Since you're already down there......sure, why not?

Thermostat, belts, hoses, pulleys..........flush the cooling system and add new fluid.... may as well also change out the air filter or even add an intake, install some new plugs, and oh yeah, change the oil.

 

I would absolutely call around and find someone to tow it. Most RV place have sources for hauling also. If you can get it home by having it trucked or towing for several hundred $ more than risking driving it that far, I would jump on it. What is your cost to get there? Throw a motel stay for several days if you have problems and what it will cost your for roadside help etc.you will come out ahead by paying to have it brought home. As Clint said, "Do you feel lucky" Murphy's Law is waiting for your answer. In all seriousness, I wouldn't risk it Sandy

 

A lot of options for sure. You could also rent a trailer or truck. Maybe take a 2 week vacation to fix it up while you are there, so that you can drive it home safely. 2 week window will allow you to take care of a lot under the hood. Basic tune up and brakes for sure. Get some new tires if the truck tires are 10 years old or more. Change the tranny fluid and gear box oil. Change the fuel filter since that is easy. Get rid of the fan and install an electric fan. Install a dual exhaust. Recharge the AC system.


.......a lot can be done in 2 weeks

 

After reading everything it's in need of, I'm in agreement with sandymane and fifty150 here - look into towing/hauling options or taking vacation to work on it first.

With the mileage and everything it currently needs, and since you're wanting it to be a project anyway, I think you'd be better for it to haul it home. It can be expensive if done professionally, but trailer rentals are cheap. So are tow bars and lights.

 

I will agree with the others since more info has been put out. Either get it roadworthy while down there or have it hauled home and fix it. From the sounds of it, it'd be a dicey operation trying to drive it that far with odds being the tired old gal would give out.

When I bought my 93 I had it for a month and my then GF was on a trip and a bolt (I found out later) backed out of her alternator, she thought her battery went dead,so she got a new battery and continued driving her vehicle on the interstate, instead of properly diagnosing what was wrong. She smoked her engine totally. She wanted me to come tow her Scion home 450 miles with my truck.Had I been able to fully test out and go through the truck, no problem.
At the time it was shifting hard and had a couple other small issues (turned out it needed a PCM) I explained to her that I wasn't gonna risk pulling her Scion through the mountains and quite possibly end up have 2 vehicles broke down on the side of the road. I drove the truck over to get her and took it easy on it, got all her stuff and her back home. Her Scion went to the bone yard. Sometimes you have to hedge your bets. BTW, now that I have went through the truck and gotten it in tip top shape I just towed an 86 C-10 project truck with absolutely no problems.and have towed a Toyota truck that tossed a belt on the interstate 10 miles to the nearest exit/truck stop while coming back from a trip to Montgomery,Alabama.

Better safe than sorry.

 

Thanks folks. I should of clarified a little more. The truck is at my dad's place. Dad only lives 3/4 miles from my grandpa's place. Grandpa is a retired mechanic and his full shop is behind his house. So I have access to his lift and all tools he has. Granted he has been retired for 20 yrs, but i can make do with his equipment. My dad and grandad are not physically able to help on the truck, but my brother and brother-in-law have already agreed to help. I was planning on taking at least a week to go over the truck and make it road worthy again. My 79 could pull it home no problem, but I have alot more resources back home. I may go ahead and take the 2 weeks or at least 10 days. Great advice so far and thanks for all the insight. Does anyone have a goos recomendation foe a timimng chain set for it? I'm still price checking some parts and the collective input of people who have done this before will be a major boon.

 

Unless you are doing a major rebuild right then and there,considering the amount of miles on it, I'd go with a moderately priced set from a parts store. No sense dumping a ton of money in it if it has 200K it's gonna need a complete rebuild sooner or later.

 

Ok thanks. I know summit carries several from around $20 to over $100. I was just wondering about the different brands. If there were any to avoid?

 

I say have an adventure! Throw caution to the wind and go for it. Fix it as you go.

Oh and chronicle the ensuing mayhem please.

 

While they may not be able to go hands on, both have a world of knowledge. Having them around, to help point out things and give advice - you can't go wrong. This is the kind of project where everybody, including us here online, could learn a few things from the 2 of them.

As far as parts, I would go with the best that you can get. You really don't want to do the job twice, because you used cheap parts the first time around.

 

I'm not sure if they have a set for your truck, but Cloyes is a good brand of timing chain and gears. At work we get them through Arnold Motor Supply - not sure who else sells them.

Realistically though, brand probably won't have a lot to do with it. You're replacing 2 steel gears and a chain - unless you're planning to stop for some drag races on the way home, anything you buy will work as long as the dimensions are correct.