Working on truck engine as a hobby

[Dominus]

Ever since I quit my job about 6-7 years ago to do my own thing, I been slowly using my time to learn auto mechanic skills. For example, I have replaced the entire suspension set and all the bearings of my truck.

Well, recently, my truck started making a ticking sound. In other words, a collapsed lifter. Unfortunately, the lifters are underneath the heads. And the heads are under the intake manifold.

First step. Had to take out the alternator and all the hoses that are in the way.



Then gotta take the valve covers off.




Then gotta take the rockers and push rods out.



So, I had to take out the intake manifold.




Then the heads.



You can now see the combustion chambers and the heads of the pistons.



I had to spend several hours cleaning the heads.




Don't laugh. That is as clean as I could make it.

I ended the day today by starting to clean the combustion chamber. They were all covered in carbon.




I will keep cleaning the combustion chambers tomorrow.

Oh yeah, here are the old lifters.



I got the new lifters marinating in oil overnight.

Here are the old head gaskets.



Here are the new gaskets ready to be put on.

It took me 2 days to take everything apart. Will take me at least 2 days to put everything back together. At the end of this week, I will either have a truck that will run like new or a brick LOL.

 

[unloadonme]

You could be talking complete filth for all I know.

 

[smokeshadow]

@Dominus - you've learned a great deal more about automobile/truck engines than I ever learned; and, probably saved yourself a boatload of money in the process. Congratulations And, here's hoping that all things work well in the end

 

[EddMarkStarr]

Dominus, you're following in the footsteps of the Car Wizard - organized disassembly.
The vehicle repair business has changed now that cars are as much electronic as mechanical.

 

[Dominus]

@Dominus - you've learned a great deal more about automobile/truck engines than I ever learned; and, probably saved yourself a boatload of money in the process. Congratulations And, here's hoping that all things work well in the end

Got several quotes from the shops around here. The lowest price was about $5k.

 

[NotHardUp1]

Kudos. What is the make and model, and what mileage?

 

[Dominus]

Kudos. What is the make and model, and what mileage?

2008 chevy Silverado. About 230k miles.

 

[rareboy]

I always wished I had taken auto shop as one of my electives way back when.

I love disassembling, cleaning and then re-assembling parts on the tractor, but can't tackle real repairs in my elder years.

 

[Dominus]

I always wished I had taken auto shop as one of my electives way back when.

I love disassembling, cleaning and then re-assembling parts on the tractor, but can't tackle real repairs in my elder years.

This is actually something that's been on my mind. Growing old. I am 40 now so I am doing the best I can to learn and do these things that I know I will not be able to do when I'm older. Had I stayed with my engineering career I would not have been able to learn and do all these auto mechanic stuff that I've been doing. I am so glad I quit that career 6 years ago to do my own thing.

 

[NotHardUp1]

I love disassembling, cleaning and then re-assembling parts on the tractor,

 

[Dominus]

I just finished putting almost all of it back together. And oh my goodness I don't have any extra bolt laying around.



Unfortunately, I broke the vapor canister purge tube.



Already ordered a new one. It will arrive tomorrow. So, I won't be able to test start it tomorrow.

 

[backagain]

I was wondering what the cost of all the parts were? Yes, your labor has a price, but it doesn't need to be factored in.
I was just curious. I was also thinking about the cost/benefit ratio. Older vehicle versus just replacing the vehicle.

 

[Alistair]

You probably should ask the mods to delete your photo. You can read your name and address on the box. We have some weird stalkers on here sometimes.

 

[Dominus]

I was wondering what the cost of all the parts were? Yes, your labor has a price, but it doesn't need to be factored in.
I was just curious. I was also thinking about the cost/benefit ratio. Older vehicle versus just replacing the vehicle.

About $300 total for this particular project. That included 16 lifters, all the replacement bolts and gaskets (including the head gaskets) and the cleaning agents to clean out all the carbon buildup.

When dealing with car and truck repairs, almost all of the costs are always the labor. For example, when I first bought this truck, it had a code for airbag sensor. Dealership quoted me for $1100 to fix it. I declined and stopped by autozone to buy the sensor. It cost a whole $70 at autozone. And it took me a whole 15 minutes to swap it out with the old one.

And since then, I have "graduated" from autozone. The clerk there actually said out loud to me at one point if I could wait a day or two then get the parts from Amazon it is a lot cheaper. The lifter set, for example, autozone told me was $600. It was the clerk there who told me I could get the same set off of Amazon (same brand and everything) for a lot less. It turned out to be about $200.

Yesterday when I broke the tube, I went to autozone to see if I could replace it quick. It was about $70 at autozone. The autozone guy actually told me just get it on Amazon. He told me the part number. Right there I pulled it up on Amazon and found it for $18. Same exact part number and manufacturer. He said yeah that looks like it. I thanked him and ordered it.

Point is this is an old truck with about 240k miles on it. I am trying to keep it running while minimizing the cost.

My bf thinks I should just buy a new truck every time I do a repair. And I keep telling him a repair costs hundreds while a new truck costs tens of thousands. And I find doing this stuff to be therapeutic.

 

[backagain]

About $300 total for this particular project. That included 16 lifters, all the replacement bolts and gaskets (including the head gaskets) and the cleaning agents to clean out all the carbon buildup.

When dealing with car and truck repairs, almost all of the costs are always the labor. For example, when I first bought this truck, it had a code for airbag sensor. Dealership quoted me for $1100 to fix it. I declined and stopped by autozone to buy the sensor. It cost a whole $70 at autozone. And it took me a whole 15 minutes to swap it out with the old one.

And since then, I have "graduated" from autozone. The clerk there actually said out loud to me at one point if I could wait a day or two then get the parts from Amazon it is a lot cheaper. The lifter set, for example, autozone told me was $600. It was the clerk there who told me I could get the same set off of Amazon (same brand and everything) for a lot less. It turned out to be about $200.

Yesterday when I broke the tube, I went to autozone to see if I could replace it quick. It was about $70 at autozone. The autozone guy actually told me just get it on Amazon. He told me the part number. Right there I pulled it up on Amazon and found it for $18. Same exact part number and manufacturer. He said yeah that looks like it. I thanked him and ordered it.

Point is this is an old truck with about 240k miles on it. I am trying to keep it running while minimizing the cost.

My bf thinks I should just buy a new truck every time I do a repair. And I keep telling him a repair costs hundreds while a new truck costs tens of thousands. And I find doing this stuff to be therapeutic.

If you like working on the truck, then more power to you. My thought process is, I am not going to throw money into a vehicle that is not worth the parts costs. It is 18 years old, vehicles are not worth much at the end of wear and tear of years of use.
May be time to look at replacing it.

 

[Araucaria]

Maybe Dominus is doing the work to save money, but he’s probably also deriving satisfaction from doing a difficult and complex job. I wouldn’t even think about doing something like this, because I wouldn’t know what the hell I’m doing.

 

[Dargelos]

We did something similar with our 1951 Morris. But as a sidevalve, low compression engine, everything was so much simpler than yours. Seventy years of tar on the valve seats took a lot of cleaning. The water pump needed changing, she was running very hot. You can't get new ones any more but there is someone who does good refurbs. It's a column change so not very accurate, that is something we have to live with, working on the gearbox is beyond my skill level. Often I get third gear after selecting first, she does still pull away in third, but slowly, very very slowly.
There are few garages that will take on this kind of job, none nearby, so do it yourself is only way it will get done and at least you know that the job has been done properly-ish.

 

[Dominus]

If you like working on the truck, then more power to you. My thought process is, I am not going to throw money into a vehicle that is not worth the parts costs. It is 18 years old, vehicles are not worth much at the end of wear and tear of years of use.
May be time to look at replacing it.

Yes, I can just buy another truck. But it is not as satisfying to me.

I don't get pleasure from working on display items like a hot rod. I get pleasure from working on things that I use practically. In this case, this 18 year old truck with 240k or so miles on it is being used for my business.

 

[PrinceCory]

Maybe Dominus is doing the work to save money, but he’s probably also deriving satisfaction from doing a difficult and complex job. I wouldn’t even think about doing something like this, because I wouldn’t know what the hell I’m doing.

Same for me! When I was young I didn't mind messing around with the electrical by installing my stereo, or police scanner, and speakers. i knew enough about battery replacement but not interested at all in changing oil. I always said back then, I'd rather work an overtime shift and pay someone else to service my vehicle.

 

[Dominus]

Same for me! When I was young I didn't mind messing around with the electrical by installing my stereo, or police scanner, and speakers. i knew enough about battery replacement but not interested at all in changing oil. I always said back then, I'd rather work an overtime shift and pay someone else to service my vehicle.

There's nothing wrong with paying someone else to do the work.