Well, the wagon is back. I have invested $3000 into it so far. The head has been rebuilt, but I am still nervous about the cooling system. It will still need some more repairs over the next 12 months. The guy that owned it really abused it, but it is running really well right now. I might keep it a year and sell it and get another K-car. I will always keep the Dodge. My dream is to drive the wagon to Pennsylvania for National Chrysler Show, and make it our National K-Car Show. Here are my concerns about cooling:
1. Not overheating, but temp gauge doesn't always come down at the same point on the scale each time. Somtimes it comes darn well close to the line before it slowly comes down. I attempted to bleed the system this morning by running the car with the heater on and radiator cap off. I expected the coolant level to go down. Instead, it slowly oozed out of the cap, and l lost some coolant on the street. I am wondering if I have a 195 degree thermostat, when I really should have a drilled 180. I want to look into that after tommorrow's adventure. I am also a little concerned because I still get some moist air on my hand when I put my hand behind the exhaust pipe. This after the $1000 head job, cheapest on the west coast. Don't understand it. The car also idles too fast and high in park, but not in drive. The Check engine light system is not working at all. At least the car is running smoothly. I now have working a.c. with a compressor going out, but it is not very cold.
Slowly but surely I will get to each item. I have plenty of time to enjoy my new toy, assuming it doesn't overheat on me.