I guess I didn't form my last post very well. I realize that's not big Ed's motor. I was just wondering if Darrin had actually verified that it was a head gasket, and not a crack. As for the Cummins talk, I almost voted for Travis at the IDI Rally. Tom's catagory of "Best Engine" was difficult to assess what it was that he was really wanting us to judge (no fault to Tom, who in his defense has never been to a rally and doesn't know the usual catagories), but if it was for modability or horsepower, then there was obviously only one winner there. The point of keeping the IDI is to be different. Cummins powered trucks are so commonplace now, that not having one is really the challenge worth mastering. If Big Ed were really to be honored with a different motor, it would have to be something else totally. A Cat or DT-466 would be a worthy project.
I actually did vote for Travis for reason's stated abave, and just because it made me laugh. call me sick,..
The thing is I really like the Cummins for power capability as well as fuel mileage. What I don't like is the sound. there is just something aout a turbo V8 that you cant get with a straight 6. Like my Bro said, as we watched a straight pipe Cummins take off from his driveway,. "you just can't make a straight 6 sound good"
. But that is just my opinion.
That and the fact that once the conversion was competed I would also hve to change gear ratios and that can get spendy, unless I swap whole axles with someone that has 3:55's and want 4'10'5 (Gruss)
Now how close was Big Ed to getting a Cummins, Check this out:
On E-bay a couple of months ago there was a 1984 F350 Crew Cab SRW 2wd in Winsconson. It has a Cummins Conversion with about 20K miles on the new motor and converosn. It had a tree fall on the hood, fender and doors but the truck came with all of the parts to repair. It was a rust free California truck as well. It had a salvage title. I was thinking that I could buy it, I would have all the parts needed for the conversion, put an IDI back in the 84 and seill it and probablly have a Cummins COnversion for free. I was watching the acution and didn't have a chance to send the guy an e-mail. With 3 days to go I was going to ask him what he would sell it for, The auciton had ended to sell at the current bidders high price,..get this,...$1200.00! I missed it.
I was figuring I would pay about 2 to 2500 for it. I would buy the truck have it sit in the back of the lot and do the swap this winter.
But back to reality,... Mel, I have not done anything with my truck yet so no investigation on what the probem is for shure. I wanted to see what my option were as far as a motor replacment since it is the same amount of labor to do the heads, as it is to swap a motor.
Since I am back to square ONE on the motors in my shop I have gone into looking into other options. I have located 3 or 4 trucks with low mile or rebuilt motors that I can purchase for 1,500 to 2,000.00 pull the motors and part out the rest of the truck like I did with the motor for the infomus Colorodo truck. Essentually getting a free rebuilt motor , it just takes a little more work.
Here are the links:
http://cleveland.craigslist.org/pts/366885229.html
http://stlouis.craigslist.org/pts/350317898.html
http://annarbor.craigslist.org/car/357463800.html
The last one has a turbo and a new dually box, new tires and a 5 speed. He claims that the miles are actual.
The middle one has 40K on motor and trans, no turbo, but hard front end damage, and he wants 3K for it.
I am waiting for more pics on these.
So that is where I am at, still looking at options.
Barney dont get me wrong i love my IDI but it's a recurring thing here. a lot of the guys who push the power envelope blow them up. OK not all do such as Mel but it seems to be a bit of a pattern with the hot rodders *cough Travis cough*
=slammin' gears, driving the **** out of it. Dodge = 
= eatin' a burger, talking on the phone, going too fast... Maybe I should toss an IDI in that one 
