Howdy. Im doing a headgasket on my 1999 c43 m113 4.3. I did a compression test and leak down test, showed cyl 2 and 3 around 125 compression, and about 30% leak down. I decided im only going to do the passenger side head ( the one that is showing issues ) Since im doing it out of my garage with minimal resources and knowledge. I've got the intake manifold, injectors and fuel rail, and all vacuum out of the way. On the WIS worksheets, it says to dissassemble the whole head, meaning undo camshaft sprockets, bearing bridges, chain tensioner. I've been doing my research, and there arent many videos/forums that demonstrate this process. I was wondering if I could safely pull the head without messing with the camshaft. I saw an arabian dude do it onn youtube the exact way i was thinking of doing, just unding the sprocket and leaving it off to the side. But he got machine work after. Since the engine is going to be 40 degrees after TDC, shouldnt that mean there will be space between all the pistons and the valves? leaving no room for damage? Can someone plz help me out!!

Youd be better off finding a 5.4 to drop in there. Head gasket on a m113 is extremely rare. Where are you located?

orange county, ca

I have read several things saying the m113 headgaskets are nearly (industructable) and that the common cause of coolant in oil is a little o ring behind the timing cover. The reason I believe it is head it because of the leakdown and compression test