Cummins Canoe (A Stepvan Story)
- Thread starter PlethoraOfGuns
- Start date
ITTOG
Well-known member
Yeah if he tells his wife she is leaking water he will start leaking blood!
Betarocker
Adventurer
Maybe check the block for flatness.
ExpoMike
Well-known member
Agree. If you have having this much issues with head gaskets leaks, my guess is the head and/or block is warped. Another idea, which I have heard happening (not specific to the Cummins) is if the head bolts are stretched, they will never hold torque. I am not sure on the Cummins but I know many GM engines use torque to yield bolts that are one time only. If you pull them, you replace them. If verifying the head and block are flat, I might try a new set of head bolts.
PlethoraOfGuns
Adventurer
Yes yes, was originally going to pull the head and check the deck, but now we have cracked pistons?!? The bolts on these Cummins are reusable, as long they aren't stretched and still in spec. But at this point, I wouldn't mind new everything. I want reliability. I can't trust anything anymore. We did break down at a good time and place, so thankful for that. It's cheaper to rebuild the engine again then fill the tank with fuel!
ExpoMike
Well-known member
My guess, if they don't have one specifically for a 4BT, one for a 6BT would work, just not using all of the studs. That said, if the head or block is warped, it won't matter with studs or not.
PlethoraOfGuns
Adventurer
Yes, I can install new bolts. But that doesn't fix the rest of the engine. I need a machine shop/Cummins builder.
PlethoraOfGuns
Adventurer
Well, life moves on. Unfortunate that we are stationary, but will make the best of it. Good time to fix other things while we decide what to do about engine.
Even though we can't drive anywhere, the solar panels are still working and we're still cooking!
Had to replace the big water pump too. It decided to blow up too. We were chilling in the hot tub and bam, no more water flow. No more hot tub? What are we, peasants? While we didn't have a spare pump, I swapped in the water pump from under the sink to get us by temporarily. Yes, we sacrificed the indoor plumbing for the hot tub. I really have the worst luck with things breaking...
Even though we can't drive anywhere, the solar panels are still working and we're still cooking!
Had to replace the big water pump too. It decided to blow up too. We were chilling in the hot tub and bam, no more water flow. No more hot tub? What are we, peasants? While we didn't have a spare pump, I swapped in the water pump from under the sink to get us by temporarily. Yes, we sacrificed the indoor plumbing for the hot tub. I really have the worst luck with things breaking...
llamalander
Well-known member
Isn't there some way to make a buck busting testing equipment for interested manufacturers? You seem to have the skills and good reporting...
PlethoraOfGuns
Adventurer
The skills to break stuff? Oh yea, I surely have those!
Not that I have any expertise, but I wonder of the piston failures are fatigue failure because of a high number of cycles. I don't recall in the thread if they were ever replaced. The crankshaft failed a while back, probably a fatigue related failure.
A search of 'cummins cracked piston' comes up with a scary list of the possible piston failures....
https://highwayandheavyparts.com/n-12634-piston-crowns-failure-analysis.html
A search of 'cummins cracked piston' comes up with a scary list of the possible piston failures....
https://highwayandheavyparts.com/n-12634-piston-crowns-failure-analysis.html
macexpress
Observer
I'm sure you've done your research, but you can pick up a used 5.9 pretty reasonable. Swap over your new stuff from this engine and run it. It's pretty hard to get 2 bad 5.9s in a row
ExpoMike
Well-known member
But he has a 4BT engine, not a 6BT (i.e. 5.9L).
PlethoraOfGuns
Adventurer
These pistons are who knows how old. But that piston analysis is very interesting. Looks like maybe I have an injector or timing issue? But again, I'm not an expert engine builder. Either I need to do lots of reading, or find an expert to do this over right. Maybe I should just start with a different engine and use this broken one as a boat anchor?
Used 5.9's aren't all that expensive, yes. But as ExpoMike stated, this is a 3.9. Trust me, I would love to throw a 5.9 in this rig. But I looked into when the first engine blew, and I got my tape measure out and looked at it again last week. It would take major modification to make it fit. The chassis crossmember is in the way, the steering is in the way, the body crossmember is in the way, the floor will need to be cut out, a new custom doghouse would need to be made, driveshaft shortened, exhaust modified, and the worst part, the custom radiator and intercooler setup I did will all need to be moved and redone. Nope, I got a life to live. The 3.9 is just enough power for me. Right now I'm just working and saving money to fix this thing, again...
Used 5.9's aren't all that expensive, yes. But as ExpoMike stated, this is a 3.9. Trust me, I would love to throw a 5.9 in this rig. But I looked into when the first engine blew, and I got my tape measure out and looked at it again last week. It would take major modification to make it fit. The chassis crossmember is in the way, the steering is in the way, the body crossmember is in the way, the floor will need to be cut out, a new custom doghouse would need to be made, driveshaft shortened, exhaust modified, and the worst part, the custom radiator and intercooler setup I did will all need to be moved and redone. Nope, I got a life to live. The 3.9 is just enough power for me. Right now I'm just working and saving money to fix this thing, again...