2001 Ram work truck dilemna
#2499576
05/23/18 05:41 PM
05/23/18 05:41 PM
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 22,728 Bitopia
jcc
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If you can't dazzle em with diamonds..
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OP
If you can't dazzle em with diamonds..
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Worker overheated a 360 magnum 2500 Ram auto work truck, truck has a lot of life left in it IMO. Two heads are cracked. So my options are a junk/sell it as is, a rebuilt motor, used heads, used motor, new Alum RPM heads, new performance CI heads, etc. Its a street truck, often tows, maybe 25K mileage a year. I don't mind "investing" in alum heads, since they would find their way into something faster down the road, more then likely, but if the CR increases too much, or the OEM computer would be confused, its a no go.
Suggestions?
Reality check, that half the population is smarter then 50% of the people and it's a constantly contested fact.
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Re: 2001 Ram work truck dilemna
[Re: jcc]
#2499688
05/23/18 09:48 PM
05/23/18 09:48 PM
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Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 5,947 ohio
ruderunner
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master
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Posts: 5,947
ohio
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Current mileage?
A legitimate location?
Who said heads were cracked and why? Head gasket is more likely.
Depending on location, replacement heads may be the practical choice. Or the used engine.
Angry white pureblood male
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Re: 2001 Ram work truck dilemna
[Re: ruderunner]
#2499694
05/23/18 10:00 PM
05/23/18 10:00 PM
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 22,728 Bitopia
jcc
OP
If you can't dazzle em with diamonds..
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OP
If you can't dazzle em with diamonds..
Joined: Dec 2003
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Bitopia
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175K Heads are off, cracked I'm told visible between valves, by proven reliable old timer, both heads
Reality check, that half the population is smarter then 50% of the people and it's a constantly contested fact.
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Re: 2001 Ram work truck dilemna
[Re: jcc]
#2499712
05/23/18 10:44 PM
05/23/18 10:44 PM
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,487 STL
cdstl
pro stock
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pro stock
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STL
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Magnum heads always crack right there. EQ heads are made in Australia to fill the need and I am told that they are pretty good. Tight valve guides may be a problem so a machine shop should check them.
Or get a long block from Carolina engines or a Jasper engine.
Last edited by cdstl; 05/24/18 12:02 PM.
1972 Cuda 340 4 speed, 2001 Ram CTD 4x4 6 speed, 1970 Duster 408 4 speed, 1996 Ram 5.9 2x4 auto, 1965 Coronet 500
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Re: 2001 Ram work truck dilemna
[Re: 340Cuda]
#2499898
05/24/18 10:54 AM
05/24/18 10:54 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,400 Marion, South Carolina [><]
an8sec70cuda
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I Live Here
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If it were mine I think I would replace it with a complete rebuilt engine from one of the reputable reman companies.
I know its an old mechanics tale, that I never believed until it happened to me, but good heads on a old block can cause the rings to fail, in my case immediately.
Bill I've had a lot of mechanics tell me the same thing...no use putting fresh heads on a high mileage shortblock. It'll be back real soon w/ more problems. Never had the problem myself, but never been in that situation either. The Magnum heads are VERY prone to cracking b/t the seats. Saw very few of them come through the machine shop that weren't cracked. Now all of them weren't leaking water and hadn't all been run hot, but cracked nonetheless. No way to tell when or if the cracks would become an issue. And pressure checking a cast iron head w/ cracks like that will tell you NOTHING. I'd get a reman engine and put it in.
CHIP '70 hemicuda, 575" Hemi, 727, Dana 60 '69 road runner, 440-6, 18 spline 4 speed, Dana 60 '71 Demon, 340, low gear 904, 8.75 '73 Chrysler New Yorker, 440, 727, 8.75 '90 Chevy 454SS Silverado, 476" BBC, TH400, 14 bolt '06 GMC 2500HD LBZ Duramax
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Re: 2001 Ram work truck dilemna
[Re: jcc]
#2499966
05/24/18 01:37 PM
05/24/18 01:37 PM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 8,349 fredericksburg,va
cudaman1969
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fredericksburg,va
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Price a new truck, then a rebuilt engine, with the good heads, or even a "crate engine". As I write I am finishing up a 2001 ram van for the shop, $2000 in it so far and it has ONE computer. Drives and runs fine, paint bad, (185,000), all it cost me now is gas and basic insurance. Don't care if you can take a new one off taxes, that payment still comes out of pocket each month.
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Re: 2001 Ram work truck dilemna
[Re: jcc]
#2500001
05/24/18 03:06 PM
05/24/18 03:06 PM
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 18,582 Rust Belt, SW PA
Silver70
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I Live Here
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Rust Belt, SW PA
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175k sounds high, but I had a 98 ram with 230k on and it never had the engine apart and ran great. If it was me, I'd find a good set of heads, have them pressure tested and install... which is most likely the cheapest option.
68 Road Runner, 69 Belvedere, 71 Challenger Vert 340 barracuda, 01 Ram CTD, 95 Ram, 04 Ram, 85 Daytona turbo Z 66 GTO, 06 Magnum RT AWD. 07 Ram CTD, 07 Ram
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Re: 2001 Ram work truck dilemna
[Re: jcc]
#2500132
05/24/18 10:20 PM
05/24/18 10:20 PM
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,424 Kalispell Mt.
HotRodDave
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I Live Here
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Kalispell Mt.
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Throw on a set of EQ heads if the heads really are the problem (doubt it as almost all magnum heads are cracked but never actually seen one useing water because of the crack heads). I even bought a brand new pair one time from dodge and they were cracked so I gave up paying much atention to the cracks, they would need to travel up almost 3 inches in to the ports to get water and never seen em more than about 1/2 inch. There are several points that leak water on those, timing covers, thermostats, intake manifolds, water pimp...
I am not causing global warming, I am just trying to hold off a impending Ice Age!
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Re: 2001 Ram work truck dilemna
[Re: 340Cuda]
#2500153
05/24/18 11:59 PM
05/24/18 11:59 PM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,886 Lost and Spaced
bboogieart
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Lost and Spaced
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If it were mine I think I would replace it with a complete rebuilt engine from one of the reputable reman companies.
I know its an old mechanics tale, that I never believed until it happened to me, but good heads on a old block can cause the rings to fail, in my case immediately.
Bill Happened to me too. Car ran fine for a few hundred miles then poof, the rings went south. Of course mine was a '68. Maybe the newer motors aren't as prone.
I have mechanical Aptitude. I can screw up anything.
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Re: 2001 Ram work truck dilemna
[Re: bboogieart]
#2500231
05/25/18 10:56 AM
05/25/18 10:56 AM
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,527 Tulsa, Oklahoma
340Cuda
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master
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Tulsa, Oklahoma
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If it were mine I think I would replace it with a complete rebuilt engine from one of the reputable reman companies.
I know its an old mechanics tale, that I never believed until it happened to me, but good heads on a old block can cause the rings to fail, in my case immediately.
Bill Happened to me too. Car ran fine for a few hundred miles then poof, the rings went south. Of course mine was a '68. Maybe the newer motors aren't as prone. Mine was a 1980 D-3500 with a 360. It started once on its own after the rebuilt heads were installed. After that I had to put oil in the cylinders to get it to start. I did a in the chassis ball hone ring job and got it going again. Never would have believed it if I had not lived it. Bill
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Re: 2001 Ram work truck dilemna
[Re: 340Cuda]
#2500232
05/25/18 11:01 AM
05/25/18 11:01 AM
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 22,728 Bitopia
jcc
OP
If you can't dazzle em with diamonds..
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OP
If you can't dazzle em with diamonds..
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 22,728
Bitopia
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Got a used under 50K 360 Magnum delivered this morning for $750. Thanks for all the good suggestions, I learned a lot.
Reality check, that half the population is smarter then 50% of the people and it's a constantly contested fact.
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Re: 2001 Ram work truck dilemna
[Re: jcc]
#2500447
05/25/18 08:39 PM
05/25/18 08:39 PM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,886 Lost and Spaced
bboogieart
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Lost and Spaced
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Got a used under 50K 360 Magnum delivered this morning for $750. Thanks for all the good suggestions, I learned a lot. There you go. I wish you many more miles. I just picked up a 75 Cordoba with the 360 for a drive train in my '78.
I have mechanical Aptitude. I can screw up anything.
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