With that long of a drive each time, I would go a little longer, you want heat cycles more so then just distance after the initial startup.

 

Frankenstein (brought back to life with parts from the dead ones) indeed cranked up. I tried cranking without fuel pump fuse in, but it would not make enogh oil PSI to turn off light. Replaced fuse, it fired up, oil light went off quickly, but rpm at 2000. Adjusted mechanical linkage. No codes, idled for 10 minutes. Water temp to 180. Oil smoke from both sides in engine bay, from spilled oil and greasy hands. Smoke cleared off. No white smoke out of tail pipe.

Oil leak under truck, believe it is odd filter I swapped out, it was wrong model. While changing oil I found clamp on lower radiator hose was loose, from draining cooling system. Not easy to get at.

With 15W40 Rotella no strange noises. Listened to valve covers with yard stick, could barely hear drive train ticking, more on driver side. Can't hear it without stick.

I suspect the worn rocker arms are part of the noise. I had enough sludge to hold things together. Will run oil PSI gauge test soon.

 

it's alive,Alive! Very good to hear.

 

Congrats buzz,I thought mine took long but think you have a record,very happy everything worked out for you

 

 

Celebration may be premature, still need to solve oil leak and road test over several days.

But thanks.

 

A little morning burnoff of condensation I hope. Stopped shortly after crank up. 180-183F at 55 mph for 5 miles and back. No gurgles, no bubbles under dash at WOT. Oil leak found to be pooling on top of front cover, snugged up front valley end seal bolt. Clean cardboard stayed clean for ten minutes under truck running. Except for those red spots under the steering..... another project.

Farmers owe me big time for having the Rover rain god appear almost daily for the past few weeks.

 

Longer trip to hardware store at lunch time. 192-195 with AC on. Back down to 183 with it off. Coolant full. Wondering if my radiator "dried out" goop in the bottom, while being worked on. 20+ degree difference top to bottom with fan off. Belt route OK, electric and mechanical fan hold paper against grille. More test driving this afternoon. No gurgles.

 

On commute it stayed 183-187 on 55-60 mph roads, when I got on freeway and went up to 80 mph (72 per OBDII port) it went to 199. AC on. Once off the road in traffic if stayed in the 192-194 area, would drop down if I switched off AC. Had some spikes to like 205. I bought a new 180 stat (parts counter guys are brainwashed to only see what is on their computer), and picked up a bottle of water wetter. I had been using the water wetter and perhaps that is the difference.

 

good work be sure to pressure test it now that you have it back together, there are a lot of bolts and hose that you have hit in the last couple weeks.
What was the problem with the manifold? the bolts too big throwing everything off?