Well, my Truck started...

[JLH911]

It started the very first time after an extensive rehab of vital components(intake/exhaust gasket, all cooling hoses, carb rebuild etc etc).

Now here the BUT part.....I'm still hearing an exhaust leak. I doubt it's from the intake/exhaust. The gasket where the intake and exhaust meet looks good too.

Any tips on what I should look at first? I did replace the doughnut gasket at the exhaust pipe as well as the put in an SOR EGR pipe.

Hmm, what do you guys think?

 

[BlueCruiser84]

Did you get the exhaust manifold milled flat?

 

[JLH911]

Yeah, I sure did get it planed, but I'm sort of concerned now..I told the guys doing the work that it had to be done as one piece but when I got it back it was in two pieces.

I'm going to check out other possible sources before I even think about taking that off again...argh!

 

[JLH911]

And now from the almost six months that it sat there not being run, it seems the water pump gasket is shot. It must have dried out because it's leaking from the top and I never touched it.

It looked like the w.p. had been replaced not too long ago. Guess I should have replaced it when it was easily accessible! argh!

take a breath...one thing at a time...first I have to stop coolant leak then I'll worry about the exhaust leak.

 

[JLH911]

So I found out where the coolant leak was coming from

I thought it was the water pump, but it turned out being the gasket in between the head and the thermostat housing.

Follow the arrows and you'll see where the water started trickling down(top)and then made it's way down behind the waterpump's back and then emerged from the bottom of the bolt. (see pic)

Sheesh! time to call Cdan to get a new gastet.


Still have no idea where the exhaust leak is coming from. How many doughnut gaskets does the exhaust pipe get where it meets the exhaust manifold flange?

The reason I ask is because I got one and I remember Cdan telling me that it was either that or the EGR pipe that gets two gaskets.

I got two of the EGR pipe gakets, but now I'm thinking it only takes one and he just sent an extra on accident.

Any ideas?

Thanks

 

[Trapper50cal]

a guy

told me the air rail can make the same noise as an exhaust manifold leak, double gasket if you haven't milled the Intake/exhaust and see if that solves.

 

[brian]

since you had everything apart. i'd drive it for a week or so and then look around to see where it's leaking. by then you should be able to see where teh evidents of the leak are.

or go back around and snug every single fastener up a bit.

 

[JLH911]

I could do that...or I could just take it to a muffler shop?

I'd hate to be guessing where it's at, especially if its not something obvious. That intake/exhaust gasket is a bear to remove and it's not something I want to be doing again anytime soon.

Does anyone know if muffler shops are equipped with some sort of "Exhaust sniffer" that they could probe around with to determine where the leak is at?

I have a mechanics stethoscope that I might have some luck with.

Thanks!

 

[Trapper50cal]

I've had

I've had a mechanic refuse to fix my exhaust leak (and refuse a lot of cash) because the stuff was so hard to get to. (not desmogged) He just said, lets not tackle this until you get it desmogged and get a header for it.

 

[JLH911]

Wow, that's pretty bad that a mechanic wouldn't look at it.

I know it's probably something dumb that's causing this...

I was so happy to hear it start on the first try, and at the same time
disappointed because of the exhaust leak. I can't wait to remedy this problem because it was running very smooth.

 

[Trapper50cal]

Oh he

Wow, that's pretty bad that a mechanic wouldn't look at it.

I know it's probably something dumb that's causing this...

I was so happy to hear it start on the first try, and at the same time
disappointed because of the exhaust leak. I can't wait to remedy this problem because it was running very smooth.

Oh, he looked at it, then he passed cuz he didn't want to dig into all the smog equip.

 

[2mbb]

use a piece of hose as a stethoscope. hold one end up to your ear and move the other end around until the exhaust leak is the loudest. This will help you identify where the leak is coming from.

 

[JLH911]

I'll try that too...sounds like a cheaper idea...now if only I had some left over heater hose...

 

[MANUCHAO]

Jose.
I got some hose.. dont know if its heater hose tho'.
I can drop it off later today...

Have you checked the exhaust pipes... I remember mine having the same issues waaay back then.... it turned out I had a pin size hole.. a tack weld did the trick..

Lemme know eh !!!!

Manu

 

[JLH911]

Jose.
I got some hose.. dont know if its heater hose tho'.
I can drop it off later today...

Have you checked the exhaust pipes... I remember mine having the same issues waaay back then.... it turned out I had a pin size hole.. a tack weld did the trick..

Lemme know eh !!!!

Manu

Thanks man! I'm gonna stop by at NAPA real quick and I'll give you a call, but yeah if you could, that'd be great. I actually forgot to pick up some of that stuff you have there that we talked about. Maybe I could pick some of it up today...can't take much since my little car's trunk is tiny.

Thanks again.

 

[ohrly?]

My block has been scored from an exhaust on the mani, how do i fix that?

 

[Marc311]

You can also use a piece of wood, like a broom handle, or a metal rod. When using those methods, do you know what you shouldn't do?? You shouldn't let the end hit the fan when the other end is near your head. I mean, you would have to REALLY be stupid to do that, but I have heard it may have happened to somebody

By the way, I know you have been battling this thing for awhile. I have been watching your threads since my journey was similar. I have to say, in the last couple days my ride has been running great and I am starting to feel like it is finally coming together.

Oh crap! I just jinxed myself.

 

[JLH911]

You can also use a piece of wood, like a broom handle, or a metal rod. When using those methods, do you know what you shouldn't do?? You shouldn't let the end hit the fan when the other end is near your head. I mean, you would have to REALLY be stupid to do that, but I have heard it may have happened to somebody

By the way, I know you have been battling this thing for awhile. I have been watching your threads since my journey was similar. I have to say, in the last couple days my ride has been running great and I am starting to feel like it is finally coming together.

Oh ****! I just jinxed myself.

hahaha that's funny...I'm sure some people have done that with the fan.

That's why I want to use a rubber hose instead of my ears...I mean my ears do stick out, but I'd like to keep them for a little longer.

Thanks for the words of encouragement.

Manuchao just left a little while ago. He was nice enough to bring me some parts he didn't need anymore(converted to a v-8)and he also brought some hose that I'll be using.

Now I have to order two gaskets and get this leak fixed then I'll tackle the exhaust.

I'm almost there!

 

[JLH911]

My block has been scored from an exhaust on the mani, how do i fix that?

Do you mean an exhaust leak scored/damaged the block?

If it's not too bad, I don't think it'd make a difference but I'm sure good machinist would be able to tell you for sure.

Good luck!

 

[JLH911]

Success....finally.

So it turns out there was an exhaust leak...in fact, there were many...all caused by the same thing...an improperly machined Intake/Exhaust manifold(oh and maybe some loose nuts/bolts ).

Dynosoar came by early this morning to give me a hand(he knows his way around these rigs!). We had the manifold off in no time and clearly saw evidence of the multiple exhaust leaks around the gasket fire rings.

Had a used, good condition, manifold sitting off to the side that Manuchao so nicely donated. Thanks man!

We got done by 2:30 or so and it's WAY quieter. What a difference. All I hear now is the noisy Smog Pump(on my to-do list).

87CRUSR came by in the afternoon....good guy and nice rig too!(don't forget to order that p/s reservoir cover)

Thanks also to all who responded here.

Thanks again to Dynosoar for helping me out.


now on to the next adventure...