How's your truck? ........And when are you moving? :confused: My son has been busy with work and I'm too lazy and know little about newer junk. Still can't believe 79,400 and leaking head gaskets. As you read this he is removing second head. Looks like just bad head gaskets. Oddly right exhaust manifold has two missing bolt heads and the bolts are rusty like it's been that way some time. How do manifold bolt heads fall off when no one has touched them since new? Also son says he read over 20,000 have complained about bad head gaskets. A few Chrysler replaced only one that was bad then the other failed. .That's only those who complained. Hopefully that is all that's wrong. Still gonna cost $240 plus change and free labor. Hoping then I can drive it around here till spring and once to Illinois. More trips depends on what happens. I don't trust any cars anymore. :confused: Yes Tedy not moving till at least spring 2015 or 16, or 17, or ??????? But we already have a house full of nearly new furniture, a free grandfather clock, washer/dryer/ extension ladder, and more the others left......like I'm gonna do here. I even bought a new Black Friday sale 46" TV for son to pick up at local store and mount on a wall. Hope he don't wear it out before we get there. You ask. I told.
those bolt heads break off because the expansion overstresses the steel in the bolt shank, popping it off. They're rusty because they are a different formulation from older bolts. That said, let your son know to put anti-seize on all those bolts, as well as the intake bolts and make sure the intake bolts are properly torqued in sequence 3 times to ensure all bolts are properly torqued.
Thanks for the help. Wondered about the bolts breaking without help from some mechanic. He's been wanting to put headers on it for years. At this point I'm not spending anymore than I have to on it. I'm mad at Dodges. Should have spent more and bought GM. Son just got home. Says he always uses anti seize because of aluminum. I guess he's not as dumb as he looks. He gets mad when I question him and his work. He also says the heater core broke because when the head gaskets leaked it created a spike. :confused: Not going to replace the heater core until we know everything else is okay. At least it is still decent weather here. That's another week or two part time job. Who ever designed these cars to remove the steering column and dash to replace a lousy heater box was not planning on replacing one.
All the new ones require removing the column and dash, but mechanics like me always look for shortcuts. The '97-and-newer Ford F150s require it, so I would just unbolt the dash and tie the passenger end up out of the way, with the driver's side supported on the column.
Sadly even the AC does not work correctly with the heater core bypassed. It needs heat to keep cool. Or actually from not overcooling.:confused:
