dodge guy wrote:
Tom_Diane wrote:
westend wrote:
Dodge 318 is a workhorse. I've used one in an older Class A, drove it about 3000 mi. Coolant leak and water in the exhaust may indicate a head gasket or cracked head. How many miles on the Falcon?
Up here, in MN, there are usually a half dozen or so 80's-90's Class B/C vans for sale at that price or under. You really have to shop for someone's camping baby, a rig that has been well maintained and looked after (stored inside is a definite plus). They're out there, it just takes a lot of looking.
Cool, I had a 318 years ago and pulled an old 23 ft dinosaur. I used for working on the road. I pulled that camper home about 250 mile trip and had to stop every truck stop or places in between and had extra jugs of water. Radiator was white from the heat. I got about 45 miles from home and stopped at a city hall at about 3 AM and asked to leave it over night and called my dad. the next day went and got it with about 20 gallons of water. I got it and the camper home and saw a little water track on the exaust. I gave the truck to my dad and he put in some stop leak and drove it back and forth to my place 20 miles away for aout 3 or 4 moths before it finally spun a main bearing. We changed motors and he went another 100k at least. GM, OR FORD would have left me on the side of the road many miles back at the start of the trip home. Off topic but never thought I would hear another story like that. 318, WHAT AN ENGINE
Now that we are veering off the subject, how about the old slant six (leaning tower of power!) those could literally run with no oil! you could not kill one if you tried. and they got great gas mileage too!
To the OP if you have the ability to do the work yourself, then it is probably worth it. if you have it done by a shop probably not, the labor alone will kill the deal!
Dads old 65 wagon went 60 miles one day and back with the oil light on. It was pinging pretty good when I got back home with it. The old man wasn't happy. We swapped motor in the next couple days when he located a used one. I was hell on Clutches though and that 3 on the tree just wouldn't pull into first while the car was moving. No syncs for second to first. Dad finally said he would drive that car til the wheels fell off and he would junk it then. He broke an axle a few miles from home and he called me to come get him. He pulled the plates and VIN tag from the dash and left her sitting on the side of the road!
