I’m sharing my experience so far replacing the heads on my 2001 1500 5.2. Only because I don’t have mechanic friends so nobody in my house can really appreciate this haha. So truck has been over heating for two weeks, kept losing coolant and burning through oil. Should’ve realized right away but my ignorance blinded me to the fact. I thought maybe water pump, radiator cap, radiator, hell even the heater core could’ve clogged up causing the over heating. Until I started the truck and well it didn’t sound great. Turns out it was making milkshakes the whole time and didn’t even offer me one. So I’m halfway into tearing it down. Passenger head is off. Might wait until the morning to finish and inspect. I will try to post some pictures if it allows me.

Sorry some pictures aren’t great. This the start.



Lost so much coolant I started using water......from the spicket.


T stat and hoses are less than 6 months old as I just installed the plenum kit from Hughes





1/4” aluminum plenum plate from Hughes. Looks like some sparkly **** in there.


Yum


Passenger valve cover. Btw all the bolting came off super easy so far, only broke one socket.

Oh there it is, thought I messed up the head bolt when it broke and my heart was broken for a minute. That’s a lot of extra cursing I would’ve had to do.

Plenum kit from Hughes holding up fantastic, barely a drop of oil inside the intake. I hate that I may have to pull it apart to clean the intake up again.



anyone feel free to give any tips to make the job easier or even when inspecting the heads. First time pulling heads so I’m kind of just winging it. Not sure yet if I’m going to resurface the heads or buy new of course depending on the condition of them. Roast me, give me tips, tell me to eff off whatever, if anyone knows good place in the greater Tampa/Clearwater Florida area for machine work or new heads drop some links.


I guess not what I was expecting. Doesn’t look too bad huh?

 

I'll be your friend!
Dang, looks like you have a good grasp of the job already. I always heard about these heads being bad but you know, I've never had a problem at 270k so who knows. I'll watch with interest, though!

 

Update
decided to keep going, got the driver side head pulled and found the culprit. Seems clear where the gasket has washout from coolant. One cylinder has much more of the forbidden caramel latte and the gasket shows that cylinder for wash out. Everything else looks ok besides being filthy. Swear on everything I didn’t use a drop of pb blaster or anything like that and didn’t struggle with one bolt. I must have the best luck out there. We’ll see once I clean the heads for inspection. One head bolt was literally finger tight and multiple valve cover bolts were almost loose enough to fall out. I’m surprised it wasn’t

Drivers side

Drivers side

Washout in every direction.

Surprised it isn’t busted through but clearly washed out.

Halfway there. Now comes the fun part.

Spending money.

leaking in those areas.

 

Get them heads checked as they might be cracked. Take them to a machine shop

 

If you like the truck, and plan to keep it for some time, I wouldn't spend ANY money on the stock heads, and simply replace them with some of the new casting fellers, that are less prone to cracking.......

 

Would anyone be able to give me some sort of specs and or info on how to determine if the heads are stock. Every bolt came off pretty easily so I’d be surprised if no one has ever been inside the engine. I know about the stock heads being trash and checked out Odessa heads, they have decent deals on built heads but before I drop the cash I’d like to know what I’m dealing with.

 

Look for part numbers somewhere. I know my factory heads had what looked like the Chrysler medallion on it

 

Should be casting numbers on them somewhere. Probably under the valve covers.