My truck does a good job of pulling loads of 18 or 19 thousand pounds but when its get up to loads of around 22 or so it seems like the truck is just about gut less and wants to over heat. I am currently looking for a 92 or 93 radaitor to adapt into the pickup. The trucks just got the stock 3 speed auto in it. Does anyone else have this problem? I mean the truck will keep up with my dads ford intill higher speeds but that just aint good enough. So besides changing gears what else could i do to help the old gal out with out spending alot of money. I am kinda of on a limited budget at the moment cause i am saving my money to buy a little truck to take off to college.

 

If you have to back out of it because of it overheating I would look into an auxilary under bed cooler for the trans as that is probably where your extra heat is coming from. A 92-93 radiator isn't a bad idea either, and you may look into an intercooler. Then maybe a better TC and shift kit for the auto.

 

I agree with what apwatson50 said. Get a better torque converter built for towing and a shift kit. Also maybe a set of better injectors like Bosch 190s and maybe a better turbo? I have no idea what your budget is so I'm just throwing ideas out there. I'm curious is the 18-19K pounds just trailer weight or the trailer and truck combined? Either way its a lot of weight and its nice to hear that an old girl like that is keeping up with the newer stuff .

 

On a 89 the bosch 190's are marginally if not any bigger than the stock injectors so I wouldn't waste my money on them. I barely saw any gain on my 92 with them so I don't think you would see any difference on a 89.

 

thanks for the help guysmost of that stuff is out of my budget at the moment but the old gal is going anywhere but being stored in a shed while i am off at college but dont worry ill be home atleast once a month to take care of her. The majority of my loads i haul are around the 22000 pound mark and that counts the weight of the truck and trailer,

 

Let's go back to the beginning here. The rating the Dodge people gave these things was to be able to go down the road with the truck and trailer combined weighing about 12,000 pounds. That's what it was designed to do.

We know it can do more. The raw power of the cummins is there and will do more. But the support systems (cooling in particular, transmission cooling even more) aren't up to it, they weren't designed to handle that kind of load.

So you gotta help the beast or you'll sure as **** break it.

You can take less load down the road, or you can install cooling helpers and especially transmission cooling helpers.

After you protect the truck from dropping dead, we can talk about more power.

Let us know if you want suggestions.

Regards, DBF

 

thank guys as far as a newer style radaitor is there a place that seels these pretty resonable or do i just need to start calling junk yards. If i install the 92 radaitor do i also have to install the grill from a 92? Also what all will i need to install a intercooler on her. I am not new to working on and fixing things but modifying things i am a newbie to.

 

this is really just a shot in the dark, but im sure an OD unit couldnt hurt. perhaps one can be pirated from junkyard? can you just slap the OD unit on the 727 and viola, you have an A518? if not, i cant see a junkyard 518 being more than a few hundy.

like i said, shot in the dark. feel free to shoot me down!

 

You'd better do a "search" on that one. IIRC (If I Recall Correctly), you're better off taking the radiator support structure and the grill with it. Then you gotta move the light buckets an inch or so. Don't trust me on this one, just saying what you should look for.

Hopefully, somebody will chime in......

DBF

 

When I added that BIG fan assisted cooler I thought the truck had more power but i wrote it off to bringing up the tire pressure.Definately add a trans.temperature gage if you don't have one,you won't believe how hot it gets

 

If you can't find a 92 core support and shroud, yours will have to be modified. Either way you will also need the shorter fan spacer and the later goose neck and hoses. Your tranny is probably getting over worked as is, and is heating the coolant through the heat exchanger. Bi- passing it would probably be better for both if your always towing, and get the shift kit and the biggest tube-style cooler you can find. Also not haveing an inner-cooler is gonna add to the heat a bit.