acton mike
03-15-2009, 05:50 PM
i replaced the timing chain in my 84 d100 318 w 3spd +OD manual gearbox over the winter
had to replace the rad while i was at it
took a hellish long time because i was working in an unheated very small garage; the truck took up most of the space and so it was like working in a telephone booth
Most times I could only deal with the cold for a short time.
But today I got everything buttoned up and she is purring like a kitten; idles smooth as a baby's bum
My brother in law who has been a mechanic forever ( i think he was apprenticed to henry ford) claims there is nothing much wrong with an engine that will idle smoothly
Took her out for a shakedown run; typical of older dodge pickups it wallows around in the corners like a hippo on a waterbed. But it was nice to hear that typical dodge starter sound and to hear the 318 purring.
While i was underneath putting on a new muffler I notice that the tin worm has been busy and so I reckon I will fire up the wire welder and fit in some new steel.
Maybe one day when the rust has been looked after and 20 years of dings and bangs accumulated during the beast's past life as a farm truck I will treat her to fresh paint
I will take it, before i get to heavily into the body work, to a chap I know who runs a body shop and have him make sure the frame has not been damaged. It looks like the thing had been in a small collision at some time as there is some slightly deformed sheet metal. I will get him to straighten the rails if they are not too badly damaged as this will make it easier to line up the sheet metal
had to replace the rad while i was at it
took a hellish long time because i was working in an unheated very small garage; the truck took up most of the space and so it was like working in a telephone booth
Most times I could only deal with the cold for a short time.
But today I got everything buttoned up and she is purring like a kitten; idles smooth as a baby's bum
My brother in law who has been a mechanic forever ( i think he was apprenticed to henry ford) claims there is nothing much wrong with an engine that will idle smoothly
Took her out for a shakedown run; typical of older dodge pickups it wallows around in the corners like a hippo on a waterbed. But it was nice to hear that typical dodge starter sound and to hear the 318 purring.
While i was underneath putting on a new muffler I notice that the tin worm has been busy and so I reckon I will fire up the wire welder and fit in some new steel.
Maybe one day when the rust has been looked after and 20 years of dings and bangs accumulated during the beast's past life as a farm truck I will treat her to fresh paint
I will take it, before i get to heavily into the body work, to a chap I know who runs a body shop and have him make sure the frame has not been damaged. It looks like the thing had been in a small collision at some time as there is some slightly deformed sheet metal. I will get him to straighten the rails if they are not too badly damaged as this will make it easier to line up the sheet metal