Alright this is probably going to be a lengthy set of questions and I am sure some of this has been covered in other threads but I can't find anything. To begin I have a 1988 D150 360 automatic. I just got it back from the guy i traded it to for a 1984 VW rabbit to save me on gas but now i have my truck back. The guy told me he had to change the rod bearings but i'm not totally sure he meant the main rod bearings like i am used to. When i went to get my truck it started and ran pretty good. Now not even a week later it starts hard, like have to crank it over for like 15 sec before it will fire. Then once it is running there is a clanging noise coming from the left side of the engine and it will die when i put it in gear sometimes. Also it is leaking and burning oil pretty bad plus it clangs from the left side of the engine for about 2 minutes til it warms up a little then it will stop with the clanging noise. I am just curious if you guys have any advice as to where i should look for some of these issues and if it possible to change an oil pan gasket with the motor still in the truck. I don't have a lot of time that the vehicle can be down and I am planning on at least putting in all new gaskets on the front and top end of the motor from the cylinders up. Any advice or direction would be helpful i am pretty mechanically inclined but don't know a whole lot about dodge. Thanks a bunch fellas and have a good day

 

Im not sure what the problem may be with the engine, but it should be possible to change the oil pan gasket with the engine in the truck, especially since its a D150. I just did this on my '85 with the engine in.