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ROBERTSUNRUS · 02-18-2012, 11:16 PM

Hi, if one plug is leaking, you need to replace all of them. Should have three on each side and two in the front and two more in the rear. You will have to remove the motor mounts, starter motor, and power steering pump to replace the front and side plugs. You will have to remove the transmission and flywheel/flexplate to replace the rear plugs. After you have all of the plugs replaced you will need to pressure test the cooling system. If no other leaks are found, you should do a block test. If the blue fluid stays blue, you're most likely OK. If the blue fluid turns yellow, then you have combustion leaking into the coolant. [blown head gaskets, cracked heads, or a cracked block] I would do all of this first before buying a new engine.

1985air345 · 02-19-2012, 06:53 AM

Thanks for all of the help and education! I'll be going up to see the unit in more detail on Tuesday. I plan on bringing water and coolant and getting him to fire up the engine. I'll have a better idea of the leak situation at that time.

overlander63 · 02-19-2012, 08:41 AM

Fred, I once nursed an AMC Hornet 160 miles with a severely leaking expansion plug (this is the technical name, although not correct, either). I left the radiator cap on loosely, the first "notch", and stopped every 10 miles to put more water in it. The trip took several hours, but I made it to where I needed to go.

1985air345 · 02-19-2012, 09:20 AM

Thanks. I'll keep you posted.

My other issue is the passenger bench seat. The passenger has no head and neck support. Since that bench is part of the dinette bed, I may have to have a (removable) custom support made to increase the bench height. I don't want to lose the dinette since (1) we really used the dinette in our 345 and (2) we found that the two of us sleeping on a sofa bed was uncomfortable.

I'll take a bunch of pictures on Tuesday. I am also considering nursing her a Jasper Engine dealer not too far away. I may just swap out the engine. I have a hard time replacing all of the plugs (and the cost associated) only to find other issues. The unit has sat idle for a very long time.

1985air345 · 02-23-2012, 08:09 PM

My wife and I saw the unit again on Tuesday and we decided to pass on this unit. I had a tow truck and shop lined up to do the work. When we looked at the unit, it was missing the gen set, the muffler was split wide open, and the floor near the rear sloped down. I crawled underneath and noticed what looked like a plywood board screwed in above the differential (see picture).

This guy was holding firm to his price (I got sick of hearing "These are going for $10,000 on eBay") and it need WAY too much work (casting plugs, exhaust manifold, muffler, transmission service, differential service, belts, hoses, generator, house battery, rat/mouse pooh removal, paint, 16" rims, new 16" tires, new AC, new upholstery, and I'm sure much more). This is basically a complete rebuild/restoration yet he thinks he has a gem!

My other thought was that the board is a cement board as a result of the hot muffler right below it.

The missing gen set and the sag in the rear floor were deal breakers for me.