I say "another" because the FM identifies as a Silverado.
The new one is an '03 2500 HD LS. 267,000 miles, which means it's already broken in.
The body is straight with no accidents on the Carfax.
It needs some repairs, but first it needs a title. I bought it with a bill of sale only. Good thing I don't need to use the truck right away. I'm planning to get a bonded title, but I'll have to call on Monday due to the Thanksgiving holiday.
The main reason for this 3/4 ton truck is to haul the camper on something more "Wendy-friendly" because her arthritis makes it hard for her to get in the FM. The FM is also not comfortable for long trips for most anyone beside myself.
The other big reason is to haul the ski boat AND the family to the lake.
It might even haul the camper AND the boat. Maybe.


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So I had my VW Jetta built to nearly 400hp according to online calculations. Then it was in a wreck and deemed totaled due to its age. Finally came to an agreement with insurance and I kept it and took some money. I looked and looked for something similar but something I could make road trips in to work in WTX…rain or shine. I stumbled across an Audi A4 B6 Avant Quattro with a 5spd. Mmmm. Classic signs of a blown head gasket. So I bought it down in the Big Easy and drug it back on a trailer. Tossed in a new head gasket and it was still blowing water and exhaust into the reservoir. Dang. But the head on my VW was the same style just a better casting. This run of B6 Audi 1.8 motors are prone to cracking. Welp.

So I swapped the heads and fired it up today. Deleted some emissions crap and the cat and it’s off to the races. Needs two new headlights and a rear right taillight. New tires, all new fluids, and it’ll be ready.

I went with a manual tensioner after some researching. It’s from a late ‘90s VW and just by using that Ive saved nearly $150 in OEM style hydro tensioners having to swap heads. Wished I had dropped the coin on a set of reusable ARP head bolts. Oh, well.












They said this was totaled.





Old head


There were several. Don’t know if I missed them or they were a new development. I did hear two pops as I torqued the old head with a new gasket.





Stripped in less than 1 hour. Lol.

I’ve been on the hunt for a popping sound the past few months and I need some other brains on it. The sounds typically happens when accelerating and turning from a stop. But Is not limited to that and doesn’t happen every time. Sounds to be coming from the front. Can’t replicate the sound with the truck on stands. Here’s what I’ve checked and/or replaced so far.

Brand new steering rack, bushings,inner and outer tie rods.
New upper control arms and uniballs.
Cv axles appear in good health with no boot damage.
Lower ball joints are tight with no play.
Front diff fluid looks good.
Trans fluid looks good and has no slipping or binding.
U joints move freely and have fresh grease except one that was a touch stiff and was replaced.

I know there’s something I’ve got to be overlooking at this point.

Any ideas?


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