Spiff Posted November 7, 2015 Report Share Posted November 7, 2015 Looking good! 1 Quote Link to comment
LTJ Posted August 19, 2016 Report Share Posted August 19, 2016 All that work cutting up the spare truck to make room and then you buy another one! 2 Quote Link to comment
Lockleaf Posted December 30, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 30, 2016 I think I broke my truck today. One of my rods sounds like it wishes it were free of it's iron cage. So now I have a decision to make. 1. I have a spare z24 with a blown head gasket. I could staple that back together and run that. 2. I could dig up a junkyard ka and swap that in. 3. I could abandon getting it running again, and cut my cab apart and use that for the parts I need to finish my quad cab build. I have no idea what I'm going to do. 1 Quote Link to comment
Draker Posted December 30, 2016 Report Share Posted December 30, 2016 Hmm.. hard choice there! 2 Quote Link to comment
Rhino13 Posted December 30, 2016 Report Share Posted December 30, 2016 I was thinking about your quad cab earlier today so my vote is in for that!!! Ka would end up being more work, and you've already been driving it with a z24. Plus imagine the quad cab with those wheels! 2 Quote Link to comment
Draker Posted December 31, 2016 Report Share Posted December 31, 2016 My selfish choice would be quad cab... but don't kill it if you need it. 2 Quote Link to comment
Lockleaf Posted December 31, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 31, 2016 Defining NEED is a large part of my inner turmoil. I've owned crappie cars for so long, I always have a spare just in case. But my R50 pathfinder is totally reliable and so is my wife's car. I just don't like being without my security blanket. I was driving the truck to work just for fun, cuz I love it, when it died. And I often loan out my spare vehicle when family has car trouble, so I kind of dislike being able to help them. But damn me if I don't want to cut her up and go for broke on that quad cab! 2 Quote Link to comment
Lockleaf Posted December 31, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 31, 2016 Oh, and it's pretty much already decided. I'm thinking quad cab wins. If I need an extra vehicle, i better just get my 510 running :). 4 Quote Link to comment
720inOlyWa Posted December 31, 2016 Report Share Posted December 31, 2016 If you loved it before, why not just fix it? A bad rod means swapping out the engine, which isn‘t that hard, I discovered. And if you are going to go that route, why not start with a fresh motor, all machined up and ready to go? Gawdamn, it is a fine thing to run one of these guys when they are all fresh and happy! And it is not that big a number to get there, either. If you had a rod going out before, you were not even close to this feeling of having it hit strong on all fours. I would go the rebuild route, if I were you. I have always thought that the engine was the easiest thing to deal with. Rust is the deal breaker for me. But I can‘t weld (yet), so... 1 Quote Link to comment
Lockleaf Posted December 31, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 31, 2016 Because this truck was always destined to become part of my quad cab. And there is absolutely no way I'm spending $1000+ on a z24. They don't ring my bells enough. And I don't have the money. I've put 3 engines in this truck in various conditions, and now I'm done. Besides, I have a nearly identical 86 fuel injected ST with sunroof and power windows waiting in the wings for a future day. 3 Quote Link to comment
Rhino13 Posted December 31, 2016 Report Share Posted December 31, 2016 Quad cab, quad cab, quad cab, QUAD CAB!!! That thing is going to be so cool. 2 Quote Link to comment
la_leo Posted January 2, 2017 Report Share Posted January 2, 2017 Tires and rims installed. The tread is covered by the flares up front, but pokes in the back. Looks good though. But now it rubs on the body when turning again... Gonna have to fix that. Front Rear I love this truck 1 Quote Link to comment
Lockleaf Posted January 2, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2017 Thanks :) 1 Quote Link to comment
Lockleaf Posted February 14, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 14, 2020 (edited) I did this all last may but apparently never uploaded anything. I finally, after 2+ years, redid my head gasket. When I pulled the engine apart I found this. Massively blown between 3 and 4, though there was not a significant amount of damage to block or head. I have long wanted to try decking a head by hand, so I decided this was a perfect opportunity to do so. Heres the supplies. Glue, wd40, sandpaper, and mirrors. pulled the rockers off the head so all the valves would be closed. Ready to rock. Glued the sandpaper to the glass, using the "temporary" instructions. Heres the results as I passed the head slowly back and forth with plenty of lube on the sandpaper. This process was long and slow, but you can see how it progress. The last pic shows that I got it pretty smooth and clean finally. Reassemble the engine and it ran great. Unfortunately, due to other things, I have only put like 1 mile on it since the rebuild. I did the job on my birthday because I wanted to play with a car. Haven't done jack since, and very little in the months before that. I'm REALLY hoping I can get back to my toys in another 2 months max. Edited February 14, 2020 by Lockleaf 2 Quote Link to comment
Stoffregen Motorsports Posted February 15, 2020 Report Share Posted February 15, 2020 Was the head straight? Did you check it with a straight edge? 1 Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted February 15, 2020 Report Share Posted February 15, 2020 I did mine with 80 grit and dry. Dresses it down faster and produces a fine granular dust that you can just blow off about every 20? passes. Any more and the build up acts like a layer of marbles and the head just rolls on them and it doesn't cut. I just gripped the cam sprocket opening and push/pulled it lengthwise without any downward pressure. I did use an industrial straight edge and measured 0.015"!!! at the start. Almost 4 times allowable. When done I finished with 150 grit and a 0.002" feeler gauge wouldn't fit under it. Cost only for the sand paper. Highest spot was in the center, more of a pucker than the head was warped. If the head was bent the cam would be hard to turn. I think most all 'warped' heads are just a high spot or pucker. Yours came out really nice. 1 Quote Link to comment
Lockleaf Posted February 17, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2020 (edited) Stoff, yes i straight edged it and it seemed good. There is some serious room for argument about the straightness of my straight egde, but i think it was good. I measured across the center of the head long, and in an x across the head and it all seemed really tight. So I'm going to say yes, it was straight. Thanks Mike. I was not anywhere near as aggressive as 80 grit. It did take me quite some time to sand. Hour, maybe 90 minutes of just that. Edited February 17, 2020 by Lockleaf 1 Quote Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.