Question on Upgrade

[cougswan]

Hey guys,

I have a 1970 3/4 ton with a 390. It has a oil leak around the pan, and some oil that has leaked from the valve covers onto the rest of the engine. The truck has also been sitting for the last 15 years. I have heard that it is nearly impossible to change the oil pan gasket without lifting the engine up, so I am just going to take it out to clean it up a bit. Since it is out I am thinking about putting headers, new edelbrock intake manifold, and a new carb on it. I do not have a lot of experience restoring/fixing cars, but I do have help from people who for the most part do.

My question is this. Are those a good investment or is it not worth the time/money? I do not plan on ever selling the truck, as it was my great grandfather's who has passed away.


Also I have noticed that it has a transmission leak around where it attaches to the engine and a couple other places. Would it be better to remove it with the engine or should I just fix it while it is attached to the truck?

Thanks in advance.

I have spent a fair amount of time on this site and it has been nothing but helpful, so thank you all!

[hazelnut]

If the truck has been sitting for 15 years and your planning to keep the truck for a long time i think its a good idea to pull the engine to reseal it, After you do a compression check to make sure the engines good. If the compression is bad then you might want to put some VC gaskets on and live with it until you have the money to make the engine right.

Duel exhaust and headers are good upgrades for a 390, So is a aluminum intake and new carb. Just be sure to buy parts that are going to match you truck and make it run better. High performance parts on a stock engine will hurt more than they help. Things like a carb to big and a intake that's not made for the power range of the motor are a waste of time and money.

[HIO Silver]

Hey guys,

I have a 1970 3/4 ton with a 390. It has a oil leak around the pan, and some oil that has leaked from the valve covers onto the rest of the engine. The truck has also been sitting for the last 15 years. I have heard that it is nearly impossible to change the oil pan gasket without lifting the engine up, so I am just going to take it out to clean it up a bit. Since it is out I am thinking about putting headers, new edelbrock intake manifold, and a new carb on it. I do not have a lot of experience restoring/fixing cars, but I do have help from people who for the most part do.

My question is this. Are those a good investment or is it not worth the time/money? I do not plan on ever selling the truck, as it was my great grandfather's who has passed away.

Also I have noticed that it has a transmission leak around where it attaches to the engine and a couple other places. Would it be better to remove it with the engine or should I just fix it while it is attached to the truck?

I have spent a fair amount of time on this site and it has been nothing but helpful, so thank you all!

If it has sentimental value, then what is the "value" to you? What is the "value" of you learning how to work on it? These rigs are really simple and overall very lo-buck to keep on the road. The payback is nearly immeasurable over a lifetime. As an "investment"? No, not as far as a return on investment in terms of real dollars... It's more the dollars you don't have to spend in terms of a required monthly payment or high insurance rate. And you have the privilege of keeping great grandpas rig on the road. If you're looking for MPG, get yourself a Toyota Corolla and be another lemming among the masses of bubble cars on the road. Own a street-worthy 40+ year old rig and you've got street cred.

Pulling and engine to reseal it takes the input of time and relatively a little bit of money. Would you rather buy a $100 gasket kit and do it yourself or pay the shop rate of $75 per hour to do what you can do with a bit of reading and some homework? In other words, put money in someone else's pocket or teach yourself real world experience?

I don't like being a slave to a mechanic. I'll bite the bullet every once in a while when it's out of my experience or skill limits (transmissions and axle gear set-up). However, I have sought professional help when it was too much of a hassle or I simply didn't have the time. One time the fuel pump went out in my 2001 F150 SuperCrew.... I can change an in-tank pump any day but I had just topped off the 25-gallon tank and I was leaving for vacation the following week. I called up a local shop and let the owner (high school classmate) that I was having my rig towed to his shop...btw... 25 gallons of fuel weighs like 180 lbs and I sure as heck was short on time and it was gonna be long on hassle. I gladly paid him to do it.