both the head gaskets were blown i have fixed the gaskets in the top end now i am going for the bottom end. should i change the rings and cam as well? the engine is still in the truck, and i haven't cleaned the shop out to put the truck in the shop.

 

How was the truck running before the head gaskets blew, and how many miles are on it? Did you have compression numbers as well? I'd use that as a starting point, and also think about how long you plan to keep the truck.

 

we got the truck used. it had belonged to a construction co. so i don't know how well it ran. it was parked in there backlot for a few years and pieces were taken off the engine. it was trailered down to my father's house and they got i running good enough to back it off the trailer but they didn't run it long. and it sat at his house for a while until he gave up on it and gave it to me. i am planning on driving it in the winter as soon as i get it running and find a bed for it. it is a short bed and the truck has all the whoops and whistles.

 

Thanks for the additional information. When you pulled the heads to replace the head gaskets, how did the cylinders and lifter valleys look? Clean, full of sludge, etc? If the engine is back together now, I assume you can see how it's running, do a compression test, and then decide what to do. I recently picked up a 94 with 300k on the odometer that's sat for several years due to a knocking engine, and learned it needs pretty much everything.

 

it is not all together yet. i still need to finish putting the bearings in the bottom end, and i need to check out the camshaft. i won't take the came out just check for bad lobes, then i can check the compression. i also need to get the bolts for the a/c bracket, the old ones were missing.