bannerd

Thanks Pat, do you think a Manual will up that a little? I like the Automatic because that is all my wife will drive. The training in that area didn't go well when she took the truck out in traffic and people are well... people. She did fantastic in the parking lot..after that exposure she will not touch a manual, though.

I'm off to get what I think I need for parts this weekend. Then I'm hoping to start ripping into this project.

oliver foster

I would think you could expect 25 MPG with 3.54 gears, an overdrive transmission and a 4 BT in an RC, set up with the right combo of tires and driving style.

A manual [driven well] will alway get better MPG than a loose, slipping auto.

mknittle

I would say 25 MPG or better.

I haven't driven mine after the manual swap but it shre reve a lot quicker

patdaly

Mine is a stick, just no OD.

I'm going to go against the grain here just a bit, i don't think you will see much of a change at all in MPG between the stick and an Auto. I actually got better MPG's with Brownie than I do now with Greenie, perhaps it is my more relaxed driving style, but I have tracked every gallon put thru them and overall, Brownie got a tick better. Both trucks were exactly the same except for color, and one being an automatic and the other being a stick. They were built exactly 216 trucks apart, so even a lot of the part lots were the same.

bannerd

Thanks for the insight all, I just came back from dodge heaven (Olivers place) so my gears are spinning on what to do. Think I'll start tackling the body work and then think more about the drive train.

bannerd

Anyone know the part number for the seal kit on the gearbox? My input shaft is leaking, Napa only has them for a d350, will that work? Should by two seals with a snap ring in between.

patdaly

Rock lists them the same, they carry Delco 36351320 and Edelman 8525, roughly 5-6 bucks.

bannerd

My hydro boost arrived... am I missing something? It does have an angled plat on it, but I can fab one up really easy to make it straight.





It looks like there is a rubber seal and a hole, maybe that is some special connector? Came off a newer astro van.

mknittle

I am not familiar with that new a unit. The ones I use are pre 1995. and are a bolt in aside from the pushrod needing to be shortened.

thrashingcows

That port in the center of the pic with the O-ring at the bottom...that is what your asking about?

That would be your return line port....your missing the - 5/16-24 O-ring Male to 3/8 push on barb fitting. That is most likely a HB only fitting, but a Hyd hose supply house might be able to set you up.

If you can't find one let me know and I will try and remember to grab one for you when I hit the JY next.

From my HB thread....

You can see the nipple in this pic....



And what they look like from behind....

mknittle

Maybe it is the light but it looks different to me. Looks like the return is broken off

thrashingcows

After your comment I went back and looked more closely...you might be right?

bannerd

Might be right.. it's a very clean break though? I'll use my bolt extractor and see if I can un-thread it.

There is no threads in the current hole, I assume it is broken. TC if it's a couple bucks grab one and let me know. Shouldn't be a problem.

bannerd

Started some work on the RC today. Took out the old railrod tie and started to hammer metal pieces to fill in the rusted out parts of the RC. The driver side is bad, but not as bad as the passenger side.













I always use sheet metal from old furnaces. It's good steel, the panel has been out in the elements for a really long time. Doesn't rust like the stuff you buy at the stores.

thrashingcows

Furnace sheet metal...will make a mental not on that.

Looks good! Did you see if that return line fitting in the HB unit would come out? I will be out at the JY tomorrow and can grab one if you need it.