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Thread: To the New owner, here you can find what people recommend you do first and do it ASAP

  1. #1



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    To the New owner, here you can find what people recommend you do first and do it ASAP

    Things you should do to your new to you truck.
    First we would like to give you a little in-site into your truck and the board.
    Next with the utmost respect to you please under stand every problem you have, or are going to have, has been addressed on the board at one time or another so "we" the donators, mods, and admins will try to help as best as we can but please understand that the board is now 100% donation driven with the backing of one company to keep us on the net and it can take time for people to find your question and help point you in the correct direction. "We" would like to be able to work on your truck with you but due to the size and geographical locations of people it's just not possible so accurate information is the key to getting you the help and guidance you are seeking. Now on to the list. Please don't laugh or shrug your shoulders at the list. As you read through the board you will see we keep going back to the same old problems listed here.

    This list will be updated as often as we can get to it.



    #1: Replace Timing Belt.
    If you have a timing belt and you have never replaced it, or do not know when it was replaced. Do that first and do it yesterday. We have seen so many new owners get a truck and with in 3 weeks the belt breaks and then your in for a large repair bill. If you have a plastic cover on the front of the engine you have a belt and need to change it.

    #2: Replace the Fuel Filter.
    It can be found on the drivers side of the truck near the tank. Some are on the frame, some are in front of the tank, use a flashlight you will find it.

    #3: Tune Up.
    Replace cap, rotor, plugs, and plug wires.

    #4: Check all the vacuum lines.
    Many problems come from the old vacuum lines being cracked and leaking.

    #5: Replace the thermostat and clean out the cooling system.
    Overheating this engine will kill the head and your truck. Replace the thermostat, check the fan clutch, and check the water pump. It should move but have resistance when turned. Check the water pump. Grab the fan at the top then rock it toward the engine if it moves the pump shaft it needs to be replaced soon.

    #6: Go get a fan shroud.
    Many of these truck did not come with a fan shroud. Any fan that is more then 1 inch from the radiator must have a shroud. You can find them at the junk yard. The best is from a Montero there metal and will bolt right on and there are lots of them out there.

    #7: Check and clean the ground on the ECU.
    You will find the ECU on the passenger side of the truck under the dash. A bad ground can cause many problems. Find it and remove the ground wire from the body, use sand paper to clean it. The reinstall it if you like you can use some clear paint to protect it after you are done. Then do the rest of them under the hood.

    #8: The PCV Valve.
    Clean the PCV Valve. It is on the valve cover and has a large vacuum line going to the manifold. If it's plugged it will cause the engine to build up crank case pressure and it will leek oil out of the front crank seal.

    #9: The EGR Valve.
    The EGR Valve can cause the engine to run rough at idle and not pass SMOG if you live in a state where you have SMOG. Many times they will plug up and stop working. If they do then it can stick open or closed causing problems.

    #10: MCA Jet Valve.
    Replace the MCA Jet Valve with an elimination kit from RockAuto.com. The Jet valve can burn off the tip or stick open and cause the engine to blow off vacuum lines, back fire, another strange things.

    #11: The coil.
    After 30 years of service the coil gets week and can't build up a spark fast enough at high RPM to deliver a good spark. This will cause lack of performance and engine miss fire at higher speeds.

    #12: The Oils. Engine, Transmission, Rear End, Brake, and Power Steering.
    By now you have probably changed the engine oil like any new owner would do. But don't stop there. Grease the front end and propeller shaft "U" Joints. Then move on to the rest of them. Rear End that no one has ever changed since the truck came from the factory, same with the transmission. Don't worry about a gasket for the pan and covers. Use silicone. It's just fine and will not leek. Many times you here people say brake fluid, Well the truth is there is no such thing as "brake fluid" It's really an oil, it's just a reference. And like any oil it gets old. Brake oil is designed to take the high temperature and forces in the brake system. But the oil is also made to absorb moisture. Yep, you herd it right, Moisture. Brake fluid / oil is made to absorb water. Water in a brake system will expand under heat and cause the brake to apply. So it's made to absorb the moisture. But it can only absorb just so much then it need to be changed. To change it you need two people. First use somthing to suck out what is in the reservoir and clean it with a towel. Then refill with new DOT 3 or DOT 4. Then starting at the furthest wheel you will need to bleed the brakes until fresh oil comes out. But do not let the reservoir run out or you will let air into the system. See the manual section for proper bleeding instructions.

    #13: Your Belts.
    If you have not done it yet check your alternator belt and replace them if there old and checked up. Look inside between the cogs for cracks.

    #14: Front end parts.
    Many times the first thing people say is the tires are wearing funny. Well it's an old truck and will need front end repair. Take a jack and place it under the lower "A" arm. Then jack up the front to where it just comes off the ground. Use a pry bar under the tire and lift. Look for movement in the ball joints. There should be no movement. Now rock the tire by grabbing it on the top and bottom. check the wheel bearings for movement. There should be just a tiny bit. Spin the tire and listen to the bearings, they should be quiet no noise herd just the sound of the rotor touching the pads at times. Now with the truck sitting on the ground have someone rock the steering wheel back and forth. While there rocking it fairly hard look at the tie rod ends. All parts and linkage should move at the same time. If the tie-rod end moves before the part it's connected to then it's bad. The idler arm should move back and forth not up and down. Now look for flattened and missing rubber parts on the control links that connect from the lower arm to the frame. The rubber will fall out letting the rod move around causing the alignment to go out.

    #15: Fuel lines.
    Replace the fuel lines before they start to leek and your truck becomes a rolling fireball.

    #16: The battery clamps and wires.
    Clean and replace the battery clamps and wires if necessary. Many times the battery is looked over and never touched. Get new clamps and Noco NCP-2 protector. Use the medicated pads and the thick red paste. Don't skimp on this. But when you get new clamps many times the new clamps are red and black. Well the fact is while they look pretty you need to make them useful first. The coating on them is a powder coat. BEFORE INSTALLING THEM REMOVE THE COATING FROM INSIDE THE CLAMPS. This is where the clamp touches the post and where the clamps touch the wires. If not your going to have problems. Powder coating does not pass electric current. It's an insulator. If the wire has corrosion trim it back tell there is none seen and then re-attach the wire. The best wire to make cables from is welding wire for a welder ground clamp. It's easy to get at any welding supply store. It's high strand count helps make it nice and flexible. It's only about $0.80 per foot.

    #17: The ???
    ?
    ?


    That's it for now we will update this as people add in comments. Comments MIGHT be removed after they are added to the list.
    To everyone that adds there ideas please try to fallow the format above.
    Thanks for your help.
    Last edited by camoit; 09-05-2015 at 12:35 AM.
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  2. #2

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    A wonderful thread to have, camoit, and clearly speaks of a good starting point.

    For newcomers who don't know - that metal plate on the firewall has your engine type on it (i.e. 4G64) so you don't need to put "other" in your engine info (below "vehicle"). When we can glance at your avatar area we can see what engine you have, and can make better suggestions specific to your needs.



    I offer my Garage thread menu as a resource to those who need it, as the photos help. I also testify to being one of those who killed my truck within the first month of owning it.

    http://www.mightyram50.net/vbulletin...G64-5-spd-D-50
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    Last edited by camoit; 02-04-2021 at 10:22 AM.

  3. #3

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    Awesome thread Camoit. As a new owner this sheds a lot of light on what i need to do. MUCH appreciated.

  4. #4

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    A suggestion for #16 is: "The Bolts".

    The bolts on these trucks are notorious for breaking. Regardless the reason, caution should be taken, and PATIENCE exersized, when proceeding to remove bolts, particularly those subjected to rust and temperatures.

    . Allow ample time for bolts to soak with PB Blaster or Liquid Wrench. Saturate them good, overnight if possible, with a few periodic applications.
    . On studs, [i.e. exhaust manifolds], some wire brushing removes resistance of rust and dirt. Then a pre-soak with bolt loosener.
    . Sometimes, the bolts will break, anyway. Be sure to use anti-seize compound on replacement nuts and bolts.
    . Know that when you have impossible broken bolts/studs, you have plenty of sympathy here: not one of us has experienced perfect repairs or the absence of breaking bolts.

  5. #5

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    I have tried to find the MCA Jet valve kit on Rockauto and I've had no luck. Any light that can be shed?

  6. #6

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  7. #7

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    Have you used this kit yourself? Or has anyone? Or can I just have the holes welded shut and machined while I do the head gaskets?

  8. #8

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    Thought it might be a good idea to bump this thread up, since we always have newcomers, and they aught to know these practical points. Many, like myself, arrive on this forum AFTER getting ourselves into deep doo-doo with these misunderstood trucks. Fear not: they're pretty tough, and there are plenty of resources to get things straightened out.

  9. #9

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    Absolutely give some attention to this seriously neglected piece of equipment: your spare tire hoist. Get in there and at least grease the poor thing up.



    photo of my parts truck's hoist
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    Last edited by camoit; 02-04-2021 at 10:21 AM.

  10. #10




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    thats if it is still attached to the truck and not so rotted that a fly's weight will remove it from the truck...
    Pennyman1
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    Living the D-50 lifestyle since 1980

  11. #11

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    Haven't piped in in a long while...this looks like a good place!

    Use soapy water in a spray bottle and look for vacuum leaks. Particularly around the intake manifold gasket/base of the carb...but anywhere there's a vacuum line or potential leak (brake booster line).

    Compression/leak down test all 4 cylinders. The 2.6 in particular likes to crack/warp heads (kinda plays into both jet valves and overheating issues).

    Check brake lines and consider rebuilding/replacing the Master Cylinder.

  12. #12

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    I cannot stress agreement with #5 enough; a pic is worth 1000 words (bad bad words):



    The previous owner used this truck (with THAT thermostat) allegedly as a DD for a little over a year. It was broken before I took it out of the housing.
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    Last edited by camoit; 02-04-2021 at 10:21 AM.

  13. #13



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    Quote Originally Posted by tink View Post
    I cannot stress agreement with #5 enough; a pic is worth 1000 words (bad bad words):

    IMG_2699.jpg

    The previous owner used this truck (with THAT thermostat) allegedly as a DD for a little over a year. It was broken before I took it out of the housing.
    This is an old thread dear, I'm sure you seen that.
    That thermostat is off the hook!. Who owned your truck before you? My gawd they need to be taken out to a barn and shot.

  14. #14

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    Quote Originally Posted by BradMph View Post
    This is an old thread dear, I'm sure you seen that.
    That thermostat is off the hook!. Who owned your truck before you? My gawd they need to be taken out to a barn and shot.
    Yeah, saw the thread is old. Thought it important enough to add a pic to show the thermostat really really really does need to be looked at right away by 'new' owners.

    Seller made a point of the truck never overheating after I saw the radiator rust.

  15. #15

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    Warning - thread resurrection in progress! There are a few extra things to bear in mind when buying one of these trucks and it's running a Mikuni carb. The auto chokes are prone to failure. Same goes with the vacuum actuator that operates the secondary throttle shaft. If the choke refuses to open the wax pellet inside the auto choke mechanism has more than likely failed (usually easy to spot as the wax is a nasty looking thick brown gunk that has seeped all over the linkage side of the carb). If the engine is lacking power from mid range onwards there's a good chance the vacuum actuator has a split diaphragm. Both of these issues have the potential to appear on all carburetted generations of engines.

    The 4G63 engine has some unusual pitfalls in the inlet manifold as the base plate under the manifold can corrode clean through and it is not a location you would normally go looking for a cooling system leak. This is as a result of debris in the cooling system making it's way into the coolant gallery in the base of the manifold and lodging there, eventually rotting it out. Also the small journal return journal from the base of the manifold to the thermostat can become blocked as this journal is very restrictive (worse case scenario - the 'choke off' point is barely wide enough to pass a pencil through). This issue kept machine shops in a steady supply of work for a while. If you are steadily losing coolant and can smell it but can't find the source, inspect the inlet manifold.

  16. #16

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    My first truck, 91 Mighty Max. Found this site, fantastic information and a caring community, from all I read. Thank you for being here!

  17. #17

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    Welcome to the forum, xsmileyx - start a thread in the introductions, and by all means, post up some pictures !

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  18. #18

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    I have a question. I'm coming from the toyota van world. Shout out to toyotavantech.com. I now have recently added a power ram 50 (v6) to my arsenal. I will post pics soon. Anyways, with Toyotas there was a lot of emphasis on using OEM parts. What about for these trucks? I'm about to place an order for a lot of the parts recommended to be replaced by this post but I'm not sure if these engines are picky or what. Are there parts that should definitely be avoided, parts that should definitely be OEM (head gasket?) or are these engines not too picky. Thanks!

  19. #19

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    I'm not an expert on this, certainly a lot of guys here who will know for sure, but from what I do know I can tell you that there are less OEM parts available for these trucks than there are for Toyotas. For the most part is hard to come by OEM, and in some cases you should consider yourself lucky if you even find aftermarket parts. You will eventually, but you might have to look hard, and sometimes internationally.

    Congrats on the new truck, keep us posted on your progress.

  20. #20

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    Quote Originally Posted by bushcat View Post
    I have a question. I'm coming from the toyota van world. Shout out to toyotavantech.com. I now have recently added a power ram 50 (v6) to my arsenal. I will post pics soon. Anyways, with Toyotas there was a lot of emphasis on using OEM parts. What about for these trucks? I'm about to place an order for a lot of the parts recommended to be replaced by this post but I'm not sure if these engines are picky or what. Are there parts that should definitely be avoided, parts that should definitely be OEM (head gasket?) or are these engines not too picky. Thanks!
    I think it comes down to where the parts are being made. Some aftermarket brands straight up have a bad rep. The 3.0 V6 as Mr Paco has pointed out, has very little aftermarket support beyond gasket kits and parts like water and oil pumps etc. Maybe Toyota was more popular in the US as they got into the game earliest. Being a Toyota guy it will be interesting to see what you make of the V6 powered Ram 50 and how it compares.
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  21. #21

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    Also to anyone buying a ram 50,mighty max,or Plymouth arrow check your clutch cable...its not fun sitting beside the road with a clutch that doesn't engage

  22. #22

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    For a 79 d50 sport I used 10w-40 on my recent oil change. All has been running well, I also dropped some Lucas in to clean up the deposits, am I making good decisions?

  23. #23

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    Quote Originally Posted by Onehairysalad View Post
    For a 79 d50 sport I used 10w-40 on my recent oil change. All has been running well, I also dropped some Lucas in to clean up the deposits, am I making good decisions?
    A good move. Use a decent quality filter too. If it sounds a little 'rattly' try changing up to a heavier grade of oil. If the engine has never been oil flushed (which is most likely) it will help scour out the muck in the bottom of the sump and oil galleries and break up deposits in hydraulics etc. I have a write up on my technique which a number of site members have tried and tested with positive results.
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  24. #24

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    Thanks for all the info. Just bought an 88. Previous owner had changed belts, thermostat, radiator cap, water pump and two spark plugs (?) but not the timing chain. I have it all torn apart. Ordered an timing chain kit. Will change out all recommendations above before I get her on the road. Also want to add a weber carb and headers (heat wrapped of course)...can't wait to driver it!! Oh, and she's gonna get a paint job. Bought a Wildfire lift yesterday that will be here next week. This is only one of ohr projects so can't wait to get that left here!!!

  25. #25

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    For #17 I would say while your checking/changing your belts remove your crank sprocket and the balance shaft sprockets to check your oil seals. Chances are youll be the first to do so since the truck was sold off the lot.

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