I figured this might be the better route to go than trying to rebuild mine, find cams, blah blah blah. Your reaction just confirms my gut feeling on getting the heads. This truck has become my own personal money pit, but at least after all is said and done I'll be able to trust the engine and not worry about any more major problems for quite some time. It just sucks, because all of this dough could have been put towards rims and tires, sliders, etc, and I could already be out wheeling and fishing. But, hard to go wheeling with no engine. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

out of town today (sat) guys, it's Mom's birthday! (74 orbits 'round the sun for her and hopefully a lot more!) but Sunday I'm here!

Heater is propane so that wouldn't work. Phone bill would be better. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

UPDATE:

Crank is trashed along with #4 connecting rod and piston. According to the machine shop, one of the crank journals is .040 out, and #4 piston was about ready to come apart. They said they can find me a workable crank to put in the engine. Looking at $1100 not including shipping to and from. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/barf.gif" alt="" />

I'm amazed this truck even made it home....

OMFG!!!

DUDE!!!

How unlucky can one man be?

You know, some of us here on the AZ board at one time used to consider ourselves unlucky, till now. I think you have proven anybody WRONG! In one long post! I think you better start selling yourself to some weird experimental institution to start making a little supplemental income. Better have a couple of <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" /> before that machine shop calls you again.

I'm starting to agree with you PAJ. This has certainly been one long string of bad luck.

I sold myself to an institution long ago that crossed my genes with a leprechaun, but it went horribly, horribly wrong.

And then there was this one time at band camp.....

It's never "one time..."

That said, I can't beleive there's not a decent short, or long block in AZ.
Sounds like maybe you could be the first to do a 4.3 swap into a Gen 2 <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN TELLING HIM! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Hey J I meant it about giving you a commission for finding me a tower contract.. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />

That's funny stuff right there.

A swap is not something I'd want to tackle at this stage. I just want to get the damn thing running. Plus the 4.3 has it's own quirks as well, besides being a little down on power from the 3.5. It was deemed a "gross polluter" in California due to the terrible poppet nozzle fuel injection setup from the factory. The fuel injection system would need to be upgraded to a multi injector system. Last time I did one it took about 5 hours and $300. But that was on an Astro van so it was a little tight to work in the space. And it has been my experience that it is a MUST to use a distributor cap and rotor with BRASS contacts. Anything else will eventually corrode and cause misfires. Swapping into a Montero would jam the distributor back against the firewall, and it would be a PITA to get to. And I don't want to even think about the wiring... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

WW - I sent your property info in CA to a couple of people I know in the business out there, but haven't heard back from them. I'll follow up this week.

I think you should get this motor in and then sell the f'in thing. Then go buy a jeep! Montero = <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/barf.gif" alt="" />

J...you've uninspired me! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />