Thread: George gets it first outing!

glad too see you back on the road Edd,,

Originally Posted by Range Blitzer

G'day Edd, as a newcomer I've only caught the tail end of your story with your vehicle. If you don't mind can you briefly catch me up what happened? Just interested in the sort of issues that happen to these vehicles from the mother land, and am still learning,
Robert.

It's been a long saga.
Bought the vehicle secondhand in march 19 months ago.
2 days after warunty it overheated from coolant loss. At this point I discovered that the coolant cap was the wrong one with almost no pressure resistance so I bought a new cap and refilled everything. 1 month later it started doing it again so had it pressure checked to be given the all clear (Thought I had blown the Head gasket).
By the January this year I was using about 1/2 litre of coolant a week and had alread replaced several pipes trying to solve it. Then at one of Ace's weekends we foud the thermostat was jammed so drilled it out to get it home. I found it was fine without the thermostat but one I replaced it with a new one she would pump the coolant out and get hot. Several visits to radiator shops and they were still insisting that everything was fine. Then the radiator sprung a leak and one of the welsh plugs also started leaking. I fixed all of that and then a little over 2 months ago suddenly there was oil in the coolant.

At this point I decided to open it up and fix it. Once I cracked it open we found major electrolasis damage to the head, buggered valve seat and valves. So over the last 2 months I have had the head stripped, welded, machined and the valve seats, valves and valve guid seals done. Took 2 weeks just to get the injectors out! During reassemble the fuel block cracked so that has been done as well.
The thing has cost thousands to repair even with me doing most of the labor and taken forever to get each specialty bit done. Along the way I was told by most places it was either non repairable or they wern't interested. Quotes were $4,000-$10,000 if I insisted on them fixing it. This also made the decision to do most myself easier.

The cause of all of it was the wrong coolant when I bought it which I maintained and those stop leak adatives cloging up everything. Basicly the head was a problem from day one and either the dealer or the previous owner probably knew about it.

During the time my rig was off the road the wifes car also spat its head but at least it's only a ford so a couple hundred bucks and it was repaired.

Edd

You missed out there

He's a local to you

You should have replied " I'll tell you over a beer , your shout"

Well done Edd
I KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE JUST GONE THRU.
At least Richard suffered the pain on my behalf.
ENJOY
Andrew

Good to here you have it back again

Andrew

Thanks for the update Edd, wrong coolant you say? So coolants aren't coolants. You have me worried now, what should I be using in my alloy V8?

For the V8 I don't know. I know mine needs the red organic stuff. Was even cheaper than the stuff that was in it. I have the rave CD's here so will look it up and post it up for you.

the red stuff will suit all engines...new and not so new.....
the green stuff is for the earlier engines......with brass radiators......


thats just a quick and very basic guide.........you should always refer to the manufacturers handbook........