81 Big Horn resuurection

[pennyman1]

Well I worked some more on the Big Horn - finally got it started. The hacked ignition and the funky plumbing from the pump to the carb wasn't the issue - just sitting for far too long. Having said that, the bad news is the PO did damage to the motor running it out of oil - it has a loud rod knock. Now I am trying to decide to rebuild the motor now and put it back in, use the remanned short block and put that in and rebuild the original motor, or pull the 2.6 out of the 89 parts truck, drop that in, and rebuild the original. I want to start driving the truck now, but the options are many, and I also have many things to do around the house which will complicate the issue. What should I do?

[geezer101]

Well I worked some more on the Big Horn - finally got it started. The hacked ignition and the funky plumbing from the pump to the carb wasn't the issue - just sitting for far too long. Having said that, the bad news is the PO did damage to the motor running it out of oil - it has a loud rod knock. Now I am trying to decide to rebuild the motor now and put it back in, use the remanned short block and put that in and rebuild the original motor, or pull the 2.6 out of the 89 parts truck, drop that in, and rebuild the original. I want to start driving the truck now, but the options are many, and I also have many things to do around the house which will complicate the issue. What should I do?

You're asking us what to do lol. Now that is a first! is rebuild it. If you - A: aren't in dire need of it, B:want to keep it as original as possible (if a full resto is on the cards) and C: don't want to play Russian roulette with your wallet on a 'good used engine', I'd pull it down and work on it whenever you have nothing better to do and cash permits. You know the engine and what to do to improve it. When it's cold and crappy outside, there is nothing like some late night porting on a cylinder head as personal therapy.