I'd pressure test the system. It's possible something else is leaking.

Also, you are installing the new water pump, right?

Finally, why do you think need head gaskets?

 

The pressure tester told the tale. I drained the system since I still has some small leaks then pressured it again and sprayed soapy water everywhere. Just about every junction leaked at the clamps. I've replaced the spring clamps wit:h worm clamps and they were loose. Further, my homemade T (galvanized pipe with screw in nipples) needed pipe dope and had a small leak. I put black RTV on it and tightened it mercilessly. Put it all back together and it help 20 psi for an hour.

Leaks fixed.

When I stopped driving, the pressure went down and I couldn't find any leaks. Also, some of the leaks were so small that a liquid would take some time to press through. That's why I couldn't find them.

The T was causing a small drop than ran down the pipe and made it appear that it was coming from my water pump area. So it is good now.

I checked all of my spark plugs and pressure tested my cylinders. Spark plugs have carbon on them and cylinders all have good compression. Further, I pressurized the cooling system when I did that and didn't lose any pressure. Bottom line is no coolant in the cylinders and no cracks unless they only appear when it is running and heated up. Since I haven't had any misfires I think I am okay.

So my final problem is that I saw steam exit the head gasket Thursday when it got really hot. Obviously, the head gasket opened outward.I imagine head gaskets don't heal, but I did pump it to 25 psi and wit:h soapy water I could tell it was not leaking any air. I'll take my time replacing the head gaskets... that is a mountain I have climbed already and while I like to be able to say that I did it, I am not looking forward to a second ascent.

Thanks so much for the responses and suggestions! Especially the pressure tester. It is amazing what a difference the right tool makes.

 

Good! Hopefully that head gasket issue was just a symptom of overheating and nothing got damaged in the process. In any case, I wouldn't do anything else until the truck starts acting up.

 

That's my inclination too. But the guy at the auto store had a good point. "You could just wait for the gasket to go. Sounds like you drive alot."

 

Good job!!

 

theory= that steam was off the exhaust manifold. coolant spraying back on the engine, could have easily pooled atop manifold gasket bridge, and the evaporation looked like it was right at the head gasket, but it was releasing from the jointer part that bridges the manifold outlets and sizzling away, on contact (which would be right at the head/block union)

 

Dusty your land rover genius has been demonstrated again and again. However much I wish that theory was correct, though, I saw a jet of steam coming from just next to the rear, bottom head bolt, about the width of a pin and shooting out to the firewall. I wish I hadn't seen it but, at least, I haven't seen it again since then...

 

it could just be that head gasket fuse that Dusty is alway looking for

 

yeah, those head gasket fuses are tricky.
this sounds more like a resetting breaker.