I just bought a 83 D150 shortbox 2wd 318 standard truck for $1000 Canadian.

here is the actual truck and ad below...

http://edmonton.kijiji.ca/c-cars-veh...AdIdZ470098424

I'm concerned about the water pump "gasket" leak, and the rad leak. I don't know much about cars in general. But I didn't get to see the truck run. So the fact it had a new aftermarket fan, water pump, and then also a rad leak - makes me wonder if the truck (water pump) blew up at one time and the old fan hit the rad causing the leak there or something. Or am I imagining the worst?

I'm confused because my mechanic told me if the water pump gasket is leaking I should just get a new water pump. But I don't want to because the water pump itself is supposed to be new already.

I guess my overall question is , what would cause the water pump gaskets and rad to leak? Just simple age? Could it be as simple as replacing the gasket and then all is good? Or could the motor be dead from over heating?

Wall-E

the pump looks new. i would personally just replaces the gasket and see what happens. what is a $4 gasket compared to a $50 pump. replacing the water pump gaskets should be an easy job. just make sure to use some gasket maker stuff to make sure it seals good. just make sure you set something up to drain and recover as much coolant as you can.

I'm with Crazy here for sure. I would figure the PO screwed up on the install of the Water pump gasket so I would replace it and see if everything is fine which I would think it is going to be. Is there damage on the rad in front of the WP?

Gaskets go bad and\or as mentioned it could have been installed incorrectly.

Radiators also go bad...corrosion, hits from rocks and road debris, etc.

These things are normal for an old vehicle.

He did state right in the ad that the pump gasket and rad were leaking.

Looks like a fun project

He totally did state it in the ad. That's why I bought it, because he seemed like an honest guy in person as well. I just am worried because although I saw the truck, I never saw it run. So just am hoping the motor and tranny actually do work. My mind tends to think of the worst case scenario since my cars timing belt just broke and I need something for transportation. I haven't picked the truck up yet but I hope it turns out good

i think it is worth what he is asking even if it was to need a water pump and rad. if you price out msd parts and everything else it is a pretty good deal in my opinion. i think the msd ignition system kit cost $500 brand new.

I would think it would take a lot of overheating to kill a 318. I saw a guy once almost win a truck pull with a stock 318 with no radiator. I guess he hit a tree off road the month before or something and was too cool for school to care much.

If I recall, water pumps can also leak from the shaft if the bearing goes bad . . . i think. Either way, its not a deal-breaker to me, unless the engine is otherwise damaged . . . warped heads, bad headgasket, etc.

Looks like a good deal for everything done to it and that comes with it. Does it have a MSD ignition box also? The ad just said distributor and coil, they are worth $250. The intake, valve covers, air cleaner, and carb would cost over $500, and if it does have an Edelbrock waterpump they are high dollar, like $200 for a new one.
As far as the coolant leaks from the water pump and rad., I would have to check them out myself to make sure a hose had not gotten lose. I have seen it a lot with vehicals that had new hoses and gaskets put on them and drove just a little and then sat for a while. When they were started back up, they had a leak. All that they needed was some tighting. I bought a car that way one time. It had an exhaust leak, oil leak, and coolant leak. All I had to do to fix it was tighten the bolts up. I drove it for 5 years with out any problems and sold it for more than I had paid for it. So, I would have to start it and check where it is leaking from before I went to replacing things. The worse case I would say is it needs a new gasket for the waterpump, a new rad. and with out driving it maybe a new clutch. I did not hear anything said about the clutch. With everything done to the truck, it sould like a little hot rodding going on with it. Most people wear the clutch out fast from riding them from hot rodding strights drives.

i think you might be under valuing the msd stuff a bit. i think the msd distributor has a built in ignition module and you just have to hook it to the coil which is why the distributor costs $360 or for another $140 you could get the whole kit with coil and wires.
http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/store...hTerm=msd+8388

I might be under valuing it but, to me the wires from the coil look like they are going to the fender. If it was the kind of distributor you are talking about, they would be going to it not the fender to an ignition box. That is just how it looks to me. So, I was thinking it was more like http://www.summitracing.com/parts/ms...iew/make/dodge.
But, I could be wrong.