7.3 IDIT Headgasket?

[79jasper]

Is that a cracked block I see? Uh, oh.

Yes sir.

 

[SyicoIDI]

Plays Taps...
Followed by 21 gun salute.

 

[79jasper]

What I don't get is, it doesn't "look" like cavitation. It's an area probably bigger than a half dollar, circle at the top, then cracks going further down. I'll have to pull the piston to get a better look. He had it for about 2 weeks and it ran fine, then went on a trip towards indiana where he made it to st claire missouri. We NEVER used either. The piston did contact the head, Has imprint from precup. I will get a pic of it tomorrow, but on the inner side of the block in the valley on that same side it has some plugs going into each "water jacket." But only on that LH side. Anybody know why those might be there?

 

[79jasper]

By the way, have another engine coming free of charge from the previous owner. Just My brother has to go drive a idi van back for him from okc. He's using that engine to replace the one he's giving us. Now I've heard this engine run(it's also turbo) and it does have a good knock. A knock is easier and cheaper to fix than a *****'D cylinder wall. He believes it's a bearing but to me it's too loud for a rod bearing. But also I guess I can't compare a diesel rod knock to a gasser rod knock????

 

[icanfixall]

Those two injecters are burned because the tips are leaking combustion gas back up them. They are ruined too. Thats a sad ending for the block too.. The plugs you found are probably bored in the block to test the cylinders thickness. typ4 had that done to his block. Maybe he will post up a pic of what it looked like..

 

[79jasper]

Dang. That sucks with the injectors. Weird thing is, it didn't really seem low on power. But then again my N/A 88 seemed more torquie. I had chalked that up to his being crew crab dually with a heavy flatbed.
Also there's some cracks further down that seem glazed over, I'm wandering if someone may have used some sort of block seal on it.

 

[RLDSL]

By the way, have another engine coming free of charge from the previous owner. Just My brother has to go drive a idi van back for him from okc. He's using that engine to replace the one he's giving us. Now I've heard this engine run(it's also turbo) and it does have a good knock. A knock is easier and cheaper to fix than a *****'D cylinder wall. He believes it's a bearing but to me it's too loud for a rod bearing. But also I guess I can't compare a diesel rod knock to a gasser rod knock????

a diesel knock is usually fuel related; . when a diesel has a knock that sounds just like a gasser about to throw a rod, it is usually a slobbering injector, you may be able to cure or at least slow that one down with a real stout dose of fuel treatment, if not, isolate the offending injector by cracking injectors lines one at a time till the knock stops to find the bad one (s) and do some swapping with known good ones out of the other engine

 

[79jasper]

a diesel knock is usually fuel related; . when a diesel has a knock that sounds just like a gasser about to throw a rod, it is usually a slobbering injector, you may be able to cure or at least slow that one down with a real stout dose of fuel treatment, if not, isolate the offending injector by cracking injectors lines one at a time till the knock stops to find the bad one (s) and do some swapping with known good ones out of the other engine

The guy said he did that and replaced the injector on the cylinder it was coming from. He said he's owned a few idi's in the past so I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt. I said it's louder than a gasser knock(I know gasser rod knocks as I've thrown rods before). I was thinking maybe a collapsed lifter? Though I'm not to familiar with what that sounds like. I'll get a video of it running on the ground when we get it home. He finally listened and decided to rebuild it right the first time. So this one will still at least get new bearings throughout, probably do new rings and the works. Any thoughts on home balancing pistons and rods?? I know how, just wanna know if it's a bad idea on an idi.

 

[SyicoIDI]

Dam sounds like a raw deal. I hope that donor engine works out. When my 6.9 went it blew a head gasket it bent a rod. You could tell something was off, but it did not sound like a gasser knock at all. It was more subtle. I might have missed this before but what year was your brothers truck? Was it one of those early 6.9's?

 

[79jasper]

No, it's a 93 7.3. Has the banks turbo. 2wd crew cab dually, with a big flatbed.

 

[79jasper]

slight update

The replacement engine I mentioned, the knock is a piston. Found a part of the skirt in the oil pan. But far as I could tell, the cylinder wall felt fine. Still have to pull the pistons to get a better view though. The engine was a factory turbo and the kid that had it before the guy we're getting it from had cranked up the pump(he flat out admitted it). Some I'm thinking the piston may just be burnt up. Could see pretty good discoloration of the firewall around the turbo, so he must have gotten it pretty hot. Also the back right tire looks like it's seen some burnouts. But hoping the cylinders are fine.

 

[bigoilburner20]

wow cracked man oh man

 

[79jasper]

Thought I'd update this one as well.

I'm selling him the engine from my 88. I'll miss the truck, but oh well. I don't need two 4x4's. And I'd be paying more for a transmission than I paid for the whole truck.

Anyways I went ahead and put the turbo stuff on it. Had to have a new flange welded onto the crossover pipe. The lift pump went out during the swap. So now he's sporting one of mr G pumps. (Everyone else hates them, but I've had good luck with them)
Eventually I'll talk him into one of the better pumps.
Also had a slight problem with a injector line. I pulled it completely loose, and I guess the line shifted or something, because it took forever to get it back on.
Had to cut the downpipe from the rest of the exhaust, so now he's just running around with downpipe only, until he gets paid again.

He eventually wants a rebuild or engine swap. He's liking my psd. :gremlins
But I may talk him into a dt, Detroit, or maybe even the C word.

 

[79jasper]

Oh also, I almost forgot.
But the original engine from the truck with the cracked cylinder: I was playing with it one day and noticed that at least 5 of the pistons have some hairline cracks right at the center of them.
Or at least looks like it to me.

 

[hesutton]

But I may talk him into a dt, Detroit, or maybe even the C word.

DT!!!

DT!!!

DT!!!






Heath