91Chinook
Member
- Joined
- May 6, 2015
- Messages
- 13
- Reaction score
- 0
- City, State
- West Coast
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 1991 Aerostar
Hi Aerostar/Explorer/Ranger community.
Although this is my first post, I've been reading here since purchasing a '91 XL with a rare OEM Chinook pop-top at the end of Spring 15. I'd never noticed a Chinook minivan on the road, although I'm tuned into pop-top campers. In another century, I suffered thru 4 engine failures on an air-cooled '81 Vanagon Westfalia, the best vehicle I ever rested in after a breakdown.
My current project looked promising; relatively clean body and paint, and only 55K on a 2001 dealership longblock;165K total chassis miles. There were warning signs; a recent water pump replacement, and strangely intermittent white tailpipe smoke. However the mystery smoke didn't prevent it from passing CA smog, even though I could see it during the high RPM test.
I'd fallen for her, and she needed me... the oldest story in a 12-step group. Codependency happens, and history ignored tends to repeat.
It's a moot point whether a weak head gasket led to cracked heads, or if the prior waterpump problem wasn't caught in time. Mea culpa. Shortly after purchase, my '91 boiled dry while a friend was driving it. Thank god for premier AAA membership, someone to call for help. Curse you Ford, for truck with a dummy light, instead of a temp gauge.
Fast-forward to late July 2015; my mechanic has the pushrod/OHV engine out on a stand. I'm shopping for a long list of expensive parts while we're waiting for new heads from Cylinder Heads International, headsonly.com. That's a fact, not a recommendation- but Chris, the man on the phone seemed helpful, and the price was right.
Since I'm busy trying to work the cost-quality-longevity curve on a big parts/labor bill, that's all of my sad (so far) story that I've time to tell, for now. I'll come back when I have a happy ending, or at least get back to re-imagining a camper interior.
I will ask if anyone reading this about Evergreen Performance engine gasket kit experience. And whether the roller valve lifters are difficult to recondition. Lifters and Fel-Pro gaskets are the biggest line items on the engine list.
Although this is my first post, I've been reading here since purchasing a '91 XL with a rare OEM Chinook pop-top at the end of Spring 15. I'd never noticed a Chinook minivan on the road, although I'm tuned into pop-top campers. In another century, I suffered thru 4 engine failures on an air-cooled '81 Vanagon Westfalia, the best vehicle I ever rested in after a breakdown.
My current project looked promising; relatively clean body and paint, and only 55K on a 2001 dealership longblock;165K total chassis miles. There were warning signs; a recent water pump replacement, and strangely intermittent white tailpipe smoke. However the mystery smoke didn't prevent it from passing CA smog, even though I could see it during the high RPM test.
I'd fallen for her, and she needed me... the oldest story in a 12-step group. Codependency happens, and history ignored tends to repeat.
It's a moot point whether a weak head gasket led to cracked heads, or if the prior waterpump problem wasn't caught in time. Mea culpa. Shortly after purchase, my '91 boiled dry while a friend was driving it. Thank god for premier AAA membership, someone to call for help. Curse you Ford, for truck with a dummy light, instead of a temp gauge.
Fast-forward to late July 2015; my mechanic has the pushrod/OHV engine out on a stand. I'm shopping for a long list of expensive parts while we're waiting for new heads from Cylinder Heads International, headsonly.com. That's a fact, not a recommendation- but Chris, the man on the phone seemed helpful, and the price was right.
Since I'm busy trying to work the cost-quality-longevity curve on a big parts/labor bill, that's all of my sad (so far) story that I've time to tell, for now. I'll come back when I have a happy ending, or at least get back to re-imagining a camper interior.
I will ask if anyone reading this about Evergreen Performance engine gasket kit experience. And whether the roller valve lifters are difficult to recondition. Lifters and Fel-Pro gaskets are the biggest line items on the engine list.