ADVICE ON THE BEST PARTS SOURCE FOR MY D2 S/N 5J10470

HI EVERYONE;
I'M A NEW CATERPILLAR COLLECTOR, AND SO FAR HAVE A 7U SERIES D4, AND THE 5J SERIES D2 S/N 10470. ON THE D2, THE RIGHT CRANKING ENGINE PETCOCK HAS STARTED DRIPPING COOLANT, AND IT FOULS THE PLUG. I THINK IT'S LEAKING PAST THE HEAD GASKET, ALTHOUGH THAT SIDE HAS BEEN CRACKED AND WELDED. THE ONLY PLACE I KNOW OF TO GET CAT PARTS, IS AT THE LOCAL CAT DEALER. IS THAT THE BEST CHOICE, OR ARE THERE OTHER SOURCES? I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE GASKETS ARE AVAILABLE BEFORE I RIP IT APART. I WOULD LIKE TO GET AT LEAST ONE CRANKING ENGINE HEAD GASKET, AND EVENTUALLY, A HEAD GASKET SET FOR THE DIESEL ENGINE, BECAUSE I CAN HEAR AN EXHAUST VALVE LEAKING, AN EXHAUST MANIFOLD, AND POSSIBLY A SET OF SLEEVES AND PISTONS, OR AT LEAST RINGS, BECAUSE THERE IS QUITE A BIT OF BLOWBY. ARE THE INJECTOR NOZZLES STILL AVAILABLE? I HAVEN'T FIGURED OUT IF THE WET STACKING IS CAUSED BY LOW COMPRESSION, OR BAD INJECTORS. IT HAS TO CRANK OVER WITH THE CRANKING ENGINE UNTIL THE BLOCK IS WARM TO THE TOUCH BEFORE THE DIESEL WILL START ON A WARM DAY. THE D4 WAS BOUGHT BACK IN AROUND 1960 BY MY DAD. IT IS IN MUCH BETTER CONDITION, AND HAS BEEN ON OUR FARM FOR OVER 60 YEARS. I DID A LOT OF ENGINE WORK ON THAT ONE 40 YEARS AGO, AND IT RUNS GREAT, BUT AFTER SITTING IN THE SHED FOR 20 YEARS THE STEERING CLUTCHES ARE STUCK. ANY ADVICE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED!! THANK YOU!!

Hi Rob, yes head gaskets are easily available from your Cat dealer or third parties, as are most gaskets and nuts/ bolts for these units. Injector valve nozzles are also available (and cheap). Wet stacking is often associated with "under-working" these tractors so the common advice is to work them hard and hot. In the worst case scenario, you can pull the pistons and rings out and clean them of the sludge/carbon build-up. Getting the main engine head "done" is worth it - new valves and guides, and planing it makes a lot of difference I've found but your mileage may vary. If you have to pull the head for a valve, then consider doing those too since the head is already off

I am still have some parts for d2-d4 if can help and about the starting engine head you better removed them maybe the circulation collant hole are plugged in head and block

es the local dealer is still one of the best sources for part for this old gear. its what made cat famous is there support and parts backup. some stuff certainly aint cheap. but if your willing to wait they will get stuff in for you from anywhere in the world. provided you have a part number they will try and help you. well thats been my experience anyway.