some times the simplest things can be the worst

 

Really? Going there? I guess a guy would not have neglected a truck.....


OP - keep in mind that anything you use to break that stuff up will likely clog oil pick up at some point. So when you do, prepare to drop pan at some point (not too bad a job) and clean pan and pick up.

 

I think he's already dropped and pan and cleaned things up down there....

 

But after more breaks loose, it may need it again. Better than clogging line and shelling out engine! May take some time for that much crud to all come loose. Don't think I have ever seen one that bad.

 

no doubt bud. no biggie dropping the pan again. im sure glad I don't mind getting my hands dirty.

correct.

oh im sure its going to need it again. ive got about 450miles on it since I did all that. gonna do seafoam then oil change at about 500miles. then probably drop pan on the oil change after that if everything is still going good.

 

The next time you have the pan off you might consider changing the rear crank seal as well if not done already.

 

There's no way i would have spent that much time on cleaning without a rebuild, or at least a used motor. I would have opened the valve covers, saw it, and immediately put the new gaskets on without doing anything until I was ready to pull the engine.

 

Which would have been about 50 miles later when it became an expensive lawn ornament

Amazing how terrible this engine looked and it still runs... That plug!!! I've never in my life seen anything like that. Hopefully all that work was worth it!

 

yeah brad I can tell it was worth it. engine runs much better and smoother. anything is better then what was all crammed in there. my valve covers and engine bay get hotter then I would like but I might be due for a fan clutch and water pump anyway.

well I dumped 1/2 a bottle of seafoam in it and ran the **** out of her and amazingly, no smoke show, like none at all, wtf? I said screw it, changed the oil and filter. maybe i'll try a full can next time, I dumped the other 1/2 in my tank to clean the injectors.

since then, ive obviously got the gutted cat back up, sealed leaks (I suck welding on my back in gravel lol), few days later I couldn't take it anymore so I threw on my Edelbrock SDT muffler. luv the dodge power/sound. that muffler goes well with the 360. now I gotta buy one for Blue (98).. I think im going to go with the dynomax VT for her.


now I have to find out why I still have hesitation/a little stumbling/no power really till 3k rpms. soon as she hits 3k she takes off like a bat outta hell. ive done some searching but all I see is "cats clogged", "Plenum", "pre-cat o2", "plugs/wires/cap", "TPS" and possibly the "MAP sensor"..

well, cats gutted, just installed new gaskets all around, swapped front o2 sensors (used but still good("I think") from the 98), new champion copper plugs, newer accel wires, newer cap (not sure if rotor was done, guessing so), New TPS (ecklin(?) from napa, same as in my 98), I know the MAP nipple was cracked, poor mans fix was a little electrical tape. think i'll run a new line for that this week maybe. kinda running out of ideas on the no power till 3k. any ideas, toss 'em out please.

 

I'd be looking at a vacuum leak at the MAP, a bad MAP, or bad O2 sensors. Does it do it when cold, hot or all the time?