C body on a tow bar

[has2bmopar]

I was talking to a friend that works at the chrysler dealer up north (where all my cars go for the big work). He was saying that if the gasket went/head cracked that you would not see any water in the oil with the newer engines, and also that you would not see any smoke out of the tail pipe as the cat convertor would soak it up.

The fan does have a clutch on it, and though I do not know for sure, it seemed to be working properly. The truck was making a bit of a squeling sound from the engine going down the road, My only hope is that it is the water pump failing, and squeling. However I'm not holding my breath, and expecting the worse. If the head gaskets went, and didnt take out the heads themselfs Im looking at $1200-$1500 in repair. the bluesmobile will be put back into everyday service for a while!

The 5.9 Magnums are prone to cracking heads from being overheated, but have not heard of any issues about the hemis. I of course don't know what year your truck is... '02-'05, but if it is an '02 it may be the head issue.

The only thing I can help out with for sure is just a future spelling reference... squealing.

Hopefully you just had a bad water pump or something else minor that you/your wallet can recover from easily.

 

[thrashingcows]

What year is your truck? And what motor...Small 4.9 V8 or Magnum 5.2 or 5.9, or Hemi? When you flushed the system any oil or gunk in it? Also with the rad cap off, and running, hold your hand over the rad opening and feel for pressure...if the head gasket is gone, or head is cracked, then it might be pushing compression, or hot exhaust gasses into the cooling system.

Could also be the clutch fan is shot...clutch fan not electric correct.

Sucks about your truck, but glad you got the old beast home at least.

 

[BillGrissom]

At that point, I might have used the C body to tow the truck on a tow dolly. Its engine and tranny are sure up to it, but you would want a lot of weight in the trunk to keep the rear wheels planted.

What does your mechanic call a "new engine"? Mopar Magnums are pretty interchangeable with the LA small block from 1964. The 3.8L in our 2002 minivan looks like an LA engine with 2 cylinders missing (plus a 60 deg bank). The Jeep 4.0L engine goes back to the 1950's. Pretty sure a head gasket leak will still put oil in the coolant and you will see a brown mousse at the top of the radiator. I drove my Aries like that for 6 months, just refilling the water after the 22 mi drive home. The 2.2L were notorious for head gasket failure.

There are many places to lose water. A co-worker just went thru that with his GM truck w/ LS engine. Dealer mechanic told him "must be head gasket" since he was losing 1 gal of coolant per week. I found he had been smelling coolant all winter, so suggested changing the heater core. He decided to buy another truck. A simple compression test will tell you if the engine is good. Of course his mechanic didn't do so. Engines aren't that different, but finding a competent mechanic is harder today.

 

[monaco75]

My truck has the 4.7 v8 engine. I've been reading, and doing some reaserch, and it seems the blown head gaskets are a common problem with them. When I was with the truck (messing around with it at a waffle house parking lot in GA) it was just steaming and pissing out coolant from the overflow tank. I got the truck cooled down, and filled it with more water at this point. I left the cap off and started the truck, I put my hand over the hole for the radiator cap, and it did have some suction to it.. Did not feel any pressure forcing anything out. When the truck got to where the thermostat opens it just started pushing out coolant through the hole. This is when I removed the thermostat, to see if it was sticking. This did nothing. I then pulled the top rad hose, to see if the water pump was pushing water, and it was (although this is while the engine was idleing, with no load on it, so could not be pushing enough).

Parts are not cheap for the 4.7. Also there is no way Im removing the heads myself in the driveway with everyday handtools. When I get the truck here I'm gonna tear the front of the motor apart, and check out the water pump.

I've also been looking for alternative routes I can go... I would kill to be able to throw a 5.9 in the truck. Parts are a ton cheaper, and a lot easier to work on. However that would mean a complete different drivetrain. So thats out of the question. The 5.7 hemi will bolt right in to my transmission, and I believe the truck as well, but then I have to spend big money for the hemi engine computer, as well as the trans controller, and engine wiring harness. So that is kind of out of the question to.

If the heads/gaskets are cracked, I really dont see the point in dropping 2-3k on a truck with this engine, and 130,xxx miles. Who knows if I did damage to something else down lower as well? It is a michigan truck, so its starting to show its places of rust. Bad thing is I bought it 2 years ago, and still paying on it. If all else fails, I'm thinking let the truck sit for a little while, drive the bluesmobile, and take care of some other debt. Maybe if I can get the truck to run good for a few hours, try and trade it in.

If my newport had a hitch on it, I deff would of been trying to bring the truck home with it, but I don't think the tow bar I had would have worked with it.. Would of had to get a dolly or something.

One good thing outa it, is the cars are back together!

That is one thing though I miss about home. My mechanics I went to. I've known them all my life, and they always took care of me, and knew there stuff! Not only on the truck but the cars as well. The one guy has been working on these cars since they were new in the showroom. If I were to get my truck fixed I would have to take it to the local dealer. There is no way I would trust one of these back woods shade tree mechanic jobs on my truck. some might be good, but I have heard enough horor stories from the local's.

Also do excuse my spelling. I'll be the first to admit I'm not the best at it! lol

 

[thrashingcows]

Maybe keep an eye on the local papers, and craigslist for someone wrecking out a dodge ram with a good 4.7. Pick up the used motor for a few hundred dollars and swap it straight across.