2003 D2

I'm preparing to do a head gasket job this spring/summer.

A few years ago I did an engine swap due to ticking.

I kept the heads from the older engine. I believe that engine had a head gasket job before since the wiring harness had not been reattached in the rear of the drivers side head.

The heads are in storage now. Is there a way to tell if they have been skimmed? I'd like to have them cleaned up and a valve job before I break down the engine so I could do the entire job in one weekend vs. waiting on the machine shop to work on them after disassembly.

I don't believe the current engine has had a head gasket job. About 120,000 miles and when I pulled it from a P38 the wiring harness was still attached in the rear drivers side head.

Note: My thoughts are the wiring harness is so difficult to remove and attach at the rear of the drivers side cylinder head, most likely the wiring harness is not reattached after doing a head gasket job by most shops.

 

I remember reading that not all trucks have the wiring harness attached on both sides from the factory. Same with the grounding straps.

 

Measuring by the instructions in rave, this is for V8

 

The machine shop can tel you and a legit one won’t resurface if it’s going to take it below spec

 

While true, how would a "non-pro" know with any certainty if the shop is legit?

I would provide them with the specifications as noted above and simply ask them to measure and provide those figures. One extra phone call shouldn't be a high hurdle to getting the work done properly. Bring breakfast snacks / coffee and your experience might be enhanced.