Started a cross-country trip last Monday (13 Jun) from Norfolk, VA to Camarillo, CA. Had my 16 year-old daughter with me, and had stops in Knoxville and Little Rock on the way, driving on Interstate 40. The LWB was running a little on the hot side, and the AC had a mind of its own, despite having spent $250 to get it recharged and checked out, before I started my trip. It was pretty hot outside for most of the trip up to that point, but as we found out, it was only going to get hotter.

Just outside Elk City (OK), I started to see some liquid spray out from the front left corner of the hood, then steam. I started to pull over, then heard a loud "POP" sound. I opened the hood, and there was the radiator cap sitting there, still attached to the overflow tube. No problem I said to myself, I'll just let it cool down, put the cap back on, and we'll be on our way. So I picked up the cap, then realized the neck of the radiator was still attached to the cap, and there was a big hole in the top of the radiator, where the neck used to be attached.

Long story short, I stuffed a rag into the hole, and followed a service truck who had pulled up behind me to their shop. They took a look at the radiator, and said they couldn't weld the pieces back together, and they wouldn't be able to get a new radiator until next week. That was not an option, because I had to be back in CA by Friday afternoon (17 Jun). So, they put some JB Weld on it, and said the nearest hotel was about 3 miles away, across from a Flying J truck stop. I got some quick set JB Weld at the truck stop, along with some nail files to rough up the surface, some brake cleaner to clean the surfaces, plastic coffee stirrers to apply the JB Weld, and some paper hotdog bun holders to mix it up in.

We checked into the hotel, got settled, then I walked out to the LWB and went about cleaning, prepping, and putting some quick set JB Weld around the radiator neck. I figured if I let it sit overnight, it should be cured by the morning. We got some sleep, checked out, and I looked and touched the JB Weld, and it looked good. I topped off the radiator, started her up, and hoped for the best.

100 miles later, just outside of Groom (TX) and about 40 miles east of Amarillo, the radiator blew again. I was able to get it towed to a repair shop in Amarillo, and spent the whole day at this repair shop. GREAT group of guys, they were able to weld the neck back onto the radiator (couldn't get a new radiator for 1-2 days), they pressure-tested it at 20 psi before reinstalling it, hooked everything back up, refilled with coolant, bled the system of any air, and went to start the truck. This is where it gets really bad.

I heard the truck turning over, but it wouldn't start. The guy came into the break room, and said he had some bad news for me. He showed me what was happening when they were turning the motor over. Every time it was cranking over, it was shooting coolant out of the funnel they were using. He proceeded to tell me that this was an indication that I blew my head gaskets, because during the compression cycle, it normally would go out the exhaust, but if I blew a head gasket, it would blow out the cooling system, like it was doing.

I was dumbfounded at this point, and had to come up with a Plan B to get myself and my daughter back to CA within the next 24 hours. I couldn't really fly back out of the Amarillo airport, because I had too much stuff with me in the back of the Monty. So I decided to rent a car one-way, which ended up costing me $550 for two days. They're going to work on an estimate to put a used engine with warranty in it, but they already told me that's going to cost easily over $2000, parts and labor. When I add the shipping costs to get the LWB from Amarillo (TX) to Camarillo (CA), and putting on new hoses, belts, radiator, t-stat, etc., my mind goes into shock.

So, what's this all leading up to? My options are to walk away from it, and let them scrap it for about $500 (the 31" MT tires alone are worth that much!). Or, if someone is in the Amarillo area, and would be interested in a LWB for parts or a project, make me an offer, and I'll send you the title. Or, I could spend $3000 to get it fixed and shipped to me here in CA, and cross my fingers that it'll pass smog. My daughter was really looking forward to learning how to drive that LWB, and kept saying how it's a cool safari car, and how she'd really like to drive it to the beach, camping, etc. The repair guys in Amarillo and Elk City were amazed that it was a '91, because it was in such good shape on the outside and inside.

I've had it since April, and have done the following to it since then: driving lights on front bumper; new idler and pitman arms; new front shocks and steering stabilizer; new catalytic converter, all-welded muffler, and 2.25" tubing from the downpipe back; new 31" MTs on 15x7 Gen II alloys (see my sig pic); bedliner coating on hood, lower body panels, and bumpers; new front seat covers (driver's seat is a bouncy seat); fire extinguisher mounted on inner rear fender well; Yakima roof racks; desert camo spare tire cover; it does have a 1 1/4" u-haul style tow hitch, but I also have the factory-style 4-bolt hitch with tow ring sitting on the floor behind the driver's seat. Everything works like it's supposed to, except for the power door locks and headlight washers. You can still lock and unlock all four doors manually, just can't use the power lock function.

Another option I thought about is looking for something already in and registered in CA, either a LWB or SWM Montero, Dodge Raider, Trooper II, etc. That way, I know it's already passed smog, and won't have to deal with getting this one fixed and shipped out here.

So, there's my tale of woe, and the decision that I have to make regarding the disposition of my LWB back in Amarillo. Money is a concern, and I really don't have $3000 lying around right now to exercise that option. I might in another 2-3 months, but doubtful I'll have that kind of excess money any sooner.

What say you fellow Monty enthusiasts?

Just wondering if you are heading there on orders, does the smog apply to you being the vehicle would be registered for you home of residence? Unless your not serving anymore, but I always wondered how that works in case I end up in Cali again. Sorry about your bad luck too.

I personally say, If its at all possible, have them pull the head that is bad, and just slap a new gasket on as cheaply as it can be done, then nurse it home. Then at your leisure do the whole engine. The first bad overheat probably did your head in. Too bad your still not in VA, my buddy is/was looking for a rust free LWB, his LWB is mechanically sound but rusted more than the titanic.. would of made a good swap candidate.

Hope you can figure out something that suits you... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

When I was home in CA a couple of weeks ago, I had to get a new sticker for the truck that my youngest daughter is learning to drive. I went to the local Navy base (Port Hueneme), and they had some kind of Navy Instruction there that said all vehicles they were issuing stickers to had to be able to comply with all local emissions rules and testing.

So it would seem that regardless of where your home of record is, your vehicle will have to pass smog in order to get it registered on a Navy base in CA. AF might be different, since they don't even issue window decals anymore. I'm the in USAFR, and get decals at the local Navy bases in CA and VA. Not having a window decal is fine if the bases you'll be going on are AF only. But in the Hampton Roads area of VA, like in San Antonio, there are more than just AF bases around, so it's best to get a window decal to cover all the service bases.

Sorry about your luck. That is a sweet ride. I'd go along with Stockraiders plan. If you think about it, it should work. If the mechanic checks the head over real good and it needs to be straightened, then gets it straight, there is no reason a new head gasket won't allow you to get it home. You will have to go thru it, what with all the high temperatures doing wonders to rings and valves and such, but logically it should work. good Luck! Hey, waitaminut!!!! Isn't Temple by you in VA somewhere? He has a 3.0 that works fine. I bet shipping his to TX would be cheaper than a rebuild or anything. Well, except for a head gasket. It's a thought. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/drunk.gif" alt="" />

Yeah, I think a rebuild or new block is out of the question, as far as cost goes, and those guys know it. That's why they're going to see if they can locate a used engine with a warranty. With what happened to it in all that heat, even if they replaced just the head gasket, my confidence is gone that I could drive it from TX to CA without anything else happening. Heck, even if they swapped in a good used engine, I still wouldn't drive it, I'd pay to have it shipped to CA. Based on some initial calculations based on costs like gas, lodging, and meals, the cost to ship it should be in the same ballpark.

Heck, even if they swapped in a good used engine, I still wouldn't drive it, I'd pay to have it shipped to CA. I'd pay to have it shipped to CA Based on some initial calculations based on costs like gas, lodging, and meals, the cost to ship it should be in the same ballpark. [/quote] WHy not just get it puton a truck and fix it yourself?

[/quote] WHy not just get it puton a truck and fix it yourself? [/quote]

I don't have the skills, tools, patience, parts, etc. to fix it myself...

95% chance you didn't hurt the block. Probably the only thing you might hurt on the block is to crack the deck when the head bows up and stretches the head bolts, or you got it so hot the cylinder walls scored. The former is quite rare, the latter is not likely because the head gasket goes first and the bores don't get hot enough for the rings to start welding to the bore and scoring the walls with the weld blobs.

Don't I remember that you put an aftermarket radiator on that thing? After a previous overheat? If not, mark it up to a senior moment...

Robert, I wouldn't worry about the heat damaging the rings or block. I drove my LWB 2 hours to my house with ZERO coolant in the engine. I actually stopped off at the parts store and bought the gasket kit while the engine sat there puffing exhaust into the overflow, and I did zero damage to the block, rings crank etc... I would just have them find the problem head, and throw a new gasket on and let you get on your way. Or, tow it to your new location, and have the base shop do the needed work on it when you get the funds around. Its too nice and clean of a truck from the looks of it to get sent to the crusher. So many trucks lost to Cash4Clunkers for me to say its ok for a nice one to go to a crusher for a simple gasket failure. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/barf.gif" alt="" />