Well i wasn't quite 10 when it came out but yep, that's the song being referred to
You're correct Terry - timing chain cover leaking errrummm...pure tap water
It had worsened to the point of needing to fill the rad each morning, then again each afternoon when leaving work (fortunately barely four miles away) and not knowing exactly when I could make the repairs, no anti-freeze was used this winter - iknow, iknow
Same routine for groceries. I can recall one morning after parking at work and as i'm walking away, seeing drips from the fuel pump on one side underneath the engine bay and water from the timing chain cover leak on the other
I needed decent weather conditions and they finally aligned for me the first week of March.
A couple of other items I forgot to mention; first whenever using the wipers, they would act as if in slow motion and second while parked in my driveway undergoig cooling system and fuel leak repairs the passenger rear wheel cylinder went as well presenting me with a brake fluid stain on the day everything was to finally be reassembled. Cool, electrical as well as brake issues
Thanks for keeping me on my toes, Mr. Murphy
Whichever automotive god i had originally pissed off
decided to get his buddies in on the party as well
Really, things were getting so bad it was becoming humourous. Btw around this time my tv began to display everything in a slight green tint. I'm not making this stuff up - but again for another forum. I began to feel as if I had been twilight zoned into a bad version of 'Thinner'
During these dark days, i lost the will to even log on here. Not depressed but after reading of other folks going through much worse, all things considered, than I was just caused me to quietly resign my self to fixing things one at a time.
Instead of testing for the
cause of the electrical problem, I limped to AZ and purchased an Optima battery ($167) - no change. To really check the electrical issue, I felt (probably wrongly so) that the truck needed to be able to run for an extended period; for it to run or even drive anywhere safely meant the cooling, gas, and brake fluid leaks had to be addressed.
The only thing going for me was my neighbor and old high school bud, Bob (he jokes about how much he resembles the Geico caveman and has had the same long hair and beard since I met him at hs after moving to Montgomery in 1974
). Bob is oldschool, mechanically inclined, and during the eighties was ASE trained and certified by the local Firestone Tire shop. Bob still keeps his 72 429 Country Squire roadworthy but my excitement over my rusty project Challenger is lost on him. Hemi, 440, or even Super Cobra Jet mean little other than they're engines and should be properly cared for. He shakes his head a lot at how his hints seem to be lost on me
but gladly took me to drop off and retrieve my radiator. Thanks, Bob!!
Plum, unfortunately you got it - with Bob directing, to do things right meant pulling the (damper and) timing chain cover. Bob wheeled over his 1 1/2 hp compressor and air gunned the damper off. Then I proceeded to clean surfaces and purchase the remaining parts to complete repair of the fuel and cooling leaks.
Doing things right on this rebuilt motor with barely 9K miles meant fresh anti-freeze, new belts, hoses (heater, radiator bypass, fuel, and transmission), water pump (Mopar), thermostat, timing chain cover seal (gasket), bolt sealer, radiator cap, drop the radiator off at the local readiator shop for thorough tanking and pressure testing, an oil pan gasket set so that the semi-circular gasket at the front lip of the oil pan (which cannot be purchased by itself) could be replaced as well, fuel pump, and fuel filter. Aaaaaaand since there was a chance of debris getting in to the oil (I had a rag stuffed in the gap left by the removed tc cover, but still...), a NAPA Gold oil filter and fresh oil as I did not want to have to repeat this repair lesson anytime soon
Parts, pieces, and supplies singed me for another $382.59
Curiously Mopar does not carry the water pump gasket for my 87 360
Helloooooo NAPA!
Everything went back together in short order. Yes the tc cover was marked ensuring the timing was correct
Putting the water pump bolts in place on the old water pump will save time and aggravation during reassembly. Don't ask how I know this
I drove to work the next day without cooling system leaks for the first time in a long time but by the time i returned home that day, the trans line leaks had come back bad as ever. After three straight days of rain - you've GOT to be kidding me!!! -
two clamps (instead of one) on each end of their respective hoses cured that. Finally!!!! No leaks!!!!!
Not wanting to push my luck, I next took my truck to the local Dodge dealer so they could properly diagnose and correct my electrical issue. I had sanded every ground connection I could get to and still no change. This turned out to be both the voltage regulator as well as the connector to the voltage regulator.
($240.35)
Last week the rear wheel cylinders and brake shoes were replaced; a front pad was lightly sanded to cure a vibration
($300)
There's more to do but at least she's reliable now.
I still glance under the front end every day though
