I knew this seemed too easy.

Engine turns over and hints of firing, but won't start. I'm hoping it is just lack of fuel to some injectors - does that sound likely? There seems to be plenty of fuel pressure to the injectors on the head I replaced the gasket on (passenger), but not much on the side I did nothing to (driver). I took off a fuel line from an injector on the driver's side and fuel just barely dripped out of it when cranking - is that right? Is there a trick to getting fuel flowing to all the injectors? I tried loosening the injector fittings and cranking, but nothing changed.

I once ran the truck out of fuel and it only took 60 seconds of cranking to start it then, but I've cranked for about 5 minutes now.

As for the head replacement being done right, I really think so. No bolts left over anyway!:) and it IS pretty simple. Any ideas?

Hoo-kay...no one is offering any suggestions so I'll offer myself a couple. :rolleyes: Tomorrow I will take the intake manifold off again and loosen and re-tighten all the injector lines at the fuel pump. Anything else I should check or try while I have the manifold off? I'll also double check that the fuel filter is seated properly in its housing (I changed the filter). I might even try putting the old filter back in - I know it seated fine.

In hindsight, I should have tried to start it before I re-installed the manifold with its new gaskets.

Lift pump running?
Glow plugs working?
How full is the tank?

Just make sure all your wires are hooked back up, especially the black wire on the IP if you took it off.

I power up my LP at the fuse (hot wire to battery), crack a couple injectors on the drivers side and crank it in short bursts. After 5 or so short cranks, it starts to sputter then it starts and I close the injectors. I've always done this and it works for me.

As said, make sure you reconnected the small black ground wire to the top of the injection pump, if you disconnected it. And yeah, crack a couple of injector pipes on the drivers side (easy to get to) and see if they are spitting fuel.

Maybe this thread will help...

http://dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=136746

I'm pretty sure all the wires are hooked back up but I'll double check tomorrow. Glows working and tank is full. As I mentioned, the passenger side injectors have pressure but the driver's side has very little. I hope its a leak at one of the fuel line fittings. The fuel filter gets pressurized when I crank so I assume the lift pump is working.

chrisk1500, I read the thread and your non-starting problem did not sound like mine, but who knows. However, the thread made a big deal out of manually rotating the engine to position pistons and valves prior to removing the head, but I did none of that. I just assumed if I took it apart and then put it back together without moving anything then everything would simply go back the way it was. Did I screw up? (At least nothing went bang when it turned over).

I feel for you man, I am having the same problem with mine since last December. Maybe if you look through my post it can help you out. Ihave a turbo though, but lool through it anyway and see if something can help you out. Let us know what you find.

Butch - no I feel for you! All that work! My engine never re-started so I don;t see how timing could have slipped or keys be stripped, or IP suddenly go bad, etc. It was running fine until I replaced one stinking head gasket and now it won't start! Logically it seems like it should be one of four things for me. Maybe people can comment...

1. there is air in the fuel pump or lines, or a bad mechanical connection that is preventing proper fuel pressure from being supplied. My best hope. There is a thread somewhere on DP about priming lines with fuel but I can't find it.

2. I have left an electrical line off somewhere. I'm going to recheck all tomorrow, but I took very few connectors off, and none off the IP.

3. I messed something up by not pre-aligning the engine to get all the cylinders off TDC before removing the head. My biggest worry. What are the chances I caused myself major headaches by not doing that?

4. I broke an electrical connector that sends engine RPM to the ECM but it still inserts into the sending unit. Would that keep the engine from starting? See my "What is this thing" post for pictures: http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=151466

Double check all of your fuses...

FIXED! Kinked fuel line. Stupid me.

Double check your ground wires on the rear of the passenger side head. I know on mine if I moved one of those wires either the glow plug controler was not working or the IP was not working. I found that one of the connectors was was bad that went over the bolt on the rear of the head. Some where in my post one of the guys told me how to bleed the lines. I will try to find it and let you know.

Looks like he got it see this post.

http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=151789

Good I am glad it running. Something like that is what I keep looking for, not having any luck yet.