Blown head gasket or something else?

[Don-T]

I use a paint pen, mark the socket, place the socket on the bolt, mark the head 90 degrees from the socket mark, then hammer the bolt home (I do the heads with impact wrenches on the Cat 3500 series engines).

I finally had time to at least get the heads installed today. I used the paint on the socket and head method as you suggested but I didn’t use an impact. I used a long ratchet to get it done. It will be a week or two before I can start installing everything else.

 

[Don-T]

I have finally finished putting everything back together. No more bubbles in the coolant. The coolant temperature no longer wanders up and down either. It seems to run good and it sounds ok to me. Thanks for all the advice from members here, it made a difference as this is my first diesel to work on and I did not know the best way to go about working with the injection system, the glow plugs, or the 24 volt system.

Now I can replace the windshield wiper motor and get the state inspection done. Then on to many other small things that need to be done.