Well, I bought a red 89, Raider (actually two, one for parts but it's not complete) V6 3.0, 5 speed, with 110K miles. I drove it about 300 miles home along I44 at 60/65 and ran fine. Added a quart when I got home.

Now, I'm hearing a nosie up front at idle, like dragging a dogtag chain in a metal pan, not real loud. The engine seems very strong and other thanthat is quiet running. Any ideas, with 110K miles, is that a timing chain problem?

Also, I'm going to have all the fluids changed and get a lub job. I have been reading 27 pages of forums (good stuff) and see different oils and grease issues. With the miles, what do you guys suggest for oil, it does smoke just a tad at times, but not always, and seller said it uses a half quart a month (what ever that means) As for the tranny and gears, what do you suggest I use....the lub people here have probably never seen a Radier!

Thanks, Bill

First things first. Make SURE the bolt that holds the harmonic balancer/main pulley has been replaced with the latest, upgraded part. Do it now.

John B.

The V6 engines have a timing belt, not a chain.

Be sure to check that the crank pulley bolt is the new style, not the old. If it is the old style, it's possible that you are hearing the start of the bolt/pulley failure.

OK, I wouldn't know how to check from the outside looking in...and don't know the difference between the new and old parts...so how do ya do that? Sorry, it's been a long time since I worked on any vehicle, owned a drove a jeep wrangler, never really worked on it.

Do you need to pull off the front cover for this inspection, any "window plate"...

The seller was a young mechnic and had done work on it...I will check his list of fixes, but don't think the pulley was on there...

Is thereany special oil/lubs for these vehicles, or will any jiffy lube place get it right? Thanks guys!

A shop manual is your friend.
That said, I beleive there are 13 grease fittings on a Gen 1. Jiffy lube might know this, but tell them anyway.
10-30 should be fine. I always use the factory oil filters, but if un-availabe, NAPA Gold is good.
The noise might be the idler pully's. To check, lube them, if the noise stops, start looking for replacements.
Good luck, sounds like a nice find. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

I actually made copies of the page that has all the gen I zirk fitting locations that I give to the lube places so they don't miss anything. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

The updated crank pulley bolt and tightening torque issue has been covered many times in previous posts - play with the search function and look through the FAQs, it shouldn't be too hard to find. You will want to do this as soon as possible because the damage that can be caused can be pretty ugly.

110 k , wow , just broke in <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />
My guess would be S belt tentioner pulley.
I ditto the above, check that Harmonic Balancer( main pulley on the crank).
Where in the Ozarks are you?
I lived in Springfield and Neosho back in the 80s.
Some of the county and F.S. roads around there were paved with sixpack sized "gravel".