Bad day with my new van

So I bought a 66 4x4 econoline a few weeks ago. The body is super straight, no rust at all, very good tires and the motor ran great. The auto trans does have a slip in it when it's cold. I was told by a trans guy it just needs service.
I am finishing getting my 67 painted so the 66 has been sitting waiting it's turn. I have started it every day just to keep all working...I started it the other day and took it for a short ride. A block away the breather starts getting smoke / steam out of it. This motor has started every day cold no smoke ran great, sounded great etc..
I check the oil and it's milky white, I am thinking I blew the head gasket, maybe more.
Needless to say I am not happy!!!
Very frustrating- looking at some of the vans I see for sale and the prices some guys are asking, half of me wants to just list it on ebay as is.. I am sure when I get over being pissed at myself I will come to my sense's...I can't help to think I should have gone thru the motor prior to driving it..

Maybe the block froze? Have you checked the anitfreeze? (Heh, 'water'??) Its cold in New york isnt it?

Its just a six right? Those are easy.

I'll bet cha a head gasket costs less than $20... $30 tops

I know its a pain in the ass to pull of those manifolds and the head, but its not that hard, you can have that fixed in an afternoon.


For the trans, pull the pan, put a new filter, new oil and a quart of lucas stop-slip. That stuff actually works. I used it in my jeep

Good luck do not give up!

If ya up and sell it,you'll regret it later on over a $24 head gasket.Grit your teeth,say dedgumitt,Jump in and tackle that motor.It'll let ya see whats inside you might have not ever known about till maybe another bad time.

you know what ya did wrong .1 step back 2 steps forwarrd . learn from it . and get over it and move forward your van looks very solid you can't find them that nice any more.

All of us have had set backs, I believe it part of owning a early

Vanish wrote: Your van in my Opinion is very worthwhile !!!!!! Hey.. it wouldn't be any fun if they just fell over with there legs strait up in the air ......

Yep, very nice van.

'They just fell over with their legs up in the air' Luv it! I got to go and work in this January weather some more and then go party with the in-laws. That one just made my day.

Donn,
That Sucks. It has been real cold the last few days. There are alot worse thing than a head gasket. Don't do anything you will regret later on. Think about fishing on the beach next summer.

Has you your wife got an alibi ?
If I remember right, she is a non believer in the Early faith

If it ever comes to you selling (which I am against) I know of a guy in lindenhurst who was looking at that van before you picked it up.
Just letting u know, not condoning it.

___________
mike

Hey Donn

Sorry about the 4x4....
If it is the motor I've got a 170 here in my Jersey donor that runs strong.
Just in case...so there is always an answer.
You know that 4x4 is going to look good going down the Penn Tpke
gettin to the Nats!

Jim

Oh, if that is a cracked windshield I see...I have one on my donor.

Man I'd love a 4x4 , actually, I might have to get one next!

I'm with the others here, probably just a head gasket (assuming it had anti freeze in it). A six banger head gasket is cheap and easy, a good day in the garage will swap it out and have you running again... don't eve have to pull the motor.

Just get it parked and drain the oil/coolant out of it and let it waits its turn.

Thanks for the support guys..
Not to sound like a cry baby..but I broke my neck back in '04 went through a lot of spinal problems. Much better now but still limited on what I can and cannot do. Can't do a lot of mechanical stuff on auto's that I used to.
I have to send a lot out to my mechanic. I can not do a head gasket.
I try to get vans that need work I know I can do, like body work and stuff I don't have to much lifting on.
I think what really is getting to me is the motor ran so sweet. I was thinking all I would do is tune it and minor things and spend my time preping and doing the body.
I have really started to want a hot rod pick up, Ford or Dodge. The "new" plan was to paint the 4X4, enjoy in for the summer and sell or trade it for a soild PU needing some work.
I guess I will just sit on things for a while and after the holiday's figure it out
.I guess when you are into vans that are 30 plus years old they can run perfect one day and need some attention the next..

I had a ford pickup that i didn't drive much.Just started once in awhile.one day checking the oil i noticed it was milky.well after many test and headaches.I discovered that it was condensation from not getting the motor warm enough .Check your compression and pressure test the cooling system.sometimes you will see bubbles in the radiator while its running. or see coolant on a spark plug or worse case coolant will come out of sparkplug hole.