Recent content by ogden lafaye

Site is easy to access now. Used to be a real pain to get logged in. The 318 PU is doing fine, thanks for all the input. 16 years ago the odometer quit....3 months ago it started working again. Laughter...at least 200,000 miles if not many more. Love my 318.

It was a swelling and contracting old rubber freeze plug. Lots of erratic behavior. Yes, there was a lot of crud and several cans of flush didn't help get rid of it.

Thanks, rubber freeze plug!(trash item) leaking sometimes when cold/overnight and sealing up when hot. Erratic leak. All good now.

To everyone...thank you. Problem solved. There was a rubber expansion plug in the water jacket. It started contracting at night and very slowly leaked water. In the morning, water level appeared full but once the engine warmed up it (Rubber expansion plug) expanded. Added water and the truck...

Well, once a lot of people picked it up the suggestions came fast and true. I tried everything I hadn't thought of and we all seemed to have a good time. The truck runs OK now. If everything was simple and conversations terse.....it wouldn't be fun, it would be like... church.

Of course...this was done...ran cold...didn't overheat. Thanks

Thanks for the suggestions but, no...nothing like that. This truck usually starts out in 3rd (high) gear. Quiet, very quietly it moves off...sometimes it stays in 1st gear for a mile or so but I drive 20 mph until it finally shifts to 2nd or 3rd. There are other transmission problems but drag...

The slipping impeller was a good clue and your slip checking "tool" and procedure is genius. My plea for help has been met with a lot of ingenious ideas. Thanks all...

You must be an old timer...yes, there were cast iron impellers years back and they used to slip when cold and then grip once you warmed up...eventually you had to change the water pump. I pulled the water pump and it was a stamped impeller and after all those miles it was as tight as a new one...

@famousbob...yes you did and you know, NAPA looked into it and said a 180F. stat was recommended by Dodge as an alternate. I have a funny feeling the truck was "sorta" sorted on the assembly line for towing...it was a US Government truck I picked up at auction dirt cheap and almost new. It had...

Yes thanks, I switched to 13 lbs.lift cap and 180F stat...lowered the upper hose so that it was below radiator fill opening......so far, OK (fingers crossed) see posts below A crack in the heads/block would be the death nell...I am just too old to be pulling and magnafluxing heads and blocks...

Thats interesting and might relate to my problem. I DID change a freeze plug towards the rear recently and yes, there was a bunch of waxy/grease looking crud behind it. I used a radiator flush on it about 3 times with no cessation of the over-heating problem however. 20 years ago I flushed...

We shall see he says, with bated breath, fear still flashing in his eyes.....I did ALL the work myself and at 76 years old it was still interesting and a type of fun we all know. Now, if I could just find someone to do my auto transmission A727 I believe, or swap it out for a good one. The...