Picked up a GE 806

[Eric H]

I drove down to Ladera Ranch today to pick up a set I won on eBay.

The set only cost $50, and the Engine in my truck.

Twenty miles into the trip I had just started to climb a steep grade on Highway 241 when it started losing power, smoke coming out the back and into the cab.

Apparently it burned a hole in a piston, this caused it to miss badly of course, and also to blow oil out through the dipstick tube and on to the exhaust manifold.

I decided to continue with the trip anyway and made it to my destination and picked up the set.
People were honking and pointing underneath because of the smoke, thinking the truck was on fire I guess.

It was pretty embarrassing driving this huffing and puffing smoky thing into a wealthy neighborhood full of Mercedes Benz and Lexuses.

On the way back I stopped at a Service Station and bought two quarts of oil, I also wrapped a gum wrapper around the dipstick and jammed it in the tube so it wouldn't push any more oil out, now it just blew the oil into the air cleaner housing, a better option than having it blow on the exhaust.

Anyhow I made it back and it only used four quarts of oil in 80 miles but what the hey, it burned a quart a week anyway.

Anyhow, back to the set, it's in decent shape, solid cabinet and complete.
The CRT is pretty tired though, even after cooking at 8 volts it drops off pretty fast.
The green tape is holding on a strip of loose veneer, it will get reglued.

[bandersen]

Ugh, sorry to hear about your truck. Can that engine be salvaged ?

As for the GE 806, it looks to be in pretty good condition. Do you know if it has a 10BP4 or 10FP4 ?
I picked up one last year and was treated to a nice, bright horizontal trace on a brief power up. I swapped out a few tubes and tried it again - poof! I no longer wonder what a fried selenium rectifier smell like

[Eric H]

I'll have the head off the truck tomorrow, then I can tell if it's easily repairable or if I need a new/used engine.
I don't want to spend a lot on it, it has 360,000 miles on the truck but only 110,000 on that engine. It was a cheapo rebuilt from Waynes Engine Rebuilders, it's on it's second timing chain already and it's been burning oil for a long time.

I'm not sure which tube is in this set, I wondered if it might be an FP4 since GE used those early on, either way it's not in the best shape though it should make a picture.

[Phil Nelson]

Hole in piston can spoil a guy's day. I kept this one from my old MGB as a reminder to never, ever own another British car.



$50 isn't a bad price and at least you came home with a TV. For all you know, that engine's time was up and it would have croaked the next time you went to the grocery store

Phil

[Red Raster]

I love a good acquisition story, and have a few myself. When you post pictures of your restored set also do include a picture of the piston. Good luck on both restorations (tv & truck). RR

[tvdude1]

Looks like a 10fp4 ,no ion trap.

[GeorgeJetson]

That's a shame about your truck,hope you can fix it cheaply or find a replacement motor.
How many miles did you get off the original engine that was in it?

I'll be sure to avoid Waynes if I even need to have a motor rebuild,110k isn't very good.