Prognosis: Blown Head Gasket

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Suburbanlegend

Suburbanlegend

10 Year
Joined
Aug 10, 2015
Threads
9
Messages
141
Location
RDU
Update: Jay at Renaissance looked at it and good news is that it is not oil fouled plug...it is reportedly coolant and fuel fowled plug. He's been recommending off-loading the car even before exam because of the surface rust but it's not looking good.

Any thoughts on what I should do with the truck? The head replacement sounds prohibitively expensive and he mentioned LS swap by TrollHole as an option.
 
If it needs a head gasket replacement you there are plenty of club members near you that have done it before and can help guide you through it to keep costs down.

if you think paying to have a head gasket done is cost prohibitive just wait to you see the bill for a LS swap.


Really its up to you as to what to do with the truck and how much $$$ to sink in to it. If you don't really want to put that much money into it because of rust (i've never seen a pic of your truck) and don't want to put the elbow grease into it then selling it would be an option but you most likely wouldn't get too much out of it either.

My advice would be schedule a HAMOM buy beer and food get some great guys over there to help you along the way.
 
Decision is tough depending how much rust you have. Post up some pictures of the bad areas.
 
uzj100 said:
I saw this truck today. Very nice front and rear ARB bumpers and factory lockers.
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in that case id keep it and fix it, learn the truck and engine better.
 
I'd get with the reigning head gasket crew and see if you cant work out some sort of deal. They've done several within the past year or so and pretty much have it figured out. They'll chime in if they are interested.
 
Good advice LT1Fire, I think I will give this truck a second run at life.

uzj100: Jay mentioned you admired the truck today. You think it is worth the effort of saving?
 
Anyone or group willing to help get an 80 back on the road? I would love to learn how to work on the truck and actually know what it is like to drive some time down the road.
 
Suburbanlegend said:
Anyone or group willing to help get an 80 back on the road? I would love to learn how to work on the truck and actually know what it is like to drive some time down the road.
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Do some searching to read up on what a HAMOM is. That's what I'd recommend you do; host one to get the work done!
 
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I've not seen your truck but I will speak to rust in general. I friggin hate it! I have done my fair share of rust removal and repair on vehicles over the years. At the time it seemed like a good idea. These days, rust is the biggest turn off to a vehicle for me. You just never seem to get it all unless you take everything back to bare metal so you can really see.

That said, it all factors in. If the rust is minor and you can at least stop it from growing and the rest of the truck is decent, fix the head gasket and drive the thing. You wont get much for it with a blown head gasket so it is worth it to fix, drive a while then sell if you want to, at least you get some of your money out of it. Who knows, it may double in value by then LOL
 
That is a tough call. I was not able to get under it. There is some random rust under the hood. I would treat it all with some stop rust, hit every surface then let one of the 80 experts look it over.

I am not sure if cash is an issue but that rear ARB bumper could be sold for around $1200 even with the small amount of surface rust it had. It has the tire carrier and jerry can carrier. I have not seen too many of these rear bumpers in person. That is one nice bumper with both of those attachments.

ARB Rear Bumper

That $1200 could go along way to getting that engine right or sell the non winch front ARB.

Then once it is running properly go back add a lift and armor later on.

Or get the HG crew to assist and get it back on the road like it is.
 
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Oh man. The body rot and frame rust is the nail in the coffin.

If it were me, I'd pull off the bumpers and anything else you want, then sell it for parts. The shuddering issue the guy described in the for-sale thread is an early indicator of a failing transmission. You can buy an unlocked, rust-free 80 in the southeast for a few grand, slap on the locked axles from this black truck, slap on the ARB bumpers and you're golden.
 
not too bad... spend some time cleaning up that rust and using POR15 or rust bullet on the frame
 
Tough one. With low miles I'd probably fix the motor. But your looking at 3k or so to get it all up to snuff. 2k for the head gasket alone. That's with a rebuilt head.

Rusty locked 80 properly treated can last a long time. Just have to be done right. But with a little time anyone can treat the rust. If there is rust on the body I say run if you want a nice truck. If you want a wheeler trail truck. Go for it.
 
Fix it. I have done two head gaskets and i am not a master mechanic. Parts and head work will run you about $1000 depending on what you replace. Follow the fsm and there is a video somewhere.(i never got it).
 
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