Buying '78 Lil Red Express Truck

[brucejohnson]

I have a slight oil drip towards back of engine I need to trace to determine if its valve cover, rear engine seal or what.

Ron,
The biggest cause of pesky oil dribbles at the rear of the 318 (340 & 360 incl.) that I have experienced was the oil pressure sending unit.

 

[Wiredawg]

Ron,
The biggest cause of pesky oil dribbles at the rear of the 318 that I have experienced was the oil pressure sending unit.

Bruce thanks. I'm thinking at this point to chase all the engine stuff when I get back at it.

All this is great!

Thanks, Ron

 

[HPSimpson]

Bruce is right about oil pressure sender unit leaking, why did Dodge ever put way back there i have hard time with some mechanical engineers, put stuff back there, never quite understand. Ron there are plenty of folks here on TDR to help you through this new part of your project!

 

[Wiredawg]

Friends,
I had flushed cooling system twice and I think the engine and heater core are good, but still have calcium in the radiator. I guess previous owner used tap water in the coolant. I dont see any corrosion, but calcium still there. Any recommendations for cleaning the calcium with the radiator out of the truck?

My wife had foot surgery 13 July, do I'm the caregiver. I'm thinking I could block off lower radiator hose opening, fill with a cleaner, and let it sit. I'm thinking muriatic acid diluted or CRL, but wanted to consult the gallery first. The radiator is the 3 row, high capacity Mopar one.

Thanks again for any input.

Cheers, Ron

 

[GCroyle]

Best wishes to Mrs. Ron, speedy recovery.

 

[TFucili]

In my experience, and from hanging around the machine shop, cleaning is seldom truly effective. So many times I saw guys install fresh engines, and complain about overheating, and it can't be the radiator "because it was boiled out and flow checked" at the radiator shop. We put together a 400 Pontiac, and the guy kept moaning about running hot. Same deal, had been boiled out and flow tested. My buddy at the machine shop even pulled the heads just to be sure, at no charge. Eventually he told the guy to buy a new radiator, and if it still runs hot I'll pay for the radiator. Never heard from him again. Long answer to a short question.

And speedy recover to your wife!

 

[Wiredawg]

Tom,

I like the LONG and the short answer. Thanks!

Cheers, Ron

 

[brucejohnson]

I had flushed cooling system twice and I think the engine and heater core are good, but still have calcium in the radiator. I guess previous owner used tap water in the coolant. I dont see any corrosion, but calcium still there. Any recommendations for cleaning the calcium with the radiator out of the truck?

Ron,
You do know that "special" calcium coating MAY potentially be providing a sealing assist by plugging numerous pinholes in that old, possibly swiss cheese radiator.
It is worth a try though, but some of the old cleaners were mighty corrosive to the innards. Maybe the newer stuff is more kind.
If there is a real radiator shop around I would have them do a re-core and add some extra tubes and fins. Last time I had one rebuilt it was a little spendy but worked great in the (non-resident) California Central Valley heat. This is where I would accept the expense vs. saving a penny or two. Roadsides are for litter accumulation and "road gators", not steam release stations or targets for today's many inattentive drivers.

 

[DavidC]

mwilson stated they use the fleetguard flush and really like it. Of course that would require putting everything together and probably getting some distilled water. You could get better info by contacting him through messaging or if he see's this post he may respond.

 

[Dan_69GTX]

Not sure what tools you have access to, but you could unsolder the tank mounts/straps. Unsolder the top or bottom tank, then run a cleaning rod down each tube to open it up. They sell different size rods for different size of core tubes.

What "rod out" a radiator means.

Not that hard to do, or find a reputable radiator shop to do it for you.

For radiator parts, supplies and tools check here:
https://www.thermprocesses.com/
https://radiatorsupplyco.com/
http://www.johnsonmfg.com/temp/main.htm

 

[HPSimpson]

Most of the solutions are very corrosive, if use this method the so call pin holes will come out and back to square one. Take the tanks off maybe easy for some but not Homer. Just shop around and get a new radiator simpler method, since you're on the journey to overhaul your Lil Red Express truck anyway.

 

[Dan_69GTX]

HP is correct, but... if you wanna keep it as original as possible and the original is in there, a rod out or recore would be the way to go.

Many aftermarket replacement radiators function fine (if you can find one that fits) but don't look OEM.

 

[Dan_69GTX]

However, a rod out may require a repair too - cause it could expose weak areas like brucejohnson mentioned.

 

[Dan_69GTX]

The more original you go the more expensive. I paid $515 5 years ago for a radiator for my GTX - that was w/o the OEM numbers on it. That was more than double with the numbers.
Here is one place for such stuff
http://www.restorationradiators.com/radiatorresto.htm

 

[TFucili]

Ron, I just saw an article that showed your next accessory.

#ad

 

[HPSimpson]

Ron, Look at the hitch painted same as the truck how cool is that!

 

[Wiredawg]

Ron, Look at the hitch painted same as the truck how cool is that!

Howdy Homer,

Kinda late getting back on this, yep pretty cool. I've seen pics of it. There's a couple LRE clubs out there I may join, but they're pretty far away, and no way to take RV (with dogs) and trailer the LRE, so not a lot of incentive to join when I may never meet them with the truck.

On another note, looks like the LRE has a blown HG... I believe it's had it the whole time, just getting progressively worse. Lower back problems just won't let me perform extended maintenance, so found a reputable speed shop and took it there yesterday. Told them lets talk after fixing engine to determine if its worthwhile to fix the factory AC.

Anyhoo, hoping this will fix the LRE and just enjoy it. It is fun to drive and cool to get all the thumbs ups along the way.

Cheers, Ron

 

[HPSimpson]

Too bad I live on Catalina I would surely help you out, and since you know blowen head gasket, I would have those folks do compression check find out if engine is sound.

 

[Wiredawg]

Too bad I live on Catalina I would surely help you out, and since you know blowen head gasket, I would have those folks do compression check find out if engine is sound.

And I would certainly let you... no one around here is a gearhead and all but a couple friends still work. I have the compression testing equipment, and have good, detailed FSM, just cant handle the stopping fire periods of time, even with my topside creeper.

Certainly do thank you for the thought, and I'll post results. Gotta go out later, so might just happen by to see any progress.

Cheers, Ron

 

[Wayne M.]

Hey Ron, I’m so sad to hear of the engine issue.
You know that’s a SB Mopar weakpoint- only 4 head bolts per cylinder, but it’s not usually a problem until you get to 12:1 or a whole lot of years. Make sure they put a Cometic multi layer or Fel Pro blue gasket in there!