It's true, I blew her up, well just the HG. I'll give the short story cuz I'm a little down about it.

Small water crossing, big hole, water over hood and stalled. I got out the hole via the starter. Started it after much time and blew a "steamy" exhaust for a little while with a terrible idle. Got it home and was running hot. Radiator gasping with a 95% normal idle. Haven't had a chance nor desire to check the Oil...


What to do next?


And I'm not in the mood for "DO A 3.4 SWAP!!" That's a little unrealistic. I am a broke ass college student who makes $500-800 a month and is in debt $7.8K to a parent who just dropped $6K on repairs for two other vehicles that he owns.

 

Drop in a 350 thats too bad but youll figure it out. I remember when my 3.0 ate the crapper but it had it coming

Keep us posted with what you decide to do for it

 

Are you at all mechanically inclined? It really isnt that hard to change a head gasket, there is plenty of info here on YT about it, and I can give you a copy or the factory shop manual if you need it. Dont get me wrong, its a biatch, but doable. I was in similar situation, my 3.0 was very tired with 252k on it, and either needed a rebuild or be replaced, and my clutch went out, so instead of just doing a clutch on the tired motor, I ripped it all out and 3.4 swapped. Not telling you to do a 3.4, but just telling you what I ended up doing.

 

dang Kevin that sucks! Hope everything works out for you in the long run!

 

if you need help, i can help ya. since i dont live that far.

 

I just did the clutch maybe 10K ago. That was fun...

The hardest part is the timing (backup car already being used) and the fact that I haven't even begun to pay it off...

Between my dad, me and the FSM, we can do it, we just don't want to.

 

Ive never timed the 3.0, so I wouldnt know. The most I did was check my timing with the timing light. I have timed the 3.4 and that is a bitch unless you know the trick to getting it right (I learned the trick myself).

As for not "wanting" to do it, I hear ya... Been there, done that... But you know sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do...

 

I think he meant more like the time is bad for it to break down...but good point

I'd say even if you don't want to do it, you're basically going to have to. Atleast be happy that you're mechanically inclined enough to do it, now just get to it. It'll suck but its gotta be done.

 

Wow, that really bites man. I would get on it as soon as you can less time spent dreading it.

Rebuild her!

 

MorphiasX - would I be able to score a copy of that manual from you?

I just went through hell trying to figure out why my 3.0 was overcooling - to find a gutted T-stat in her, to put a new stat in, to find it overheating..yadda yadda yadda...my HG was installed backwards by the previous owner or a mechanic he hired.

So I am hoping to attempt the job myself compared to paying to have it done.

Thanks in advance

 

http://www.personal.utulsa.edu/~nathan-buchanan/93fsm/

 

If you don't have the money and don't want to fix it then why did you drown it in a water hole????????????

 

Because I have made it through said hole 10+ times. But this time I took a slightly different route...

But I like to believe the HG was long over due. It's been 110K miles since the last one.

I'm hoping next week. It's "winter" break and both my dad and I have the week off.

 

your certain it needs a hg.

it may just need to be completely drained/refilled (coolant, oil, gas, etc)
or worst case scenario, cracked block.
but is your coolant/oil mixing ?

btw- i blew my bmw engine while doing a "hot-soak" basically using jet fuel to clean off the carbon buildup, = popped head bolts, than drove it on the freeway, mixed oil/coolant, and than added water. after trying to start it, it started, drove 15 feet, and hydro locked.

learned everything i know today due to that.
lost my job, gf, almost electricity too, but got a job in walking distance, and 6 months later, started it all up.

did it all w/hand tools and a cheap engine hoist.
1-2 hours a day, and now i can write the book on it.

you will become stronger from it, be glad your father can help. and be glad you know where the water hole is too. plus were all here for you as well. maybe buy a 300dollar car in the meantime while you fix it.

i suggest writing up all the good/bad with the truck, and a wish list. than do it. Rome wasn't built in a day.

 

Well I've deff got the milkshake and an empty radiator...

 

i think its easier to swap in a good used engine.

that milk-shake is a really bad sign. been there, done that. its up to you on the fix it, but if you fix it, i would recomend a full rebuild.

 

This is where I stand now.

I just drained the oil, and it was clean:


But there is a little bit of milkshake under the oil cap...


Fresh oil going in. The bay was shiny when i first got it.


Pressure test is about to happen after this lunch break.

 

oil and coolant dont stay mixed, so, is it possible that there is coolant under the oil (in the pic).

and if its not mixed at all, you dont have a cracked block (at least).


and about the clean engine bay, your saying it became muddy somehoe. (mine looks that way too, but i just bought it, so no comarison)
i think the fly-wheel is kicking up (and throwing) coolant/oil .

so, that would be a dead HG on the safe side of your engine right? (meaning not internal mixing as your oil does look normal)

 

Well I have pressure in all six. The numbers go as follows:

Front
150- -115
160- -150
120- -145

I'm kinda stumped now. I was expecting a zero in one of them...

 

could it be that at least 2 cylinders are low? Say the #1 at 115 looks low compared to the other, and #6 at 120 is low. Id say those would be concerns.