oem cat or ipd parts for a 4mg cat rebuild?

Brand new head, no core needed, block took it to machine shop that cat sent me to, every single thing in the engine is brand new except air compressors

 

Wow! I am sorry that's unbelievable

 

I did out of frame rebuild even sand blasted the engine and powder coated the engine

 

When you try to do everything right, go all out. This is the close to the worst news you can get

 

The only people that have had success with inframe kits I've heard of are IPD kits,and I've heard of 2 people using interstate mcbee kits and had success,but the gaskets are junk.But I also have a supplier that quit selling mcbee kits for cat cus head gasket problems,they'll only sell them to 430hp engines nothing higher.

 

Whichever way you end up going put a new head on it not a Cat reman, they're like playing Russian roulette. I know a guy got about 150k on a rebuild and had to redo it again because the reman head cracked.

 

You keep it clean and do good work nothing wrong with PAI. Thing is you can see/feel cheap parts in your hands. They make micrometers and plastigauge for a reason. You do half ### work you get a half ### job. But hey it's easier to say bad parts lmmfao.

 

Guess I will add to this thread, thinking of going the IPD route on a 400 HP 7FB, was told by a friend to check out head made by APC basically OEM spec from what I’m reading haven’t called them yet to see if they offer a 3406B head as there website just states 3400 series. Any solid advice on any of this? If I went cat parts I’d have to peice it all together it seems. How about reusing Connecting rods? Anyone go this route can give some real advice and opinions? Thanks in advance

 

APC makes the only aftermarket head I would consider. Get a hold of Robert Calixtro he can fix you up. Right at 3500.00 usually takes 2 days or so to get it.

As far as reusing the rods you need to inspect them really well on the crank end. Usually they are fine to reuse though I put new rod bolts in every time.

 

Thanks for the input