Mmm you can delay external head gasket leaks for a while but in my experience it's best to get it taken care as soon as possible. You don't want to be driving on the highway and all the sudden you see a little red temp gauge light come on. It can also wear a groove into the block. If I were to delay any of your leaks, I'd let the main seal be and fix the head gasket first.

Lots of guys have had success with White Sheppard on main seal leaks. But make sure you know where you are leaking first and foremost.

If the truck hasn't been overheated before then you probably don't need to machine the heads. Plenty of guys didn't machine the heads and just replaced the gaskets and have come out fine. However the correct tried and true method is to get them machined.

 

isn't he describing what could be a leaking throttle body heater? Might be worth checking that out before you do a head gasket job. a fairly common fail item.

 

Leak doesn't seem that high up.

 

Anyone? What am I looking at getting as far as head gaskets and a front seal?

 

You need a head gasket kit, new head bolts, valley pan gasket, coolant pipe o-ring, etc. If this hasn't been done ever you may want to get some injector o-rings while you're at it. Though you don't need to separate the rail from the intake manifold, it does make it easier and doing an injector cleaning and giving them new rings might not be a bad idea. You'll need to get the heads machined which takes time and $$$. You should also look at RPi Engineering - V8 Engines if you're going to be doing the work.

For the front seal you need a front seal and any crazy tools to take off the pulleys.

 

Thanks, I'm thinking of going with the complete head gasket kit from Atlantic British. I'm not sure yet if I want to do the injectors, seems like it might be a good idea though.

 

DIY head gasket job is in the $500 and under range. Two weekends, plus a trip to the machine shop to get the heads milled, for good measure.