I took it out for a test drive the other day, when the hood flew up. Shortly after, the alternator seized. I replaced the alternator, the battery light turned off, and it was able to drive the rest of the way home. I tuned the carb and spark some more, and it stayed alive until I took out the key.

Fast forward a few hours. I've bent the hood up so it closes again, and fitted it back on. I haven't touched anything regarding the engine. Start it up, and it's just awful. The engine shudders and dies after only a few seconds, and that's when it actually catches and runs. The radiator is full of clear green coolant, but the oil is low. Somehow it lost a whole quart in two short drives and a day of sitting. This is with a fresh set of gaskets, seals, bearings, and rings.

What the hell is happening?

 

Who did the engine work? Take it to them and have them fix it.

 

I've been the only one to touch this truck since I bought it, and I did make sure I was doing everything as correctly as I could. I never touched the alternator, and the engine was holding oil perfectly fine until the hood flew up.

 

So the oil leak may not have been as bad as I was thinking. Granted, it's been sitting, but I looked again today while cleaning the engine, and it was half past L with no puddle on the ground.

I've topped it off and turned the engine a few times by hand. I didn't feel any binding, so I'm gonna pull the sparks and try the starter.

 

Pulled the hood hinges with a crowbar and chain, lined up the distributor, took care of the camshaft sprocket nut kicking the drive gear off, and now Miles is back on the road.

 

Great! Glad you got it all worked out.