Been a few years since I updated this, figured it was about time...

I just turned 28k on the replacement motor and am once again having problems unfortunately. It's had timing chain rattle for quite a while which I was planning on remedying with an EB metal backed setup and has recently started emptying the overflow tank every few days.

Last night I think I pretty much narrowed it down to either a leaking headgasket or cracked head as it dies when the oil cap is removed but not when it and the radiator cap are both removed. I'm also getting waves of bubbles in the radiator every few seconds with the cap off while it's running. Hasn't overheated and temp is riding in the normal range, no white smoke out of the tailpipe either.

I've given up on Jasper and my warranty on this motor is up anyways so the 2 options I'm considering now are repairing it or swapping the 5.3L LSx motor I have sitting in my garage. If I went the repair route I'd probably go ahead and get some HP goodies since I'll already have everything apart: StreetRV head from EB (wouldn't be much more than having the current head disassembled, magnafluxed, and reassembled and I'd get a new casting with less risk of issues), 261c cam, timing set, and one of his head gasket sets, adds up to ~$700.

On the flip side I've got everything for the 5.3 swap (was planning on putting it in my Volvo wagon) aside from the Toyota mounts, exhaust, and a 4wd setup/driveline (have a 2wd 4l60e right now). If I went 2wd for now the cost wouldn't be too much more than the head replacement and I could take my time deciding on whether to get a 4wd GM trans or run an OTT divorced case setup with the Toyota case. The only wrench in this plan is that it would take a while and I wouldn't have anything to tow my boat with until it was done aside from begging/borrowing trucks from friends, would be much more awesome than a 130hp 22re though <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />