i brought the truck into the auto shop today and had it looked at...the rattling noise, although it sounded like it was coming from the alternator wasn't the case. we took off the belts and it still made the noise

looks like it'll be an excuse to get rid of the little 4x2 i have, and buy a new(old) truck. hopefully something in the 81-85 range, 4x4(those years because they were the only ones that came available with 5-speed and solid front axles). for the 900 bucks i paid for it, it's served me well, but i really don't want to take off that timing cover, head, etc

i figure i'll drive it for a while, at least until i sell it to somebody more mechanically inclined than myself, and buy something more useful in the mud

 

Kyle,
Sorry to hear about that. You might not want to drive it if the timing chain is starting to go. My brother did that on the same engine, and the chain ate through to the radiator fluid passage or something because there was radiator fluid in the oil, and in the exhaust for the VERY short time that it ran thereafter. Completely destroyed the block. Just my experience.