Finally managed to find a donor truck with all the screws I lost for my dash.

AND!

It has a blue dash with only small minor cracks on both right and left of the shelf in front of the passenger.

Previous person had pulled the dash almost all the way out.

I also found two red door panels that need to be redone; so they're going to my nephew to be covered in Pacific Blue vinyl.

RwP

 

Checked the oil at 2,000 miles on this oil change - back about a month ago, I put the last 1/2 quart from my 5 quart Rotella T6 5W30 in (the FL300 won't hold a whole quart, so I can't put the whole 5 in).

Today, on level ground, it was sitting right on the FULL mark.

I call that a major win compared to the old "Fill the oil check the gas" that motor was before the rebuild; not only can I run better oil, but it runs smoother and has a bit more pep now.

RwP

 

Sounds like you did good Ralph! Good for you.

 

In the end, what did you do to the motor? ie. re-ring, or bore it with new pistons etc.? Just wondering what all you had to replace.

 

I ... took the truck to my mechanic, and he took the motor to the machine shop.

I went to the machine shop, gave them some dead presidents, and the mechanic picked the motor back up and put it back in the truck. *grins*

I DID buy new-to-me refinished heads for it.

I believe they did .030 over pistons, and .010 under crank and rod bearings.

It's a complete machine shop rebuild using as-OEM-or-better from one of the better machine shops in the area.

(Yes, I could have taken the motor there. If I had a shop to pull the motor out at, and another truck to haul the motor. Instead, I paid the mechanic for that. Fair swap IMO for me.)

RwP

 

Not questioning who did what, just wondering what was done to the motor. Take care Ralph!!

 

'S'all right. I didn't ask specifically what they did; I have NO idea what brand pistons, rings, bearings, etc. they used.

I paid for their expertise, and I was NOT about to second guess them!

I did specify and supplied the dual row timing set (a Cloyes IIRC - or a Melling, either one works for me), and insisted on the tensioner be installed.

Past that, I wasn't too concerned.

RwP

 

Machine work fascinates me. I was just wondering how much wear was in the motor. Do you know how many miles was on it? Glad to hear its running well!!

 

387,000 or thereabouts. Some of it neglect and abuse (top end was heavily gunked when I got it; took several Motor Flush trips to get rid of it.)

Yah. The 3.9 won't ever set land speed records, and I can't burn my tires down with it, but it do motivate the truck down the road OK.

I do wish I had gone to a 4 speed when I had the transmission rebuilt at about 325,000 miles ... but eh. You do what you can. Or get done what you can afford.

RwP

 

Check the torq conveter first.