RamBam's Journies

[royster]

that empty roll has been like that for a month, i never put my TP on the roll..

That's just bad Feng Shui. Especially living with wiminz.

PB Blast a couple or three times, a half hour apart, give it the best chance to penetrate. Could be you'll get that stubborn one off without any more concerns, particularly if the others are tight before you try to loosen it.

I'll hope a member or two will chime in with a verification for suspicion: since your crank gear pully is wobbling, I suspect the key is worn and has allowed progressive wiggling and loosening. Hopefully the crank itself is not getting stripped out by that process.

My other suspicion is that whoever installed the timing belt didn't replace the secondary belt...in my infancy of these trucks, I would have talked myself into doing the same (skipping the belt replacement). So tell us if that B belt is in fact old or as new as the timing belt. It takes a lot to tear up one of those belts. The good news is: other than affecting your timing, the B belt breaking likely didn't hurt anything, though I have to suspect the engine had extra vibration.

From the photos, it seems like normal oil leakage for the mileage, likely from the valve cover, but you'll know better once you get everything stripped down and clean.

As you reported a worn groove in the timing cover from the water pump pulley, I'd say there was a LOT of un-alligned wobbly crap going on. Take heart and know I have stuff to replace that as you need. This is an unconditional kindness, and I have every confidence you'll pass along just as much kindness through your life. I'm okay with it all.

Don't let the chain of love
end with you

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_9HdZwf60U

[royster]

Once you get that pulley and bottom cover off, be sure to turn the engine to #1 TDC and leave it there. Check the timing marks and let us know where they are...if it did slip, etc.

If I'm right, I'm seeing a fine metalic powder amidst that oil, indicating the pulley gears have been slowly wiggling looser and looser. I'm trying to remember what metal that gear is made from, but it should be softer than the crank, so again: we'll hope that's the worst of the damage.

Remember the hand cleaner idea to clean off the block. It really works great.

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[ram50bam]

my brother-in-law came and saved the day and uncovered some other issues as well. i need a cam seal, crank seal, and oil pump seal. all 3 were leaking(that explains all the oil everywhere) and i need the smaller crankshaft timing gear and key!(roy do you have that gear and the key available?)

[royster]

i need the smaller crankshaft timing gear and key!(roy do you have that gear and the key available?)

Yuppers.

[ram50bam]

SHWEET! so far i need that gear/key, timing chain cover(lower) and ill have to see if fisher has the 3 seals i need and ill need a t-stat gasket and a t-stat. one more box of vacuul line(5/32) and bolts for the cat cause im gonna almost guarantee they snap when i go to take the cat off to gut it. and a thing of antifreeze(what little i drained is nasty) and i have an oil filter so just oil to change that out.

[ram50bam]

oh and my bro in law checked the timing, it was off by 2 teeth! and now for some eye candy!....and the t-stat housing is almost done as well!...CAM00158.jpgCAM00159.jpg

[ram50bam]

oh and i got a tip from my bro, brake parts cleaner to clean the block, its dark when we finished tonight so didnt take photos but i will in the morn and all that oil behind the cover came right off with brake parts cleaner and then a quick spray with the air hose.

[royster]

Took photos of RamBam's work station when I arrived. It sort of looked like a Ram50 bomb had exploded. He was gone when I drove up, since he was picking up parts. I snapped some candid shots of the work in progress.

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The paint really is taking on a good shine, the bed is not done yet.
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I was unable to do much except coach on keeping the work clean: he had applied way too much sealer compound on the oil seals. I tried to clean off components that need to be clear of oil, sealers and cleaner. Since he had hastily installed the crank seal with a screwdriver, the seal was damaged and he had to order another one. I didn't have the time to wait, so we didn't put the belts on then.

Friends with beer and non-stop advice showed up, and with not much for me to do (and an appointment back in Woodstock), I bid them adieu and headed home.

Hope to hear good reports, and some photos of the crank gear pulley. The key had eaten away at the original pulley, there was no tension at all on the timing belt, and it was off by two teeth. This truck still ran!

This experience will teach RamBam to take the time to do things right with patience, think steps through before executing them, and focus on the repair first, modifications later. Organizing the work and parts is a big help too. he has some good mechanical resources nearby, so I think he'll be alright. He's finding out that we work on these trucks very differently than any other vehicles.

I learned that the hard way.

[ram50bam]

SHES ALIVE! and running damn well. the job itself isnt hard given you have the right tools. its mostly, in my experience, simply dismantle, clean, replace part, or in the case parts, and reassemble. i ran into stubborn bolts as usual and as long as all the marks lined up and the belt was tight, thats really all it is. i took extra time to sand and clean various parts and hit em with a touch of paint here and there to give it my own uniqueness. i also strippied(so far) the wires and everything and painted the fender well up nice after i sanded and steel wooled it. im pleased with its outcome. since the outside haa already been painted i figuered keeping the bay stock didnt matter. but i have photos of what i could do and had day light for. after dark i did put the skid and bumper back on. but no pics til daylight. over all my experience was fun, i did some road trips and had some tips along the way but this was officially my first real repair minus a water pump on my old jeep 4.0 and aradiator swap and engine flush. so more knowledge and experience was gained and i had a great time doing the project. got to meet a new friend and got to see some old one that have been gone a while too. cant wait for the next project and the adventure that one will hold. only thing left to do is tidy up the rest of the engine bay. i need the alternator bolt cause mine was corroded and i hulk armed it and she snapped. also need to get 2 bolts for the timing cover, mine was missing 2 so i figure im buying one bolt whats a few more, and since my old drilled out breather box had random holes drilled in it and wasnt mounted by anything but one small bolt and washer so ill grab the right washers and wing nuts to top it off. another roll of vacuul hose to finish replacements and add some that arent there as well. i still need to polish the top of the radiator so its the copper/ brass shine its suppose to be.

[ram50bam]

im on the look out for a mitsubishi chrome grill and corner trim!!

[ram50bam]

I'd also like to add a big shout out to Royster for helping me out in the beginning and traveling down to bring me the missing link parts of the project and for his tips and wisdom being passed on and hopefully one day i can pass it on to another newcomer to these trucks. im now officially hooked on doing this truck in my unique way. just need to lock down a decent job to support funds in my future projects.

[royster]

How great to hear the truck is on its way to recovery. Hope the fine~tuning goes well. I have some sage advice if you care to heed it:

Drive the truck locally for a couple weeks. Don't make major modifications or plans for too much in that time: get a feel for what the truck really needs and pay attention to that. Fuss with it, make it yours', but also listen to it as it's your friend, and has basic needs. It needs to adjust back to health, quite literally, so don't drive it hard.

As regards "ghetto lowering", I would suggest that you not do this any time soon. As you have said yourself, if it's lowered, you can't get back to my place. That means you're willing to sacrifice opportunities in order to have "attitude". But my garage isn't the only place you will prevent yourself from going: there are many back-road places you will not be able to go, and that means no taking your daughter down to the river side for fishing or skipping stones. Don't sacrifice your daughter's childhood for you temporary image of "ghetto bad".

And if "ghetto" is the look you choose, then that's what people will think of you. Like old guys, these old trucks beg for a shred of dignity. Please don't deny them that, and don't deny yourself the possibility of the places this truck can take you in its current condition. When you eliminate possibilities, you become more stuck in life. Try to remain as free and independent as possible.

[ram50bam]

Got a lot more done on this beautiful day. shined the wheels and buffed and waxed the entire truck with an actual buffer(thanks Roy) and its looking mighty fine. i went and got the bolts i needed this morning and put her all back together. i got the timing dialed in then noticed i lost a little punch so we advanced the timing a smidge and shes got a great balance for what she is. i still have a few things ill need to do in the future as far as the engine goes but shes pretty solid at the moment. now i can put efforts towards fixing a few things that are bugging me, for one ill re-wire my horn to work properly as well as the interior light(im swapping it out for a larger light out of a ranger). and my cigar lighter isn't wired up so im going to get that done so ill have an on board phone charger. im also not thrilled about the way the previous owner wired the stereo and speakers in so ill be doing that up my own way since stereos is my specialty. also will be tinting the windows if not started tomorrow by this weekend hopefully. and other little do-dads id like to do. in the mean time since it was a nice day i took more pics of what i couldnt capture last night.CAM00197.jpgCAM00198.jpgCAM00203.jpgCAM00207.jpgCAM00208.jpg1396475015651.jpgCAM00211.jpgCAM00212.jpgCAM00220.jpg1396473863517.jpg

[royster]

Wow! Looks amazing ! The shine really came out nice, RamBam. Engine detailing has come along, too. Glad the air filter worked out so well. I'm sure the engine appreciates that.

Suggested part to order next: transmission mount. Easy replacement, but probably needs to be done just due to age and the stress it undergoes.

Looking forward to seeing the grill in and the valance on.

BTW that mineral oil works terrific on the tail lights, too.

[ram50bam]

im gonna get the grill done tomorrw, im gonna get it as nice as possible but eventually im dead set on a chrome mitsubishi grill, i love the "open mouth" agressive look it gives these trucks. brian is going to help me weld on some metal tabs to mount that valance so i dont have to ghetto it on and i can actually bolt/mount it properly. i refuse to half ass anything on my truck, after doing the timing belt and knowing i have what it takes to do repairs i want my truck to go as far as i can take it. my next "major" installment will be not only the tranny mount but depending on my motor mounts those too, as well as urethane bushings to replace all the suspension stockers that are clearly wore out hence the rough ride, after that ill get some nice shocks so smooth her on out. sometime this summer(most likley juneish) gonna replace the clutch as well. also wanting to put a full exhaust on, pacesetter header and flowmaster most likely.

[royster]

brian is going to help me weld on some metal tabs to mount that valance

That's frikkin' awesome!

I understand about the Mitsu grille. It's a clean look. The Ram grilles look a lot like football face bumpers, or whatever you call those things on the helmet.

Does the grille have the original emblem, and if not, are you interested? It would be a loan-only, but I have one.

[ram50bam]

i have my stock grill with the stock emblems, is that what your asking? im still putting mine on until i purchase a mitsu grill just so i dont have to work bout gettin my radiator damaged.

[ram50bam]

it died today. has spark, gettin fuel, im thinkin it musta jumped time. its sittin in a church parking lot where it died. tomorrow i get to go tear it apart again and re do the timing belt if thats what it is anyway, wont know til i get it apart

[royster]

I get the impression you aren't doing the tensioner correctly. The day I was there with you I tried to explain the procedure, but half way through you got distracted and I never was able to show the most crucial part.

Just to make sure it's covered, let me go through it, here.

You know to put the tension on the crank-oil pump-cam cog side of the belt.

Before you do that, though, position the tensioner to the left: loosen the hex bolt (big allen wrench) and the bottom bolt, swing the tensioner to all the way to the left, (it will take some doing!) and tighten down the bottom bolt enough to hold it in that position.

Once the belt is tight from the crank to the cam, maneuver the left side of the belt over the tensioner wheel (flat side against the wheel). Once in place, loosen the bottom bolt and the tensioner will swing to the right, pushing the belt tight. Check your timing marks that they haven't moved, then tighten both tensioner bolts. I gave my tensioner a little bit more of a push before tightening, just a little tighter than the spring alone gives. The manual tells you which bolt to tighten first, but common sense tells me the bottom bolt is what you want to lock into position first, then the hex head.

Since the B belt silent shaft was difficult to turn, you might want to check that again when you have the timing belt loose. See if the shaft itself is turning freer than when the initial repair was being made.

I can't imagine any other reason for the belt to be slipping, unless the cam pulley was improperly installed...I remember the bolt had been damaged.

[mitchi]

I like that truck.....the orange color is unique.....don't see that much.

Like the seats and console too.

Did you git the valance mounted yet? What year Ranger.....I'de like to see that.

[royster]

You might also give the cam shaft a spin, to make sure it's turning as resistance-free as possible. It's my hope the excessive sealer shown in this photo (on the cam and crank seals) wasn't on there when you put the timing belts on.

CAM00183.jpg

[ram50bam]

I like that truck.....the orange color is unique.....don't see that much.

Like the seats and console too.

Did you git the valance mounted yet? What year Ranger.....I'de like to see that.

the valance is from a 99 ranger sport 2 wheel drive. not sure if the package makes a difference, some years do some dont.

Roy, yeah i got it on there good and tight can just barley turn the belt 90 degrees so its on there tight now. everything with that is good but with the egr valve deleted the truck had more pick up and when i put it on it lagged a bit so we advanced the timing a few degrees and got the pep back but now i took egr off for good and need to set timing back a hair but now the battery fully took a dump on me we put it on a charger and it wont take charge so looks like thats coming earlier than intended in my build also but one way or another im slowly restoring this little beast of mine.

[ram50bam]

Though a few mishaps over the last few days i still managed to get the back tint on and tatted her with the site logo decal.

[ram50bam]

also while broke down the other day i looked down in my carb and found a screw down in there that had clearly ben there for some time, didnt really mess anything up but im pretty sure it doesn't belong there! not sure if the pic shows it enough to see down in there or not.
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[BradMph]

oh man aren't you the lucky guy of the day. Damn that would made a nice mess in the motor if you hit the right bump. Reminds me after rebuilding mine I took air hose and was blowing out carb on the motor and a little washer came flying out of carb. Sometimes luck is on our side.