Overheated the original motor when the thermo. stuck, driving home from work on a 96* day @ about 180k. Did'nt notice till it starting spark knocking and the gauge was in the red. I pulled over and let it cool off, ran a few miles/repeat till I got home about 10 miles. Flush/new t/stat and w pump. A few weeks later I noticed some steam in the exhaust at starting in summer
, it would stop when it warmed up. I had other vehicles and only drove the truck a mile to the trash dump, hunting etc. within 5 miles or so of home for 2 years. The steam got worse. One day I pulled into a friends yard and he walked up from his garden as I sat in the truck idling. He said "you got problems" and nodded a the rear. I stuck my head out and looked back,coolant was pissing out of the tailpipe ! drove it home and parked it for good.
A month or so later I found a 82 2wd truck w 42k on the 22R. It had been rolled over and bought back after it was totaled. The guy pulled the plugs and filled the cylinders w motor oil. It sat for 13 years before I bought it. I put it in gear and rocked it and the motor spun easily. I had to cut down some pine trees that had grown around the truck to drag it home. I changed the oil,plugs, swapped carbs and cranked it. It purred like a kitten and no smoke. Put new front and rear seals on it,installed and rolled on. That 82 motor is in my truck today @ 214k. It's time to do the timing chain and the org. 84 carb needs rebuilding but the truck still runs and rides. I'm gonna R&R soon.