78 li'l hustler picture

Post by **lil_hustler_620** » Wed Dec 31, 1969 5:00 pm

I know it gets laughs now, but imagine nice paint and shiny rims!

I drove her for the first time today. Peppy, but it got hot and blew the cap off the overflow...

any ideas?

Thermostat maybe? my radiator is also super skinny is yurs like that?

I love the trucks nice deep tone! makes my tacoma sound whimpy :dude:

see ya

Post by **lancekilgore** » Wed Dec 31, 1969 5:00 pm

Could be the theromstat but also could be a clogged radiator. The thermostats onmly cost about 5.00$ and you can remove the radiator andtake it to a shop to have it checked. what did the gauge do het hot stay in the middle what? It could also be a bad radiator cap they only cost a few bucks.

My 78 is a long bed and the exhaust is quite, need to replace the muffler though.

Interesting I also own a tacoma (2002) I like driving the datsun as my primary driver though.

Lance

Post by **lil_hustler_620** » Wed Dec 31, 1969 5:00 pm

Thanks again Lance. I picked up a thermostat today. I will try it first. I had to fill the radiator back up before starting and when it filled the overflow it was really dirty brown so a flushing will be in order as well.

The temp gauge was fine for about 7/8 minutes while i was driving up and down my drive way then before i knew it the gauge was maxed so i cut it off immediately.

Thanks for the comment. I will let you all know when i get the thermostat in :dude:

Post by **lancekilgore** » Wed Dec 31, 1969 5:00 pm

well if the temp maxed then it sounds like a head gasket to me. but give it a try and I do reccomend changing the rad cap. When I got mine in Jan 07 I had a lot of white smoke (head gasket). but I could not afford the fix at the time and still can't but any way I installed the bars stop leak for alum and followed the instructions. So for it is holding (Nock on wood). And I drive about 65 mph back and forth from work and it is a 30 mile drive one way. so far though I am preparing bought a head gasket set and a new timming chain kit. plan to do the engine not just the head.

Good Luck

Lance

Post by **lil_hustler_620** » Wed Dec 31, 1969 5:00 pm

Hey, Thank God! It was the thermostat. Who ever had this jewel before me decided not to use a gasket and gobbed it full of silicone ha ha Also I took the radiator off and flushed it.. Man, the stuff that came out would gag a magget on a gut wagon, included was one wet match stick lol :P

I was afraid to flush down under the thermostat because of taking a risk of cracking the block.

I'm sorry to hear about your head gasket problem. I hope it holds out till you get to rebuild that beast

Post by **lancekilgore** » Wed Dec 31, 1969 5:00 pm

great news, at least you can run it now. mine will hold.

Lance

Post by **lil_hustler_620** » Wed Dec 31, 1969 5:00 pm

Just curious.. Are you going to go with a stock rebuild or do you have performance in mind?

Post by **lancekilgore** » Wed Dec 31, 1969 5:00 pm

At this point in time I am staying with stock, fairly powerful engine, I have been running her about 70 and that is fast for that truck, put in a tack last night becasue I though I was reving her to high, but 65 70 is only 3000 rpms. know what the limit is on these engines?

right now the only thing I would do differently is put a five speed in it. (would be nice). gotta do the muffler i it though any suggestions other than stock if I can get one?

78 li'l hustler picture

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