Ruined engine? .. too hot.

[Bill e]

Hello gentlemen,

Borrowing your expertise in tech and troubleshooting... please.

New here, fairly new little dodge truck owner... year and a half.


My problem, a wicked overheating due to loss of coolant while highway driving.

A lower split hose, out of sight under the power steering unit.

Thought it was the water pump, as it has been squealing a bit, when first starting, due to lack of lubricants from lack of antifreeze.

The bearing on the water pump was still fairly tight, not too much play.

So while driving on a warm summer day, heat guage crept up, eventually smoke from unger the hood from engine grime burning off, the valves clattering, then had to drive on the side of the fast highway traffic to limp into a village... about five minutes.

Knowing the engine was hot, hot, got parked, steam and smoke when I cracked the hood.

Let it cool ten minutes, got water, started pouring in, saw the leak from around the back of water pump, [now know that was the hose split.]

Waited another 15 minutes and decided to try it, the engine didn't sound great, but after holding down the gas and cranking alot the engine flared to life.

The 2L was still alive! It idled so-so but I shut it down after a minute or so.

Left the truck for two days.

I had a ten minute drive to get the truck back home and carried 5 gallons of water. Two stops later while adding water, made it home with a little overheating... not bad.

Here are some questions coming, after I did some work.

A new water pump had already been ordered, so I put that in, new lower hose, new thermostat. I had the timing belt off, the big belt, did not fool with the little one... they are both in good shape.

Now even though I did mark the upper cam gear and was careful reinstalling the belt as it had come off, it almost seems it is off by a tooth.

Reassembled, took for a test drive, ten minutes.

Symptoms:

It has ''flat acceleration'', much less than before the overheating, is under-powered.

It smokes now when starting... never did before.

It backfires when taking foot off the gas, around 30 to 40 mph. ... third gear, from excess gas/fuel combusting, is my guess. Advanced timing?

Finally running hot, antifreeze bubbling, rad burping.


So what do you think?


Has the engine been damaged much, valves screwed up, compression weakened?

Is it perhaps just the timing off?

I need to put that belt back on properly this time. I know where some marks are but not quite sure how to time it perfectly.
Crankshaft in conjunction with cam, simply line up notches?

Do not have a manual.

Love the truck, good fuel economy, all the power[or had] all the power I need.
There is a little over 200,000 k on her.

Any tips, hints, help from you guys would be greatly appreciated, have the front pulleys off now, t-belt back off and wondering where or if I should buy another radiator as that is now leaking a bit!

All the best,

Bill e
p.s. 2.0 L , 1988 five speed. Not sure what number/letters represent this engine.