blew head gasket today, not sure how much i want to dump in this motor, opinions?

Hey Bullhauler, Which ECM did you have in it at the time, the 5DS file or the other and which trim codes did you have also ?

 

IDK enough about trucks specifically, but I do know when you have something "older" you got to stay aware of getting nickeled and dimed on repairs. There does come a time when you got to stop throwing good money after bad. Problem is judging if that's what's happening. I've definitely thrown more good money after bad than I should have, but I've also thrown good money after good too. Sometimes hard to tell the difference, except when a repeated pattern of breakdowns seems to start becoming the norm. From what you said, sounds like this isn't the first recent breakdown. IDK, if repeated breakdowns are becoming a habit with this. You might want to think about knowing when to quit.
Anyway, Good Luck!

 

Are you sure it's the head gasket? Usually they will push coolant out the radiator for a While before they get that bad they hydraulic lock.
You just can't patch these engines. If they slapped a new head on it without making sure the liners were nice and proud then your lucky it's lasted a year and a half with the fuel you have been poking into it.
Depending on what you find On tear down and if it's not economical to do it properly, you may get away with the thinner spacer plate and set it to 475 hp, it may last a While.
But the only way to do it and make them last and survive added fuel. is to remove the block and have it decked. Then you know you are starting with a flat surface. Counterbore is the next best thing,
Your not the only one to experience this. Keep us posted with what you find.

 

Exactly. It is paid for. I had a liner lip w/ a hairline crack in the lip on the #6 hole. My motor locked up when I went to start it due to coolant in the #6 cylinder. When we pulled the head and went into decision mode, my wife and I decided to inframe the darn thing. We have never looked back. We swapped heads at CAT, picked up that big ol inframe crate and headed home. Even though we were about to spend quite a bit of money, the thing that kept a smile on our face was the fact that the Pete was paid in full. You will get your return on investment. The first time around the CAT went 1.51 million. There is no doubt it can't do it again.

 

What did they charge to put that head on.

 

I would rather put 15,000 in my truck that I know and love than to 35-40,000 in a truck I know nothing about and don't even know if I will really like.

To me it would not even be a question.
I would have it in the shop already.