I mentioned a March caribou hunt I was planning in a couple of recent posts. Well my truck just ate the budget for that hunt! This stinks I was really looking forward to hunting with Isaac.

That Sucks,get a rental and go!!!

Rentals are not allowed on the haul road even in summer. Have you ever seen "ice road truckers"? I think its on the discovery channel? My father in law sent us a tape of the first show otherwise I wouldn't have even known about it. Anyway that's the road I would have had to take to the colville river, about 60 miles east of Purdue bay. From there it's about 40 miles up river to Nuiqsut where my friend Issac lives.

Worst part is Isaac is only able to make the trip out 2 or 3 times a year. Well maybe we can boat in with the frieghter canoe this summer?

BTW might help to know that from my house it would be like driving from Detroit to Miami if half the way down the highway turned into a dirt road, then crossed the rockies.

That stinks.

lmao....it's a fun drive    almost like driving on a 4 lane highway haha.

I was thinking of a spring bou hunt also, and I might have an extra seat in the truck cough cough.  I wont be flying to nuiqsut, so I hope ya dont mind a tent!

Get the wrenches out. A HEAD GASKET ISN'T THAT HARD..

Woodie is right, you are talking less than a day, and under a hundred bucks to do it yourself.
Your in Alaska I thought self suffciency was every Alaskan's middle name.
What are you going to do when your truck breaks down in the bush, call Tripple A? LOL alot
Jim

Dan I'll give it some thought.

Woodie and Jim

I haven't been able to fix a car since 1975 and my current truck is a turbo charged diesel. Last diesel I worked on was a tractor and I had help. I am known in our family as the "non mechanical child." I have made roller barrings for the snow go out of moose antler, do my own sewing, built houses, shed, shops, Klondike sleds, snow shoes and canoes but the internal combustion motor has never been my strong point. Last time I did a brake job the front wheel came off on the test drive! And you guys want me to work on a $25,000+ diesel truck my family has to rely on? I don't think so! A break down in some areas up here can be a life or death situation, I can do the hunt another time. Part of being a man is knowing your limits.

There is a lot to mark with masking tape. Bolts, wires, clips, clamps etc... Ask your self this question, do I know how to purge the coolant system? if you don't... oh boy.
  When you pull the intake, injectors, and ultimately both heads, {your already in there get them both done}, you'll be glad you had somebody else do it.
 New Head Bolts are must, spring for them even if they are not "stretch bolts", {Studs are better if you have boosted power at all} Of course all new coolant and an oil change are also a must. More than 5-6hours flat rate/labor and you are being ripped off. 4hours is fair, 3hrs keep that mechanic and tell you buds about him.
 Sorry for the mishap, there is always that 1 moose you get to fill the freezer.

Rick P,

Replace the head gaskets yourself....it's not rocket science.  You could do it in a half day....easy.  

Brett

You will need an accurate torque wrench, Craftsman's, Snap-On's, etc.. "The Good One" they cost a bit over a hundred dollars. Buy the Chilton's Manual, probably 40 bucks, you will need the tourque specs and tighnening sequence if you do. Also a steel straight edge and some feeler gauges to check for any warp of the heads and block. Get a complete gasket set for what you are doing, replace every one that you come across, probably the only cheap things you will encounter. New thermostat too.
 If you found the problem before the thing overheated you MAY be fine, BUT!!, you will need to do these checks, if they are out, and you don't resolve them,  by "re-decking" the head and/ or the block, the problem will rear it's ugly head when you are out in the middle of no-where and you will warp something.
 If you are not understanding any of this and you are not mechanically inclined don't even think of doing it, mechanics will charge you more to clean up the mess you create.