Needs to run a bit too be sure, a few cranks wont do the job. The crack, if any, would let very little exhaust gas pressure into the system that would be small bubbles you can see when running with the cap off.
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jhammel85
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Yeah I know, I thought of that too last night. I turned it over for a very long time and tried to get as much compression going as possible. I also figure that heat might also open the crack up more if the head is truely cracked.
Since im still not completely sold, im going to rent a block tester. That's really the only real definitive way that i can think of really finding if there's a head crack or not. If that test comes back negative, I'm good to go.
Since im still not completely sold, im going to rent a block tester. That's really the only real definitive way that i can think of really finding if there's a head crack or not. If that test comes back negative, I'm good to go.
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jhammel85
Guest
Passed further testing....Looks like we're good to go on the Intake Gasket. I plan to take care of it soon.
I'll post up progress pics and update what's found.
I'll post up progress pics and update what's found.
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You know, 4.0 swaps are getting easier and popular 
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jhammel85
Guest
I know. It's tough! I'd love to but money's pretty tight right now (wife is currently out of work). Frankly, in a perfect world, it'd have a V8. Especially Fuel Injected. Let's hope that or a 4.0 happens one day. For now, the old truck just needs to get me to and fro.
If I did a 4.0, the First Gen dash has to stay. Chances are, I could find a 4.0 and harness r for about as much as a junkyard 2.9...and who wants to do that? I'd be willing to gamble on my old A4LD but get a 4.0 trans lined up if I could. The one that's in it is an '85 and I have no idea if it was rebuilt or anything. I highly doubt it based on the previous owners love affair with the junkyard. I found lots of receipts for things that I wouldn't of gotten from a junkyard
If I did a 4.0, the First Gen dash has to stay. Chances are, I could find a 4.0 and harness r for about as much as a junkyard 2.9...and who wants to do that? I'd be willing to gamble on my old A4LD but get a 4.0 trans lined up if I could. The one that's in it is an '85 and I have no idea if it was rebuilt or anything. I highly doubt it based on the previous owners love affair with the junkyard. I found lots of receipts for things that I wouldn't of gotten from a junkyard
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jhammel85
Guest
Not much new to report. Did its job this winter coming and going to work. I haven't done anything about the intake yet. Its definitely not much. I top off my radiator once a month with only a small bit of coolant. Nothing on the dipstick but oil changesvdo show a tiny bit. Not much at all but it needs to be done.
Picking up doors this weekend, hopefully. Its looking like I'll get a new daily in July so I can finally park this and dig in a bit.
Picking up doors this weekend, hopefully. Its looking like I'll get a new daily in July so I can finally park this and dig in a bit.
I feel ya, my truck just sits anymore. Funds and time are low to fix her.
jhammel85
Guest
Mine just drives itself to work and back (60 miles or so). Frankly its really stupid to drive it with the intake leaking but...meh. Its got 200k on it and plenty of power but once I've got the money and time another engine and trans is going in.
Funds have been a big problem as to why I haven't touched it. My wife was unemployed just after I finished the bodywork. My idea of working on it all winter and painting nowish didn't happen but that's how projects work. I just want wait to really dig into this thing.
Funds have been a big problem as to why I haven't touched it. My wife was unemployed just after I finished the bodywork. My idea of working on it all winter and painting nowish didn't happen but that's how projects work. I just want wait to really dig into this thing.
Same with mine, want to do some body work and other little things. I'm the only income in the house of my fiancee, child and me. Don't trust a baby sitter but also the cost of one wouldn't be worth it. I'm only a two mile drive to work.
jhammel85
Guest
Yeah I actually wonder what the fate is of this old thing. Not that I plan to sell or anything..We're expecting our second kid! So with my wife working a new full time job, me working full time, spending time with them and working around the house on the usual stuff, I don't know if I'll get to this thing as soon as I'd like. I know you know kids are a handful and very busy. So it might get pieced together here and there after it's a second car. I'm fine with that.
As far as body work, the main stuff so far is that rotten corner, the other bedside wheel arch, hood and passenger side fender. Easy parts to find and kind of cheap. The biggest issue, That I know of, is the firewall and the inside section where the gutter rotted out for the cowl. The usual 1st gen problem. I also worry about the little spots here and there on my fire wall and I worry about the area around the brakebooster since it feels a little soft. I'm sure you've seen that post someone put up a few years ago where their foot went with the booster when the firewall ripped out of it due to rust. So yeah, The cab will come off and lots of welding and patching will be done. Some idiot before me just seam sealed all of that. Once again, the previous owner struck.
I plan to dig into it a bit more but if it's too far gone, it's too far gone. I already had to deal with a hole in the frame and the cab has many, many bad rust spots.
Rotten or not, I'm still not disappointed in a $1,200 truck I bought 5 years ago that's sitting in my works parking lot as we speak, diligently doing it's duty.
As far as body work, the main stuff so far is that rotten corner, the other bedside wheel arch, hood and passenger side fender. Easy parts to find and kind of cheap. The biggest issue, That I know of, is the firewall and the inside section where the gutter rotted out for the cowl. The usual 1st gen problem. I also worry about the little spots here and there on my fire wall and I worry about the area around the brakebooster since it feels a little soft. I'm sure you've seen that post someone put up a few years ago where their foot went with the booster when the firewall ripped out of it due to rust. So yeah, The cab will come off and lots of welding and patching will be done. Some idiot before me just seam sealed all of that. Once again, the previous owner struck.
I plan to dig into it a bit more but if it's too far gone, it's too far gone. I already had to deal with a hole in the frame and the cab has many, many bad rust spots.
Rotten or not, I'm still not disappointed in a $1,200 truck I bought 5 years ago that's sitting in my works parking lot as we speak, diligently doing it's duty.
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I need to get on the rust on mine, core support is starting to go.
jhammel85
Guest
Yeah my brother in laws truck is the same. Doesn't look too bad of a job.
Here's some of the problem areas on my firewall. I found this junk under the awesome job someone did with using gasket maker as a seam sealer. The blue stuff...Anyway, My welder and I will be busy once everything is out one day. I know it's possible with flux but I'm starting to warm up to the idea of a MIG more and more. Plus I cant stand my cheap POS that I use now. This is probably the worst rust I've found so far. A little disheartening but...thats a project for ya. new cab might be needed. might be worth to get one just to patch these spots.
Dont mind the awful looking steering shaft and it's crapped out bearing, that things going soon:
It's too bad this one is blurry but this is the worst of the worst. The wall is soft in that area. Water has been coming inside so I'm assuming it's rotted through so both pieces of steel on each side of the cab are rotten. Water is probably going in between where they sandwich and rotting. GREAT....I'll get a better picture.
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Surprisingly my firewall isn't rusting...but it having a coat of oil everywhere under the hood helps prevent that too lol.
jhammel85
Guest
I dug into the spots of the firewall where they used seamsealer. This is what I found...not too happy about this but I'm hoping I can fix it with some sheet metal but in don't know. I won't know exactly until the dash and all is removed. If the cowling is as bad as this seems to be, I might be screwed. Rust has really gotten me bad on this truck..its starting to make me think of how far I really want to take this..I can deal with this or even get another cab but that's already part of a huge list of stuff to do. Another body, bed and all would make much more sense but I dont know... Well have to see I guess.
The yellow is the padding on the other side of the firewall
More seam sealer..oh boy...by the way, see the line of rust there? Its separated here ad there by the rust so that needs to be dealt with.
One more by the heater box. This was wet so you can bet the damn gutter is rotten here too..
The yellow is the padding on the other side of the firewall
More seam sealer..oh boy...by the way, see the line of rust there? Its separated here ad there by the rust so that needs to be dealt with.
One more by the heater box. This was wet so you can bet the damn gutter is rotten here too..
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Your truck is falling apart at the seams.
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