This evening after supper I decided to do a little cleaning in my recently purchased 51 GMC 350. I donned my paint mask, opened the cab doors and began scooping out rodent droppings and nests. I got two BIG trash can loads of 'stuff' our of it. I found a nice #2 phillips screwdriver, a regular size straight blade screw driver, and several sockets and end wrenches. I also found the socket tool used to remove the lug nuts.
The PO was a real dufus when it came to wiring. They grafted an old GM external regulated alternator in place of the generator. The wires involved in this swap ran all over the place and none were hooked up. I did manage to find the wire that feeds the coil and the battery cables were good. I grabbed my spare battery out of the 9N F**d tractor and hooked it up. I dumped a little gas down the carb and spun it over. It took right off!!!
About then my wife and the baby were coming down the sidewalk so I thought I would show her the truck would actually run. I dumped a little too much gas down the carb and fired it up again. It was running and died when I noticed there were some small flames coming off the side of the block under the carb. After extinguishing the fire I saw that the exhaust manifold gaskets were non-existant on the 3-4 and 5-6 exhaust ports, and all that raw gas ran down the side of the block to catch fire. I think she was surprised it would run at all. Oh woman of little faith...
The last time I was a little more careful with the gas and filled the float bowl on the carb through the vent tube. This time I paid attention to the oil pressure and at a slow idle it would get to at least 30 psi before the engine would die. I didn't hear any rods (or anything else) pounding and the plugs I inspected the other day looked pretty good. The electrodes were worn but there were no crusty deposits indicating heavy oil use.
I may now use this 248 in my 51 Chevy pickup if it passes further running inspections. Not to bad for $50, huh
