Had a coolant leak at my timing chain cover on a 2000 Dakota with 5.9. Engine has been overheating some at idle as well. Replaced timing chain and cover gasket and bled out the air from the cooling system but bubbles kept coming out, and coming out... and now I'm suspecting blown head gaskets. There's no oil in the coolant and I'm not seeing milkshake oil but not seeing white smoke from the exhaust either. But I keep getting bubbles in the coolant, overheating (moreso at idle), plus it's still losing some coolant and I'm not seeing it externally anywhere. Going to rent a combustion leak tester sometime this week to verify but I'm suspecting head gaskets. If it's what I suspect, I'm inclined to replaced heads while doing the gaskets since they are prone to cracking. I tried searching some but didn't really find anybody reviewing heads on here. Unfortunately most of them are pricey and more than I want to spend. Does anybody have experience with The Cylinder Head Shop that sells new, supposedly beefed up heads on Ebay? I like them price wise and the seller has a lot of good reviews. Or are there other brands that member recommend that are roughly in the $600 price range? I think Jegs has some that are supposedly beefed up as well but are maybe closer to 800 for a pair. What's everybody using for heads and if they are supposedly beefed up in the crack prone areas, are they holding up for you? Thanks!

 

That price is good. Other folks sell pretty much the same head, for about the same price. So, basically, it's the seller of your choice.

The new castings ARE a good idea. Your stock heads are almost certainly cracked....... and I am real reluctant to put any money into them even if they aren't, simply due to all the problems with them. (and resurfacing them only makes it worse.....)

See what the tester has to say, go from there. Unfortunately, these engines have a fair few places that can develop 'secret' leaks..... that never seems to hit the ground. That bypass hose from water pump to intake is famous for it.