Project: Doitall Dodge
- Thread starter Metcalf
- Start date
Metcalf
Expedition Leader
For just cruising I think the old cummins likes the lower rpm's.
There is a wall at 70+ though. I can cruise at 68 on flat interstate using 3psi of boost. To do over 70 mph I have to use like 7-10psi of boost.
I'm not in the biggest hurry and usually do hills that require 4th gear at like 55mph or so.
There is a wall at 70+ though. I can cruise at 68 on flat interstate using 3psi of boost. To do over 70 mph I have to use like 7-10psi of boost.
I'm not in the biggest hurry and usually do hills that require 4th gear at like 55mph or so.
lstzephyr
wanderer
I generally don't push more than 5psi unless I have/want to. I generally try to stick to no boost when cruising. Most of the time the big hills I just creep up going 45 or whatever the semis can pull. My old truck was seriously slow and I got used to doing 25 up mountain passes. 45 feels fast now.
80 mph will kill the mileage. I can get 25 mpg at 65 on flat land with my truck near 9k pounds loaded. I think that is excellent.
80 mph will kill the mileage. I can get 25 mpg at 65 on flat land with my truck near 9k pounds loaded. I think that is excellent.
gahi
Adventurer
yup that's awesome. Besides the speed, I think the auto trans I have hurts it a lot too. No lockup, stock converter. Best I've ever gotten, staying under 65mph was about 17mpg. Worst was 11mpg, that was hauling about 10k lbs worth of cars and parts from Winter Park, CO to SoCal. I did around 700 miles in the last 2 days and averaged about 14mpg.
I'd love to be able to pull the numbers you guys are getting. I've always hated the auto trans, but it just keeps going. You can barely even feel the 1-2-3 shifts its so slushy. Unless I come across a donor truck for next to nothing, I'll probably leave it as is.
I'd love to be able to pull the numbers you guys are getting. I've always hated the auto trans, but it just keeps going. You can barely even feel the 1-2-3 shifts its so slushy. Unless I come across a donor truck for next to nothing, I'll probably leave it as is.
lstzephyr
wanderer
Yeah the auto probably hurts your mileage a bit. I bet a lockup converter would help.
I actually had a big boost leak for a year or so and didn't know it. So I cruised around with no boost all the time.
Whats sad is my motorcycle gets about 45 mpg cruising but if I really go crazy and hammer down everywhere I can pull it down near 25-30 mpg. Of course at that point there isn't much that can keep up with it. I used to ride in an offroad area near the interstate and I could keep pace with the cars at about 80. All that over pretty open desert but with washouts, whoops, a jump or two and a section of berms. I sometimes wondered what the people in their cars were thinking.
I actually had a big boost leak for a year or so and didn't know it. So I cruised around with no boost all the time.
Whats sad is my motorcycle gets about 45 mpg cruising but if I really go crazy and hammer down everywhere I can pull it down near 25-30 mpg. Of course at that point there isn't much that can keep up with it. I used to ride in an offroad area near the interstate and I could keep pace with the cars at about 80. All that over pretty open desert but with washouts, whoops, a jump or two and a section of berms. I sometimes wondered what the people in their cars were thinking.
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Metcalf
Expedition Leader
After the big trip up north last weekend I didn't feel like doing anything big, so I thought I would play with some fiberglass.....
I grabbed some $1 fabric from china mart and the speaker pod frame from a few weeks ago.....
Next I went a little crazy with a staple gun, some duct tape, needle, thread, and some match sticks.....
Here is what the pod frame looks like covered. I used very stretchy material to form over the odd shapes and edges. It takes a little bit to get everything tight, but once you do it ends up looking fairly nice. I used some thread to pull down a cone of material in the main speaker area. This will make the edge much easier to find later when I cut it out after the fiberglass work. I also stapled down an area for the crossover so it would mount to a flat surface. I will probably make a small kick guard for it or something. Somewhere in there I also test fit the pod in the truck again to see if everything cleared. It did, but I forgot to grab a pic. I also ran out of staple somewhere in there.....dang it.
Here you can see the line of staples that help pull the fabric down for the crossover mount. Next I mixed up some resin in a dixi cup and a 97 cent paint bush to apply it. You have about 15 minutes to paint it on, don't be afraid to lay it on pretty thick. You need to saturate the material, not just get it 'wet'. This is where somewhat light and thin material helps. Fleece is nice, but I think it would take a LOT of resin. This fabric was about as thick as a t-shirt, but much more stretchy.
Here is the kick panel pod after the first coat of resin ( about 3-4oz ). I ended up doing one more coat of resin ( about 2 oz ) to get some areas I missed. The monsoons look like they are a little early this year and I was rushed on the 2nd coat so I didn't get a pic. Next I will start laying a few layers of fiberglass mat and sanding everything smooth.....
Don't forget the questions if you have them!
I grabbed some $1 fabric from china mart and the speaker pod frame from a few weeks ago.....
Next I went a little crazy with a staple gun, some duct tape, needle, thread, and some match sticks.....
Here is what the pod frame looks like covered. I used very stretchy material to form over the odd shapes and edges. It takes a little bit to get everything tight, but once you do it ends up looking fairly nice. I used some thread to pull down a cone of material in the main speaker area. This will make the edge much easier to find later when I cut it out after the fiberglass work. I also stapled down an area for the crossover so it would mount to a flat surface. I will probably make a small kick guard for it or something. Somewhere in there I also test fit the pod in the truck again to see if everything cleared. It did, but I forgot to grab a pic. I also ran out of staple somewhere in there.....dang it.
Here you can see the line of staples that help pull the fabric down for the crossover mount. Next I mixed up some resin in a dixi cup and a 97 cent paint bush to apply it. You have about 15 minutes to paint it on, don't be afraid to lay it on pretty thick. You need to saturate the material, not just get it 'wet'. This is where somewhat light and thin material helps. Fleece is nice, but I think it would take a LOT of resin. This fabric was about as thick as a t-shirt, but much more stretchy.
Here is the kick panel pod after the first coat of resin ( about 3-4oz ). I ended up doing one more coat of resin ( about 2 oz ) to get some areas I missed. The monsoons look like they are a little early this year and I was rushed on the 2nd coat so I didn't get a pic. Next I will start laying a few layers of fiberglass mat and sanding everything smooth.....
Don't forget the questions if you have them!
you're very welcome, i think mine is in a lil worse shape than you started out with but i have been keeping my eyes open for a donor truck, i pretty much need everything but the cab, on a positive note a donor will leave me with alot of extra sheet metal for patch panels and such.... right now i'm running 37" hummer take offs and maybe an inch of lift in the front, they were superlift 4" springs for a gasser but that turned out to be a bad plan, they're better than the trashed stockers i had up front but they're flat after less than a yr so i think it's time to come up with a better plan, i definetly don't want to go any taller just a lil bigger in tire size and those maddogs sure do look sexy
S
Squatchout
Guest
Nice truck and it looks like you are doing a great job with it. As an old Dodge fan I chuckle when I hear these called 1st gens. It's the 1st gen of the CTD but the last gen of these style trucks. The chassis is pretty much the same from '61-'93. Except the rear springs are shorter on the '61-'71s. Suspension is the same on the '71-'80 Powerwagons and '81-'93 Power Rams. Even some body panels will interchange. That's one of the great things about the older Dodges. 3 decades of parts interchangablity.
I have an '80 powerwagon and wish I got your fuel economy. I've got a 4spd and a mid '60s big block. Kinda thirsty.
I have an '80 powerwagon and wish I got your fuel economy. I've got a 4spd and a mid '60s big block. Kinda thirsty.
Metcalf
Expedition Leader
you're very welcome, i think mine is in a lil worse shape than you started out with but i have been keeping my eyes open for a donor truck, i pretty much need everything but the cab, on a positive note a donor will leave me with alot of extra sheet metal for patch panels and such.... right now i'm running 37" hummer take offs and maybe an inch of lift in the front, they were superlift 4" springs for a gasser but that turned out to be a bad plan, they're better than the trashed stockers i had up front but they're flat after less than a yr so i think it's time to come up with a better plan, i definetly don't want to go any taller just a lil bigger in tire size and those maddogs sure do look sexy
I like the maddogs. They seem to be wearing great, less noise, better mileage, etc.
If I was going to build another one I would find a dually bed to use. If you take the fender flares off you end up with a HUGE wheel opening kinda like I have after I cut everything. In the front, I would order a pair of the Trailer products fiberglass front fenders. That would make everything SO much easier with FAR less body work.
Metcalf
Expedition Leader
I do like this truck. I wish that there was an LMC style catalog with all the little parts for these trucks. I think that is one area where the same year Ford or GM product has a leg up.
S
Squatchout
Guest
Yeah back then the Dodges just weren't that popular. Raybuck has some body parts as do others.
http://raybuck.com/c-54810-repair-panels-dodge-1972-1993-dodge-fullsize-pickup-ramcharger.html
I guess the good thing is used parts trucks are pretty cheap.
In my case I can get most of what I need from hobby sites catering to little Red Express trucks. Same body as mine.
You can also watch on this site.
http://www.ramchargercentral.com/
I haven't read every post in this long thread. If you haven't done so and your steering is a bit sloppy. replace the shaft from the columm to the box with a new borgenson unit. It's a huge improvement over stock and won't wear out.
http://raybuck.com/c-54810-repair-panels-dodge-1972-1993-dodge-fullsize-pickup-ramcharger.html
I guess the good thing is used parts trucks are pretty cheap.
In my case I can get most of what I need from hobby sites catering to little Red Express trucks. Same body as mine.
You can also watch on this site.
http://www.ramchargercentral.com/
I haven't read every post in this long thread. If you haven't done so and your steering is a bit sloppy. replace the shaft from the columm to the box with a new borgenson unit. It's a huge improvement over stock and won't wear out.
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Metcalf
Expedition Leader
I did the steering shaft when I converted to crossover steering. It was a HUGE improvement.
Thank you for the parts links.
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