Re: What have I done??? Test Mule, Money Pit, Bad idea or???
[Re: pittsburghracer]
#2618472
02/07/19 10:17 PM
02/07/19 10:17 PM
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 258 Cochise Co, Az, From Detroit
moetown
enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 258
Cochise Co, Az, From Detroit
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I avoid Craigslist and Racingjunk like the plague! You and I both. Honestly Facebook is my go to place now for buying and selling. We used to have a local printed weekly ad called Horse Trader that came out on Thursdays and I was hooked on it like some are on crack. I think it’s an age thing to because I have more blocks, heads, Transmissions, intakes, etc etc than I could ever use. If I ever start using facebook marketplace, I will need a bigger garage. Craigslist keeps me busy as it is.
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Re: What have I done??? Test Mule, Money Pit, Bad idea or???
[Re: MadMopars]
#2625747
02/25/19 02:55 AM
02/25/19 02:55 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,292 Tucson AZ,
MadMopars
OP
pro stock
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OP
pro stock
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,292
Tucson AZ,
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So here we are several weeks later and I'm still messing with the truck with no plans of sending it packing although after typing this, I'm wondering why... Among the early findings was a dry radiator due to a leaky water pump so the fun began with what should have been one simple project. One of the first things I became frustrated with was the homemade alternator brackets so I installed a set of chrome OEM type replacements at the same time. Since this moved the alternator back, the oddball water pump pulley would no longer work which then resulted in the crank pulley hitting the newly installed single groove water pump pulley so on went a single groove crank pulley as well. While I had everything apart I figured it was a good time to remove the pipe nipples from the water pump and eliminate the heater hoses so into the garbage they went. I also installed a dipstick which was never installed and replaced the PH8A filter that was uncomfortably close to the frame with a shorter counterpart. The next hurdle was there was no home for the battery so I ran about 25' of #1 wire to rear passenger side of the bed where a new battery and kill switch now reside. Moving on, I removed the Weiand tri power intake and while installing a different valley pan with heat crossover block offs, decided I should check the lifters as the cam just looked off to me. To my surprise, the lifters looked "ok" although I plan on a cam swap in the near future. I did discover during this inspection, incorrect length bolts on the rocker arm shafts resulting in extra washers being used as spacers, so off to the parts bin for a complete set of bolts and hold downs I went. After being sidetracked by my unexpected findings I finally got the eBay Torker installed and topped it off with an 825 Demon I rebuilt. In case it seems like I'm getting close to actually driving this thing, let me add that I discovered the motorhome seats were never bolted in and there is no fuel line run to the tank which has a set of vice grips pinching off the hose at the bottom. I can only imagine what goodness I'll find when I remove the vice grips but, I went ahead and ordered up some 3/8" aluminum fuel line and will keep trucking along. Since the seats are actually not a great fit anyhow, I picked up a really nice pair of bucket seats from an early mustang for a smoking deal which will eventually get mounted to some fancy brackets that will completely cancel out the deal I got on the seats. That being said, I should be close to putting some miles on the truck soon but I'm guessing I've still got more work to do that has yet to be discovered so I'll not hold my breath. Oh well, it's only time and money right?
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Re: What have I done??? Test Mule, Money Pit, Bad idea or???
[Re: 340Cuda]
#2626070
02/25/19 09:32 PM
02/25/19 09:32 PM
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 4,984 new jersey usa
11secdart
master
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master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 4,984
new jersey usa
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Funny you should mention money pit… my wifes work is slow this evening so she sent me a picture of the old 68 Dart 340 ad that says: 6,000 RPM for around $3,000 .. I replied I shift at 6,500 and its around $65,000 (over 37 years I have had car) .. she didn't think it was funny! BTW I like old trucks .. yours is cool!
Last edited by 11secdart; 02/25/19 09:35 PM.
68 Dart 410 / 904 92 D150 original owner 21 Ram 1500 Quad Cab, Big Horn , Hemi ,4x4 23 Audi Q5 16 Honda HRV
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Re: What have I done??? Test Mule, Money Pit, Bad idea or???
[Re: 11secdart]
#2687113
08/12/19 11:48 PM
08/12/19 11:48 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,292 Tucson AZ,
MadMopars
OP
pro stock
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OP
pro stock
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,292
Tucson AZ,
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Well today was the day... After a few short trips around the block, to the gas station etc over the past several weeks, I finally decided it was time to drive the truck into work. With our 4th child now 10 days old I was no longer worried about something breaking just as the wife the called to say it was baby time. That would typically be my luck. Today proved that I had made the correct decision in waiting to drive it. Just about 15 minutes into my drive and about a block away from work the truck started ticking and quickly escalated into a loud knock. I shut the thing down fairly quick and had one of my buddies tow me the rest of the way to the shop. I had a feeling it was a rod and convinced myself that there was no way it was a fresh motor as I was told when I purchased the truck and even if it was, it was apparently junk. I made the decision to fire it one more time in an attempt to avoid pushing it uphill into a space to work on it. In a few short seconds, it knocked, it banged and then it locked up. Being that I was at work, I had little time to work on it but did manage to get the heads off. Much to my surprise, it looks like it was a fresh rebuild with new .040 over pistons, cross hatching still present and no ridge on the block. This leads me to believe that someone probably forgot to tighten the rod bolts as it looks like the #8 rod decided to separate from the crankshaft in an attempt to eject the piston through the cylinder head. At first glance the piston is obviously junk and the cylinder head has a bent valve. I don't see any windows anywhere but won't really know the extent of the damage until I get the motor out and apart later this week. I'm not terribly heartbroken as I had plans to install the 413 into the truck in the near future anyhow. However, I also had plans to throw the 383 into my roadrunner just to get it moving under its own power... I can now see half that dream sailing off into the sunset. Is what it is. I wish I could change the day but I can't. I'm fairly certain that 383 will end up as a boat anchor. Oh well, I'll keep you guys up to date as I move along... Here's hoping for a quick recovery for the truck anyhow.
Last edited by MadMopars; 08/12/19 11:51 PM.
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Re: What have I done??? Test Mule, Money Pit, Bad idea or???
[Re: hemi-itis]
#2687793
08/14/19 07:07 PM
08/14/19 07:07 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,292 Tucson AZ,
MadMopars
OP
pro stock
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OP
pro stock
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,292
Tucson AZ,
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Got a couple more minutes to tear into the truck today. Looks like it was definitely a case of someone leaving the rod bolt nuts loose. It did break the lower part of the cylinder in addition to bending the exhaust valve, breaking both the rod and piston, and probably trashing the crank as well. In hindsight, I wish I would have shut it down sooner but when your in traffic you have to make choices. Oh well, live and learn. On the plus side, it should be back together pretty quick and better than it was when I'm done...
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