Picked up my diesel

[jerryyoung]

Left Little Rock on Wednesday (7-2-03) morning at 7:05 on Southwest Airlines, arrived in San Antonio at 9:25 (ain't airplanes great!?). I was picked up by the seller right on time, loaded my tool box and luggage into his Mercedes and off we go to get mine. As we are driving along, he was only driving 40-45 MPH. As we were talking, he eased up to around 50MPH and the whole front end starts to shake! I am thinking, hope my car is better than this one!! Futher discussion reveals the seller runs a salvage yard, buys cars and sells them or parts them out. Now I'm worried! Arrive at sellers business and shows me my car. Car looks very good outside, normal wear on inside (some cracking of MB-Tex, drivers' seat needs springs, etc.). Car is super clean, engine bay is spotless (seller had car detailed at my request as pictures showed cruddy wheels, etc.). Asked if AC worked (was hotter than h##L), said worked for a short time then shuts off. Well, I look at comperssor area and NO belt Long story short, dickered price down $200, jumped in car and headed North. On startup, oil pressure hits upper peg at 3 and stays there except a hot idle were it rests at 1.5.

I start North watching oil pressure and temp (right on 90) and hear WaaWaaWaa (tire noise). Pull in to next Wal-Mart and put on rear tires (front looked new), balanced all and off I go. (Guy had to use a looong breaker bar to get lug nuts off, some clown had installed them with a 1/2" impact gun, I'm sure. Guy at WM put them on with a torque wrench @ 75flbs). Start out around 60MPH watching all instruments, good. Before long, blasting up I35 North at 75MPH and grinning like an idiot.

Got to my sons house in Forth Worth and everybody thinks car is great. Son, who is a mechanic (oops, Automotive Technician) said, "fire it up and let's see how it runs". Had a slight miss at idle, he looks at engine and says "there is the problem, small return line from #3 injector is leaking". He cuts off end of line, puts it back on, NO miss!!

This is getting long but next day we went to his shop, put belt on compressor (system was holding pressure) and try AC. Slightly cool. We evacuate system, install new drier, pull vacuum for 30 minutes, put R12 back in and get cold air (still is working). Hot dog!! I did some other maintenance items (oil, fliter change, fuel filter, etc.).

I go blasting out of FW on Sunday, hammer down at 70-75 MPH all the way home to Bryant, AR - no problem. Getting 25-27 MPG at those speeds, I'm happy as a pig in a mud hole.

Need to do shocks, new drivers seat, check timing chain stretch and set valves, fix radio and cruise and I'm good to go.

Did I mention I still have a stupid grin on my face??!! Thanks for all the info I have recived form all of you and I hope to be able to return the favor sometime.

Got a diesel, hot dog