so my starter fell out going down the road today. but on a good note i found out why my truck is smoking, and going through 8qts of oil a week. turns out the PO attempted to change the oil pan because it was rotted. didnt know what he was doing. he had half the gasket over the starter just hanging there. not in the pan at all. it was just running out of the pan. he didnt even tighten the bolts. but i very much appreciate the help you all have been. Thank You

 

Holy cow, that's weird!

 

yea it is. not sure what the PO was trying to do but he totally screwed things up. but i understand tho. hes 74yrs old and the original owner of the truck. i am the 2nd owner

 

Well, as the 2nd owner of your truck, you stand to have a pretty nice rig once you get things ironed out. I am also owner # 2 of a '88 F250. After a long process of elimination and a rebuilt engine, my truck works great. It's worth the effort!

I think you'll have to lift the engine to replace the pan gasket. If the rest of the engine is in good shape - maybe that will get you by for quite a while.

 

when my truck smoked, the fix was all of the small (spagetthi size) vacuum tubes, as you face the engine bay, left side, that needed to be replaced and that solved my problem

 

I forgot to referrence close to the fire wall

 

Could be wrong as it's been a while. I had to lift the engine to remove the pan, but not just to replace the gasket.

 

the pan need to be replaced also. it has 5 rot holes in the bottom of it. JB weld is holding it now. but it needs one. i heard i dont have to completely remove the motor, just lift it up enough to get the pump and pan out.

 

I seem to remember unbolting a motor mount or two, but the engine stays in.

 

yea unbolting the motor mounts and lifting the engine and setting the mounts on 2x4's if im not mistaken. needs new pump also. cold starts yields 45lbs oil pressure. once it warms up i get about 5-7 idling and about 15-20 when rolling down the highway at 65 and 2300 RPMs