Broke Down In Kansas (please Help!!!!)

[Mudder]

Could this just be a head gasket????????? They will hammer like crazy.

[rambler]

thats what I was thinking... what color was the exhaust? pouring water every 15 miles you somethings up... did it overheat? of course you never know till you break it open, but would hate to buy a new engine when its only the headgasket. BTW,, I didn't read what year type of engine it was..year of truck etc.... what ever happened to the vechicle you were towing?

[Army_Dude]

LONG STORY about the other truck. It flipped in the mountains of VA. if not for the guardrail it would have flipped me too. I ended up having to just give it to the towtruck driver.

Didn't notice any color to the exhaust. It's an 85 with a 305. Like I said, I planned on doing a swap anyway. I would hate to pay out for a head job and still have problems.
If at all possible, and I haven't talked this over with Frank yet, I'm gonna see if I can buy the crate from Topeka and get someone near there to bring it to me. If Frank says ok I'm gonna get back down there and swap them at his place. The recruiting command here is giving me the runaround (imagine that!) so my priority for today and possibly in the morning is to get this resolved. Once I am officially signed in I can concentrate on the truck. Maybe someone nearby will offer to help with the swap. I know Frank is and will be tied up with work for a few days yet. I really hate to be a burden when everyone has been so nice already. I just hope someday I can repay all this kindness.

[piecesparts]

So far there has been an individual in Ottawa, Ks state that he has a 327 for sale for $500.00 and the GM dealer in Topeka has a NEW 350 crate motor for $1399.00 (plus tax) and the salvage yards do not have any "Carbureted" motors. The PLUSES and MINUSES to this so far is that (to my recollection) the 327 motors did not have the heads drilled for all of the items that bolts to the front of them in an 85 truck. The non-carbureted motors will NOT have the items to support a mechanical fuel pump, either. The crate motor is a direct replacement for the motor in the truck (with a 3 year/100,00 mile warranty) and it would need new gaskets for the water pump, fuel pump, exhaust manifolds, and the intake manifold. The dealer has the motors in their warehouse, ready to go.

Unless the plan for the truck is to dump the smog stuff and A/C, then I would be careful and think about the 327. If the heads have all of the holes necessary, then it would be a consideration in my book.

[rambler]

I may have a 307 thats in my 72 parts truck, it was running when parked (really) not sure if it will have what you need for accessarys,, as I took off the alternatior and it has the old distrubtor in it.. but we are probably 1 1/2 hours due east from you.. you would have to pull the engine,,,, if interested.... good luck...

[Army_Dude]

Frank, I'll be calling you in about an hour. But I will definitly be willing to drop all the smog gear. Like we talked about last night, I don't think it will be an issue if I just keep GA tags.

A/C doesn't work anyway. I'd just like to hang onto it for later use when I could.

[Longhorn Man]

Army Dude... I looked into going to Ft Carson about 8 years ago. It doesn't matter what tags you have, you'll need to get smogged. If memory serves, any vehicle there for more than 3 months has to be smogged. They are real anal about it.
This was actually the deciding factor that kept me at Fort Hood.
Before doing an engine swap, you need to look into there local laws and regulations there. You may be stuck with a 305, or an engine that'll run as clean as a bone stock weak kneed 305. You may be in for a real headache.

[Liz]

stay at Bragg its easier to get by with stuff here
sorry you had such an eventful trip..

[Army_Dude]

The local dealer here in Wichita has the 350 for $1340. So I'm a little better off. Now just to get it from here to Lebo or the truck from Lebo to here. Army is giving me the runaround still. I won't know how this pans out till morning.

[LUV2XCLR8]

Wowsers, what a read, hope everything is working out, I don't go anywhere
with out those Emergency Contact numbers, I have Lizzy's memorized

[piecesparts]

The smog stuff is somewhat defunct already under your hood. There are tubes that are not connected to the smog pump already---I looked. I imagine that when you do, this changeout---it would be great if there were a couple of wrench turners that would show up and give a hand.

[Warbones]

I just checked in on the board. I hope everything turns out good.

[Army_Dude]

Yeah, the black hardline I had to disconnect to get to the thermostat. I was on the side of the road and didn't bother to put it back. Also the sensor on the t-stat housing snapped off with me.

[chipflyer]

Have you found a way to get the truck and engine together yet Josh? Hopefully somone in the Wichita area can help out. I will be happy to make a trip and helpout , I just can't make it until Sunday, Keep us posted.

Jeff

[Army_Dude]

Not as of yet. Rick has volunteered to come somewhere out of OK if noone else can help me out. He can come up tomorrow after I get the Army took care of and hopefully stay with me till at least late tomorrow night. I'm still looking for someone closer though, I'll let you know.

[teeitup]

Wow, I'm so sorry, I just got off work. 16 hours today, laid sod in the dark. I just heard my messages, sorry alot going on at my work right now, I can't get away all weekend. I hope someone can get you going again. Randy

[Army_Dude]

I think everyone is in the same boat. I now have an offer from Mark (here locally) to get the motor to Lebo. But he has to be back to go to work Sat. At least it's a step in the right direction. Now I just need a wrench or 2 over the weekend.

[piecesparts]

This is where I would go from here, I see that Josh found someone with time to get the motor out and the new one in, so if it was me, I would take the smog stuff and lay it in the truck bed (pump, belt, brackets, hoses and controls) The smog tubes to the exhaust can be left on as long as you don't take the check valves off. The parts stores do sell plugs that will thread into the manifolds, but that can come later. I then would take the exhaust manifold bolts out of the heads and try to lay the exhaust manifolds off to the sides (wwithout taking them loose from the exhaust pipes and lift the motor out from between them. The distributor has two problems, that I found. One is that it's hold down bolt is loose and timing was retarded seriously---this probably caused the problem in the first place (running hot and poorly). The other thing is that the hard steel vacuum line to the tranny is in the way and is not letting you turn the distributor far enough to get the timing set right. I would set the timing on this new motor at about 12 degrees advanced to get it to run right. Remember the cam needs to be broke in before running to far.

Do you have starter shims, new intake gaskets, fuel pump gaskets, silicone sealer (for the intake front and rear), water pump gaskets, thermostat (I would use a 180 degree superstat if you need one) and thermostat gasket, oil, and antifreeze?


GOOD LUCK

[Fred T]

All I have to add is that he will need the smog stuff for Colorado. I know that in Denver you only have one week to get it done. It's not that bad elsewhere, but it is required and the fines are heavy. Right now the important part is to get it running and to Colorado.

Wish I could help out, but my heart is half dead.

[Yukon Jack]

Spoke to Josh last night and was available to take him and the motor up this morning but unfortunately he anticipated being pretty tied up with the military during the morning. Hopefully he can get the motor installed and on his way soon. Good luck.

[piecesparts]

Smog in Colorado is the least of his worries. Josh has a Military ID, Georgia plates and registration. Unless Mr. Johnny law runs him to a smog check or he tries to get Colorado plates, then he is basically required to follow Georgia requirements. I figure he can do his time and never have to deal with the issue. The last I saw of his truck, it was on a trailer headed to Ottawa Ks. and the motor was in the back of a truck right in front of it. The plan is to do an ALL Nighter to do the work.

[Longhorn Man]

Even with out of state tags, he'll be requirted to comply. They don't play games there.
However, he just needs to get the sucker there. he can worry about other stuff later.

[piecesparts]

So; is there a formal "You Shall Report Here Office" for this stuff. I spent a long time in California (another state of smog laws) and I never saw anyone or visited any offices. Just asking.....

[chickenwing]

While you are active duty you can remain a resident from wherever you signed up. Meaning you can keep your home state plates. Even if he were pulled into a California style off-ramp inspection station he could not be made to switch his emissions over since he is a non-resident.

[piecesparts]

That is the one Great thing about the military ID card.