Add said $11.00, so a ten and a one.
CK5
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The Great Smaug
- Thread starter campfire
- Start date
If the mighty interwebz are right, and it's primarily a design weakness meeting a batch of poorly-cured blocks machined prematurely, it could well be cracked before it's installed. Right?
"Junk right out of the box" seems to be a common dilema nowadays with many parts...I suppose its possible..
Too bad there is no "home magnafluxing kit" or some kind of sonic test to see if the cracks is all the way thru.or just on the surface--or is a casting flaw that looks like a crack,but really isn't one..chances are if it hasn't grenaded by now,it might never fail..I agree that is a big chance to take after all your hard work though..
Too bad there is no "home magnafluxing kit" or some kind of sonic test to see if the cracks is all the way thru.or just on the surface--or is a casting flaw that looks like a crack,but really isn't one..chances are if it hasn't grenaded by now,it might never fail..I agree that is a big chance to take after all your hard work though..
Last I knew there weren’t any available locally in yards. The only one I know of is at car country but it’s been picked over and someone used a hammer to access the CP3 
I think @sreidmx has gone down an accelerated version of the road you're going down right now with Ethel.
1) Yay diesel, it'll tow anything and get 40 MPG!
2) Kinda slow, I'll add a turbo, not getting 40 mpg.
3) Wow, this thing is a pile...
4) LS swap!!
5) yay, this thing does epic burnouts and is fun!
6) learning to tune is also fun!!
7) there is a practical limit to how loud exhaust should be, still having fun!
1) Yay diesel, it'll tow anything and get 40 MPG!
2) Kinda slow, I'll add a turbo, not getting 40 mpg.
3) Wow, this thing is a pile...
4) LS swap!!
5) yay, this thing does epic burnouts and is fun!
6) learning to tune is also fun!!
7) there is a practical limit to how loud exhaust should be, still having fun!
Yeah, he entered the diesel club and then left us in the dust. Both literally and figuratively.
The biggest difference is that he wants decent performance and I don't drive the truck enough to care how slow it is.
I do think that tuning would be fun. There is no way I am ever going back to a carburetor. Injection rocks.
@blazinzuk did pretty much the same thing.
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Yay for 400,000 miles on my untouched stock Jimmy! (though it is slow)
Finally blew the engine, here are pictures of me rebuilding it.
Nevermind, someone gave me an awesome diesel burb. Rebuild unnecessary.
Towing Ashman to Moab because DIESEL!
Time for a cross-country hauling trip to a secret destination!
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Yeah, if the stars had aligned I would have just had him bring his extra diesel block with him. I think he's now too smart to use it anymore.
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Yay for 400,000 miles on my untouched stock Jimmy! (though it is slow)
Finally blew the engine, here are pictures of me rebuilding it.
Nevermind, someone gave me an awesome diesel burb. Rebuild unnecessary.
Towing Ashman to Moab because DIESEL!
Sold the diesel burb...BIG BLOCK FTW!
Time for a cross-country hauling trip to a secret destination!
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Yeah, if the stars had aligned I would have just had him bring his extra diesel block with him. I think he's now too smart to use it anymore.
In retrospect I bet I would be cursing a carb with a hand choke,which I prefer over an automatic choke, the first 5-10 minutes after a cold start--after being "spoiled" having a fuel injected diesel...and the Ford Contour I had...
Overall though,I didn't have too much trouble with carbs..
Too bad I'm not able to convince myself computers,sensors and wires aren't as "reliable" as the old school tech was--they are great until one item decides to crap out in the middle of nowhere,and your left scratching your head wondering which component died--or worse,dies and comes back to life intermittently..
Overall though,I didn't have too much trouble with carbs..
Too bad I'm not able to convince myself computers,sensors and wires aren't as "reliable" as the old school tech was--they are great until one item decides to crap out in the middle of nowhere,and your left scratching your head wondering which component died--or worse,dies and comes back to life intermittently..
Pick your poison...at least the computer will be able to tell you what's wrong half of the time.
An instant "fuel pressure" error code would have saved me a bunch of headache trying to coax the K5 back to life out on the trail...
Carbs have a place still. Simple reliable power at the drag strip, easiest low buck way to get a gas engine running and functional (think Roadkill) but beyond that...hard pass.
I was very enthusiastic about the 6.2 for a while too. 15 years ago having a FI Blazer was less common, and less easy than today. The 6.2 offered another option that was economical and pretty easy. I embraced it for it's strong points, but never had any illusions about it's being a tow rig.
A LS swap has become even cheaper and easier, with more upside, and way more aftermarket support. You won't be breaking any new ground, but there is a reason they are so damn popular. I can source a 5.3 with trans, and ECM plus full engine and TCM harness for under $600 at the local junk yard. I bet once you factor in fuel pump, fuel line and regulator stuff plus engine mounts and various sundry items it could be done for under $1000 cdn.
I was very enthusiastic about the 6.2 for a while too. 15 years ago having a FI Blazer was less common, and less easy than today. The 6.2 offered another option that was economical and pretty easy. I embraced it for it's strong points, but never had any illusions about it's being a tow rig.
A LS swap has become even cheaper and easier, with more upside, and way more aftermarket support. You won't be breaking any new ground, but there is a reason they are so damn popular. I can source a 5.3 with trans, and ECM plus full engine and TCM harness for under $600 at the local junk yard. I bet once you factor in fuel pump, fuel line and regulator stuff plus engine mounts and various sundry items it could be done for under $1000 cdn.
I will chime in here and add that I have had less issues with my TBI swap on my 78 than I ever had with any of the three carbs that were on that truck. Either diesel or EFI for this guy, never going to own another carb (tractors exempt of course).
There's a strong probability that your engine had that crack before you even owned it. Can you run it, absolutely. Just now way of knowing what it's life span will be.
I like the 6.2 for the same reason you do. It's simple to work on and most people don't like them. Seems like everyone has an LS and while they're great engines it's just to much of a "me too" engine any more.
If you do ever pull it for a gas engine, go big block. Why, why not!
I like the 6.2 for the same reason you do. It's simple to work on and most people don't like them. Seems like everyone has an LS and while they're great engines it's just to much of a "me too" engine any more.
If you do ever pull it for a gas engine, go big block. Why, why not!
For @GWeakland620, the official CK5 Crayon-eating picture addict. One mounted 5125. Turns out front shock towers really are easier when the engine bay is empty. 
I even got the shock lined up with the tower. Whodathunkit?
And here's what the back looks like. The boot isn't happy, but I sure am.
I continue to be amazed how gnarly the rust under here looks. It looked SOOOOO pretty when I bought it.
Both front and rear shocks have about 4-5" of up travel. My floor is far from flat, and both axles are articulated, so I will have to get exact measurements later.
I even got the shock lined up with the tower. Whodathunkit?
And here's what the back looks like. The boot isn't happy, but I sure am.
I continue to be amazed how gnarly the rust under here looks. It looked SOOOOO pretty when I bought it.
Both front and rear shocks have about 4-5" of up travel. My floor is far from flat, and both axles are articulated, so I will have to get exact measurements later.
Isn't this always the case? Why does it FEEL so different now that I know the crack is there? I already knew it was likely, and I still know that it's usually not a problem. But somehow I now feel obligated to assume the worst.
If you do ever pull it for a gas engine, go big block. Why, why not!
My neighbor has a 427 with propane conversion for $400. Been up for sale for several months, buried in a corner of his shed.
It's a rare engine running a rare fuel...quirky enough to get my interest, eh?
I never run the shock boots. It feels like you're helping protect your shocks, but the boots usually collect mud/debris/etc and hold it against the chrome, and the top of the shock body leading to an early failure. YMMV
Isn't this always the case? Why does it FEEL so different now that I know the crack is there? I already knew it was likely, and I still know that it's usually not a problem. But somehow I now feel obligated to assume the worst.
Just the nature of how most auto hobbiest feel. Once we know about an issue, it bothers us.
For your tight budget. I'd run it as is while saving up for another one. Staying with a 6.x engine is the cheapest and simplest option.
Honestly, I spaced on that and simply installed them the way that they came. Never even thought about pitching the boots.
But I had expected comments on the plastic sleeve clinging to the Bilstein.
