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| | | Mechanically Inclined in GA, anyone? | Joined: Jun 2010 Posts: 1,080 Likes: 1 old hand | OP old hand Joined: Jun 2010 Posts: 1,080 Likes: 1 | Hey there,
So, I've been meaning to get to working on my Annie (B250 van) but finishing up the house before we hit the road full time has gotten in the way.
I'm curious if there is anyone out there in forum land who lives in or near the Fayetteville, Tyrone, PTC - GA area who is good at working on these puppies and wants to help me out?
Much appreciated. | | | Re: Mechanically Inclined in GA, anyone? | Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 3,001 pooh-bah | pooh-bah Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 3,001 | There are members from Georgia on this forum, I'm sure they'll respond. What type of mechanical help is needed ?
I DID NOT Escape, I'm on a Weekend Pass Lifelong Disease, WhiteLine Fever 97 DODGE shorty, The ROCK & ROLL Train New 4 Seasons Criuser, 74 B100, The Night Train Member of the Toopa Sinner Tribe
| | | Re: Mechanically Inclined in GA, anyone? | Joined: Jun 2010 Posts: 1,080 Likes: 1 old hand | OP old hand Joined: Jun 2010 Posts: 1,080 Likes: 1 | Hey,
Thanks. I hope to hear from them.
The kind of help that I need. Well.... it could range anywhere from time intensive and difficult to simple and quick.
Things that I would like to do (if they are needed... hence I need a second set of eyes that knows what they are looking at):
1) Replace manifolds (bolts are rusted on) 2) Repair rings / seals (? not sure) on one side (oil fouled plug) 3) Replace all belts 4) Change all fluids 5) Fix Over Gassing issue (adjust / clean carb)
The top two are a big one for me working by myself and new to it. Not that I cannot do them myself but I would not mind a second set of eyes that are familiar checking in on me.
The rest I can do myself but am trying to get our house on the market so that we can get it sold and start full-timing in our van. So, time is an issue because they would take me longer to learn and do than someone who already knows what they are doing.
Thanks for inquiring. | | | Re: Mechanically Inclined in GA, anyone? | Joined: Jun 2010 Posts: 1,080 Likes: 1 old hand | OP old hand Joined: Jun 2010 Posts: 1,080 Likes: 1 | By the way....
There is a likelihood there are many more issues but these are the ones I have discovered so far. I'm sure once I dig into her real good there will be more. | | | Re: Mechanically Inclined in GA, anyone? | Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 3,001 pooh-bah | pooh-bah Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 3,001 | I guess it Really depends on how far, you plan to travel, with Annie ? You certainly don't want to break down on the highway, half way across the country.
I DID NOT Escape, I'm on a Weekend Pass Lifelong Disease, WhiteLine Fever 97 DODGE shorty, The ROCK & ROLL Train New 4 Seasons Criuser, 74 B100, The Night Train Member of the Toopa Sinner Tribe
| | | Re: Mechanically Inclined in GA, anyone? | Joined: Jun 2010 Posts: 1,080 Likes: 1 old hand | OP old hand Joined: Jun 2010 Posts: 1,080 Likes: 1 | That is so true. As soon as the house sells we will be full-timing in her and she will be 'everything' to us.... transportation, home, etc. So, we want her running well enough to have the freedom to travel across country or just to the market. We will move as the wind tells us so it would be nice if Annie was running well enough for that.
| | | Re: Mechanically Inclined in GA, anyone? | Joined: May 2006 Posts: 4,460 pooh-bah | pooh-bah Joined: May 2006 Posts: 4,460 | where abouts in GA are you? i travel through there fairly often.
2003 Grand Caravan Member Vanatics Van Club-Spfld, IL Member Florida Van Council Member Central Florida Vans,-Orlando, FL | | | Re: Mechanically Inclined in GA, anyone? | Joined: May 2006 Posts: 4,460 pooh-bah | pooh-bah Joined: May 2006 Posts: 4,460 | nevermind, i should have read the entire thread. My suggestion to you would be for the money in a ring job and all that stuff you may be better off with a new crate motor in it.
2003 Grand Caravan Member Vanatics Van Club-Spfld, IL Member Florida Van Council Member Central Florida Vans,-Orlando, FL | | | Re: Mechanically Inclined in GA, anyone? | Joined: Apr 2010 Posts: 2,847 Likes: 42 veteran | veteran Joined: Apr 2010 Posts: 2,847 Likes: 42 | Nicole, If the exhaust manifolds are not leaking where they meet the head, do not touch them. They are cast Iron, they are 23 years old. The will always appear rusty they have been rusty looking for the last 20 years. Nature of the beast.
An oil fouled spark plug doesn't necessarily mean you need new rings. Perhaps someone more knowledgeable could jump in on this issue. It could be the valve stem seals which is not an incredibly difficult job. If the rings on a particular cylinder are broken, to replace them, well you might just as well get a new crate motor. It might not even be a oil fouled spark plug, but a misfiring cylinder caused by a bad spark plug wire or crusty distributor cap, which will also cause your Rich running fuel smell.
Changing the belts is pretty simple.
My Point is, is that you might be making more of it than needs to be done.
Preventative maintenance is a good thing, but if I remember correctly your concerns about the rusty manifolds, remove them off the To do list.
If you are really worried about the engine's health, have the compression tested, perhaps a Used oil analysis to check for any excessive wear metals.
I very much understand the desire to have everything in top notch condition before beginning a long trip, but sometimes you just got to do what you can, and take any mechanical incidents along the way, as part of the journey.
Doing all the fluids, and belts is a good thing, but if you find there is a cracked ring, and/or a cylinder or 2 with weak compression, well belts and fluids will quickly fall to the bottom of the priority list.
But you might be able to slow a valve stem seal leak with some high mileage oil, cure the rich running with new spark plug wires, change the belts and fluids, and be able to circulate the country a half dozen times with no issues.
At least you know you need help. I hope you can find someone honest to get Annie ready for your upcoming adventure.
| | | Re: Mechanically Inclined in GA, anyone? | Joined: Jun 2010 Posts: 1,080 Likes: 1 old hand | OP old hand Joined: Jun 2010 Posts: 1,080 Likes: 1 | draggnastro and wrcsixeight....
thanks for your responses. i have considered a new engine as it would be nice to start out 'fresh' on one hand. truth be told, i don't think mine is really all that bad. i am quite handy and learned how to pick a pretty decent car from my father. i think i did really well but i'm just frustrated in a time respect really.
annie hasn't been running well lately an i know i just need to give her some attention but the house has claimed all of my time lately and so when i go out to start her or drive her and she acts up i get frustrated with each thing i find. i know that many are small and it is just the desire to be working on her and not that house that makes me feel like they are big jobs probably.
anyway, enough whining like a woman on that one... ha ha.
as for some of what you've said... here's some replies that might help you help me a bit more.
i do know that the right manifold has /had a leak. the bolt that was holding on the crossover bar was broken off before i bought her and you could hear a pretty good leak from it. i think though that i've gotten that one solved with a hose clamp of all things that now keeps that tube in place. since then the van actually downshifts for the first time when climbing hills, etc.
on that same side the heat shield is broken off and i cannot put another on with the bolts rusted in. i think she's o.k. without it but am not sure.
as for the oil fouled plug i know for a fact it is fouled for two reasons. when i took them all out to clean them the first time it was covered. i cleaned it real good, put it back in and she drove beautifully. only a short while later the driving went back to as before and i check it again. again covered in oil. well, now that i've been really opening her up (getting more confident in actually driving her hard and not baby'ing her so much) i now notice that the oil is actually bubbling out around the plug. so now it is visible when the engine is running not just by removing the plug. that freaked me out a bit and i started thinking it might be something more severe. any ideas?
truth is, i am capable of breaking her down and rebuilding her but i just don't have the time right now. with a second set of eyes and hands the job would be quicker than learning it all myself as i go.
i also have tried three mechanics in my area and did not trust any of them in terms of what they were saying. all three said something different about what was wrong and what needed working on. since i know a bit, i knew that some of what they were telling me was hogwash.
i'd like to do it myself am just hoping to find someone to sort of mentor me if you will.
thanks, ya'll!! | | | Re: Mechanically Inclined in GA, anyone? | Joined: Apr 2010 Posts: 2,847 Likes: 42 veteran | veteran Joined: Apr 2010 Posts: 2,847 Likes: 42 |
About the Manifold Crossover bar, I think you are talking about the Air pump injection tube. I do not see how reattaching that can help it downshift correctly, but perhaps I am not understanding your description.
About the heatshield, Mine disintegrated in 2003. It is actually not a heat shield per se, but kind of a heat collector. There should be a ~ 2 inch diameter flexible hose that runs from this heat stove, to the air intake. It helps the engine run better while it is warming up.
I used some coffee cans riveted together to fabricate a new one. It is held to the manifold with a large hose clamp. I also made it so it acts to keep the alternator cooler so it can produce more amps to recharge my batteries.
The oil seeping out from around the sparkplug is scary! I would not think anything should be able to get around the spark plug. That cylinder cannot be contributing any power.
I would start a new thread about that issue, because it is the single biggest issue Annie has.
| | | Re: Mechanically Inclined in GA, anyone? | Joined: Jun 2010 Posts: 1,080 Likes: 1 old hand | OP old hand Joined: Jun 2010 Posts: 1,080 Likes: 1 | :o( I know. That is actually my primary concern (oil issue) before I do anything else even simple like changing belts. I want that oil issue fixed.
I'll try to start another thread but not sure where to put it. Ideas?
The tube is called the Air Injection Crossover Tube in my FSM. If you think of it like a T it bolts to each manifold and then the middle part of the T runs toward the front of the car. On the right side the bolt head broke off and the threaded part is still in the manifold so the tube was not connect where it needed to be but riding 'free'. Since I've got it in place when I'm getting more pick up and some (downshifting) when I go up hills, etc. Not sure if my 'downshifting' terminology is correct but she sure climbs better since I've done that. Before she would struggle on the easiest of hills.
| | | Re: Mechanically Inclined in GA, anyone? | Joined: Apr 2010 Posts: 2,847 Likes: 42 veteran | veteran Joined: Apr 2010 Posts: 2,847 Likes: 42 | The Dodge troubleshooting subforum would be the right spot for advice about the oil squeezing past the sparkplug, but maybe more people would read it if it were in the performance/ non brand specific subforum.
I wonder if the Crossover tube being unattached could have had an effect on the cylinder that's pushing oil out the spark plug hole. Is it the cylinder closest to it?
| | | Re: Mechanically Inclined in GA, anyone? | Joined: Jun 2010 Posts: 1,080 Likes: 1 old hand | OP old hand Joined: Jun 2010 Posts: 1,080 Likes: 1 | Hey,
I tried the troubleshooting forum. We'll see.
It is actually the plug furthest from the tube (closest to the front of the car #2 I believe it would be called). | | | Re: Mechanically Inclined in GA, anyone? | Joined: Jun 2010 Posts: 1,080 Likes: 1 old hand | OP old hand Joined: Jun 2010 Posts: 1,080 Likes: 1 | Just realized it has been 9 years since I started this thread and thought it would be fun to provide an update. When I posted I had just gotten the van and was very unfamiliar. To top it off we were getting ready to travel and live in it full-time and were unsure about the potential of having problems while on the road.
Nine years later... Here are the updates on the things I was concerned with when I made this thread.
1) Replace manifolds (bolts are rusted on) - Never did replace these. Still going strong.
2) Repair rings / seals (? not sure) on one side (oil fouled plug) - Never did anything other than regular plug changes. No more oil around plugs. Took care of itself or so it seems. LOL
3) Replace all belts - Never did before we left. Continued regular inspections. Eventually one did break on us one day when starting her up two years ago. So, we did them then. Not too challenging really.
4) Change all fluids - Done... easy enough and still done regularly.
5) Fix Over Gassing issue (adjust / clean carb) - Other than playing with some settings before we left and continuing to learn about carbs especially ours. However, we have not needed to do anything significant yet and are taking our time to learn about the system.
So, although our experience may not be typical, we have essentially learned that making her perfect was not important. What was important is knowing enough to do basic tune-ups and regular inspections on the big stuff that we don't otherwise have time to address. We don't push her and drive like grandma's but we've had nine years of experiences while still running a high percentage of her original parts. It has been an adventure and at 32 years young our girl is still the best in our eyes. | | | Re: Mechanically Inclined in GA, anyone? | Joined: Jan 2014 Posts: 2,290 Likes: 137 veteran | veteran Joined: Jan 2014 Posts: 2,290 Likes: 137 | That's awesome. Share some pics and road stories whenever you get time. Sure everyone would enjoy them. | | |
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