Following up / closing out this thread.
I didn’t want to leave some of ya hanging like a prom date.
I got crazy busy later on in March and didn’t get to go to a friend’s shop as earlier described. I called and left two messages this week, and even called another shop, left a message, with no return phone calls.
In a nutshell......the squealing noise (most likened to a few cheap 4th of July bottle rockets) had gotten basically unbearable. I’m sure I had at least three exhaust manifold gaskets bad, as, under deceleration with full exhaust brake on, one could discern upwards of at least three distinct “notes”. I said enough is enough, and called my favorite service writer, Justin, at Don Franklin RAM in Somerset, KY on Wednesday. I volunteered to leave the truck for a few days, and he said one of his two guys would get it knocked out by the end of the day Monday, as long as my exhaust manifold checked out straight and true.
In true Justin fashion....he exceeded my expectations and had the truck ready end of day Friday, and I picked it up today around 1:30 pm.
Ahhhhhh.....the peacefulness and quietness is amazing now. No more sounds of incoming missiles when running the exhaust brake.
6 exhaust manifold gaskets, turbo oil drain pipe gasket, turbocharger to manifold gasket, and 2 hex flange head bolts later, White Lightning is purring like a kitten.
Now all I have to do is get out on Monday and and start earning some more $$$$’s to replenish the business account!