the VALVE COVER gasket?

just wondering..

Thanks
Pete

 

[scottryana]

Engines are, bottom ends and heads are rock solid. The paper that joins them together is a little suspect.

 

[sea bass]

Should of bought a 3Fe

 

[math]

Most head gaskets in the 80 series are not replaced. Most will never fail. See this poll I conducted some time ago regarding the 80's long term reliability. But this is 'mud and we're wildly paranoid and cheap and prone to drama, doing things like worrying about redundant shovels and whether or not maybe we should carry a spare set of rock sliders or whatever. Ignore it, take good care of your cooling system, and don't rev it to 6,000 the second you turn it on.

It is easy to see WHY they fail - this is a MASSIVE inline six, with an aluminum head and a cast block. The difference in expansion rates is relatively high. Still, most never fail.

Your valve cover gasket, however, is basically guaranteed to start leaking at some point.

 

[pdm66]

Yah, Im not bitching or complaining... I know its a large 6... thats why I love it! Just wondering if this was a matter of when not if.. Any idea what is the best radiator to replace the aging original and where to get one from for the best price?

 

[Rookie2]

Somebodies head gasket failed?

 

[baldilocks]

Yah, Im not bitching or complaining... I know its a large 6... thats why I love it! Just wondering if this was a matter of when not if.. Any idea what is the best radiator to replace the aging original and where to get one from for the best price?

I recently installed a CSF 2517 all metal radiator. Can't remember where I ordered it from but it was the best price I found obviously at $420 shipped. Not the cheapest but quit well built. The tanks appear to be brass. Not sure what the three row core is made of.

 

[scottryana]

Wow $420 shipped is close to OEM price like a few dollars less.

 

[baldilocks]

As far as I know the OEM has plastic tanks which is what I wanted to get away from. Besides, CSF is an OEM manufacturer.

 

[flintknapper]

Most head gaskets in the 80 series are not replaced. Most will never fail. See this poll I conducted some time ago regarding the 80's long term reliability. But this is 'mud and we're wildly paranoid and cheap and prone to drama, doing things like worrying about redundant shovels and whether or not maybe we should carry a spare set of rock sliders or whatever. Ignore it, take good care of your cooling system, and don't rev it to 6,000 the second you turn it on.

It is easy to see WHY they fail - this is a MASSIVE inline six, with an aluminum head and a cast block. The difference in expansion rates is relatively high. Still, most never fail.

Your valve cover gasket, however, is basically guaranteed to start leaking at some point.

Yes, in terms of metal 'mass', not displacement, (Ford's 300 six would be massive). I agree....most do not fail. I'm holding my breath on my '97. Original head-gasket with almost 300K on it now.

 

[LouisianaRubicon]

No one ever creates a post with the title "my head gasket is doing great" You generally only hear the negatives.

 

[baldilocks]

If I were holding my breath everytime I turned the key, like some posts seem to convey, I would just replace it. Not a difficult job just tedious.

 

[tominboise]

I didn't need to replace mine and wasn't planning to do so. Then I bought a supercharger and decided that since I was going to a significant upgrade, I might as well replace the HG and get the head refreshed while I was at it.

 

[fj80pb]

First, welcome to the money pit!
As @math and @scottryana said, these engines are as reliable as they get. You'll find examples here with 250K+ miles, even more, with the original HG. Most engine problems are the result of sheer neglect: a properly maintained 80 can be your most personalized coffin.
In addition to the excellent advice posted above, I suggest getting a sample of your oil analyzed by Blackstone. That will give you a valuable inside and a good starting point.
As per the radiator, most guys here are running Koyo with no issues (or full custom made full aluminum). My suggestion, however, is to keep things OEM. Most guys (me included) will do the extra mile (and the extra $$) to keep things OEM...as Mr T. intended.
I don't know your experience with these rigs, but I think is worth reading these excellent comments from @beno and @cDan (these guys are institutions of the community)

Should I buy an 80, costs of ownership?

These rigs are unique and will provide you tons and year upon year of satisfaction....but.....aren't cheap to run

Cheers!

 

[chap79]

There's always a spike in HG/cooling system failure threads during the summer time. Years of cooling system use, or neglect, seems to show its self.

 

[Eicca]

Just get a 3FE. When ours was the family car and the radiator was having issue my mom overheated it several times and it's still holding fine.

 

[Cruiserdrew]

I disagree with all this wishful thinking. The original ones fail at an alarming rate, especially 20 years on. They will fail. Not if, or even when, but they will fail. Since it can destroy the entire motor when it fails, it logically makes sense to do it before you need to. It's a big one time expense, but the updated gasket is basically 100%, and you should do it. Toyota recognized this problem and addressed it with an updated head gasket, years after they made the last 1FZ-FE. I would guess it makes sense to keep it nice and cool with periodic radiator replacements, but it will still fail.

If you think it won't, you are burying your head in the sand like an ostrich.

If your 80 never leaves the city, with available towing, sure, gamble on when it might fail, because it could be 10 more years. But if you venture out a bit, you should replace it as a matter of course.

 

[AMX390]

Most head gaskets in the 80 series are not replaced. Most will never fail. See this poll I conducted some time ago regarding the 80's long term reliability. But this is 'mud and we're wildly paranoid and cheap and prone to drama, doing things like worrying about redundant shovels and whether or not maybe we should carry a spare set of rock sliders or whatever. Ignore it, take good care of your cooling system, and don't rev it to 6,000 the second you turn it on.

It is easy to see WHY they fail - this is a MASSIVE inline six, with an aluminum head and a cast block. The difference in expansion rates is relatively high. Still, most never fail.

Your valve cover gasket, however, is basically guaranteed to start leaking at some point.

One of the best explanations I've ever read on this forum...

 

[dogfishlake]

I think a few things are coming to a head at the current time. For the most part, they are related to the number of miles and age on everyone's trucks. Most of us are crossing over the 200,000 mark, so just by virtue of the number of heat cycles the engine has seen, as well as erosion of the original gasket by combustion gasses on one side and antifreeze on the other, many head gaskets will fail.
Second, we are seeing failures due to age of cooling system components, from the phh to radiator hoses to weak fan clutches, as well as every other part connected.
There are many original head gaskets still in service, but as @Cruiserdrew pointed out, the updated gasket is much better.
Another point that seems to come up is the idea that materials to make the gasket in the era when our trucks were built were still a bit underdeveloped, especially with the task of sealing dissimilar materials like iron/aluminum.

 

[4G63 POWER]

You also forgot lead foot drivers that have installed massive extra amounts of rotational mass to all 4 corners. Tires larger than stock and heavier wheels. Not to mention the countless 150-200 lb front and rear tube bumpers, sliders etc.......Throw mileage & neglect on top of that and something has to give.