Well, I have purchased the 1991 Dak LE Ext Cab, as expected. The body is in good shape - the paint is about shot, though. The interior is clean, but the driver's seat belt receptacle is fried...need to find another.

The engine starts great, and idle good - has a SLIGHT waver on the tach, which would probably disappear with a good tune-up.

However, the valve covers are leaking - BADLY! Is this a common issue? Is there a good fix that lasts for a while? There also seems ot be a steering system leak that I need to track down and fix....

However, there is one mechanical problem I have found - the truck is smoking some. However, the friend who was following me, and saw it is color blind, and was unable to tell if the smoke with black or blue.

There was ONE big 'puff' of bluish smoke that came fromt he exhaust when I shut it down ONCE. The smoke from the tailpipe doesn't seem to be real bad... I know I need to check the engine for compression, to help ID the root cause - rings or valves.

Now, I used to have a Mazda B-series truck. The 2.2 engine it had was notorious for chewing up Valve stem seals. Do these heads have a similar problem?

Also, in case it is NOT the rings, but is more than the seals, i was curious... Would the Magnum heads easily swap to my non-magnum engine - keeping my existing cam, intake, TBI, exhaust, etc? If so, and since I know the heads are a part of the Magnum package difference, would there be much, if any perf benefit?

Everything else n the truck is in good shape - and only smoking a LITTLE.

In regards to the PS leak - are there any common pats that leak about the 130k mark?

As soon as I get some good pics, I'll try and get them posted....

 

Opps, meant to add - when I pull the valve covers to do those gaskets, is it possible to visually ID the valve seals, and whether they are good or not?

 

The heads are not swappable. If it's oil that the engine is burning, there's a good chance it has a blown intake plenum gasket. Thats the biggest thing these engines are known for. Open the throttle body and look down into the intake with a flashlight and see if you see oil.

As for the power steering leak, a picture of where its coming from would be nice and is it 2wd or 4x4 cause they have completely different steering systems.

 

Also, side note, after the truck sat for over 24 hours, I went out and cranked it over - started right up, and there was no smoke - blue or otherwise, when started - and when sniffed, they exhaust smells strong of gas, but no burning oil - so very likely just needing a good tune-up... but still curious about the heads - etc...

 

There no specific problems Dakota of your year that I know of. As for the valve cover gaskets, that happens to any. Just replace the gasket. And Don't over tighten the bolts. As for the smoke It can be anything. A bad head gasket to seals to rings. Just see what color the smoke is and smell it too. Just remember anything that old can have anything go. As for the magnum heads. You can bolt them up to the block but your intake will not bolt up to it. So you can't use those heads. Ya post up pics when you can. His truck is 91 he doesn't have a Magnum so no intake plenum. Sorry 95 318lst your off today.

 

Unless I'm mistaken, LA engines don't have kegger manifolds.

 

Lol, oops, you finally got to call me out this time! It's been a long day. You know how that feels Crazy :P

 

Ya I still got one up on you in one day. So come on make 2 more mistakes to pass me.