[79W-150]

I think I cracked a head (hopefully its not the block). I lost all oil pressure and it started smoking real bad. I pulled over in the first parking lot and checked my oil level. The dipstick was DRY. I put my three quarts of emergency oil in, and made it home. But it was smoking the whole way really bad when I came to a stop or slowed down.

That whole trip started cause I wanted to go to the junkyard and get an A/C compressor to hook up as an air pump. Well I never made it to the junk yard.

I'm gonna go to work. I can't deal with this right now. Looks like I won't be gettin the second truck cause I have to rebuild this motor.

-Chris

 

[79W-150]

AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Does anyone wanna help me kill all of the stupid idiots in the world?? I can't stand them. Especially the people who work at the bank. I put my paycheck in there friday at noon... and its not in my account. So they're gonna get a ass chewin on Monday.

I still don't know what is wrong with the engine, but I went over tonight and orderd a gasket kit (complete top engine gasket set). It should be in tommorow, so I'll start tearin the motor apart on Sunday.

Anyways, my girlfriends gonna come over and we're gonna watch a movie. So I'm outta here for tonight.

Later all,

-Chris

 

[Yota]

Hey, That sucks for you. Good luck fixing it. Later

 

[snowjay]

Good luck fixing it Chris. Definately sounds like a gasket problem. If you cracked a head the motor would probably exhibit some other problems as well. Also check your coolant to make sure it doesn't look like a chocolate milk shake. If it does, oil has contaminated the coolant and that will have to be changed also. Not a big deal just a PITA.

Good luck and keep us posted, we want to read more about your off roading adventures!

 

[79W-150]

Last night I sat at my computer, staring out the window at my truck and thought about everything its doin. How its been acting the past couple of days and everything.

Being that I'm not familiar with the Mopar products like I am with Chevy's I'm uncertain. But over the past several days I've noticed that the engine is always in high-idle, I can't get it to kickdown to low-idle. Could that be due to an vacuum leak around the intake manifold? If the intake was leaking it could explain the oil loss. Also I heard that there is a plug towards the bottom rear side of the intake valley from a guy at Advanced. If that plug were to come out that would cause the oil leaking because all of the oil drains back down into the valley there. Either way I went over to advanced last night and ordered a gasket set (intake, valve cover, head (both), carb, and valve seals), it'll be here tommorow morning. I'm gonna start tearin the motor apart today/tonight.

Hey, thanks for saying you all like reading my off-road posts. I didn't see very many other people postin like I do so I wasn't sure how it would go over. When I had my Z-28 I'd post all the time on http://www.camaroz28.com's message board, but everyone over there posted detailed stories and stuff. So its just habit I guess.

Later all,

-Chris

 

[big pa s]

I like to hear off-roading stories. That is why I came here. Keep it up. I gonna start sharing some of mine too.

As far as the engine I am sorry to hear about your troubles. Just wanted to wish you luck.

 

[79W-150]

An update...

Day 3 of top half rebuild.

I removed the heads and intake from the truck yesterday, and fooled around a little with them but couldn't do much cause the gasket kit I ordered didn't come in. I got the gasket set today so I'm tearing the valves out to replace the valve seals (they were leaking so might as well replace while I have it all apart). Havin a little trouble tho pullin the valves apart, I can't get the retainer off, can't figure out how to and the Haynes manual simply says because its a hard task its better left to a professional. Well darn it I am a professional and I can't figure out how to get them off.

I've cleaned the intake (unclogged the EGR, YUCK!), and all the valve train. Soaked it all in Kerosene over night and then scrubbed all the gunk off it. I'm takin picks thru the whole thing, so I'll post a big writeup when I'm complete.

Thats it for now, just took a break to post this.

Later,

-Chris

 

[WMIF]

You said you were having problems getting the retainers off. If I am interpretting right... First, I'm assuming you have a valve spring compressor. You might try hitting the retainer with a ball peen hammer. It helps to budge them loose. Then use the compressor. If it still doesnt want to come, tap the retainer with the hammer while compressing it. Hope I helped some. by the way, big block or small?

 

[NickBronco]

I think he has a 318 small block, Right Chris? Right now is the perfect time for you to upgrade to that Diesel you were talkin about!!! And since you are ALMOST doing a complete rebuild on that 318, I would just go out to a wrecking yard and buy a fairly fresh 360 and do a rebuild on it. But this is all in the world that I wish I lived in where truck parts are dirt cheap. Either way you go, I wish you good luck Chris. May the Mopar Gods be with you.

 

[79W-150]

LOL <IMG SRC="/board/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif"> Thanks guys.

Yeah its a 318 Small Block. I was unaware that dodge made a 318BB? Huh, learn somethin new everyday.

I'm still working out the details of converting to Diesel. I've found the engine and everythin to go with it, now I just gotta find a way to get that power/torque to the ground. And since I have the NPG203 transfer-case I need to either get the conversion kit and hubs, or get a NP250 transfer-case so it won't be in alltime four wheel drive all the time.

I'm just gonna leave the old valve seals there, they aren't that bad but she smokes a little when it starts at first. Since I'm either gonna be going over to a 5.9L Cummins or a built 360 I'm not gonna invest to much in the 318.

-Chris

 

[Bill_L]

Chris,

Maybe it is time for a 360/380 crate motor from Dodge?

Nice 360 making 380 HP and 410 TQ for right at $4k. It not a bad price for what you get.
If you havent looked at it already you should check it out.

Bill

 

[LUV24BY]

Well hell Chris, I post too and I don't get my butt kissed for good posts !! <IMG SRC="/board/images/smilies/icon_razz.gif"> (Just kidding)

And I think your "head" has been cracked for sometime before you got this forum started! How is it been - do you think that this was possibly caused by the mud or just strickly due to the lack of oil? No oil pressure gauge? Just an idiot light? Hmmmmmm - I just want to say sorry and I will see you around real soon!
John

 

[79W-150]

"Why Johnny Ringo, are we cross?" <IMG SRC="/board/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif">

I have an oil pressure guage and it works (suprisingly, most of my other gauages are screwed up). Hence when it dropped to 0 psi and a big cloud of smoke erupted from my truck I pulled over to see whats wrong. I check the oil level twice a week and it was fine a day before.

Thanks for your condolences tho. I got the whole engine cleaned up and its ready to put back together when I get home tommorow. I'm at a buddies college partyin for the weekend.

Later all,

-Chris

 

[79W-150]

Yeah, my head has been cracked for quite some time, which would explain my desire for insane high speeds and off-roading <IMG SRC="/board/images/smilies/icon_wink.gif">

I'm not sure what caused it entirely but a lack of oil (which it had plenty of) would cause the head gasket to blow. Its prolly a combonation of and old gasket, the cold water in the mud pit hitting a nice hot engine block, and just bad timing.

-Chris

 

[LUV24BY]

Well, I am just curious why it all of a sudden lost all that oil! I mean hell, it sounds like it just disappeared - I mean I don't think you could burn THAT much oil without the engine choking! I mean, where is it all at?!
ME NO CROSS!
Johnny Ringo!
LOL
John

 

[79W-150]

"There there, now we can be friends."

Well besides the slow but constant leak my truck has from every orafice I have no idea where it went. I removed about 3/4 of a cup of grime/gunk/debris from the valvetrain/and intake valley so I'm figuring that'll up my oil pressure a little.

-Chris