So if you read the previous posts, you know we are starting the "found the problem, now fix it" mode of our preparations for going full time in 2013. This week the focus is mainly on the Dodge 2500. I pulled out what was left of the original dash and the lower support piece as well. I thought I could fix the lower support piece (plastic) with some JB Weld. WRONG. It didn't hold under the slightest pressure. I have NEVER had any luck with these epoxy bonds and super glues. Fortunaely all the "fixes" are hidden from sight and I was just hoping to strengthen the support.
This morning before the heat, I reassembled the lower dash and installed the switches and air ducts so the Dodge can be driven. There are some plugs that didn't go to anything so I am reviewing the Factory Service Manual (FSM) I ordered from Geno's Garage on CD-rom. It is so much quicker that the paper edition. Wonder if I can up load it on the Kindle? I do have it on the laptop so that is probably easier to search than the Kindle.
Now all I have to do os order the dash from LMC Truck. I might just get the bezel piece as well. On the cummins forum there are pictures of the Dodge with a NEW dash and it really is quite amazing how good they look.
21st century American Nomads
Showing posts with label dodge 2500. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dodge 2500. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Friday, July 29, 2011
Starting upgrades for the Dodge
If we are to be on the road, the Dodge will have to be up to the challenge. Tuesday I started upgrading the interior. I am replacing the wiring harness and the upper dash itself.
Here is the Dodge from the driver's side.
The upper dash was just shattered pieces held in place with black duct tape. It bounced around as the screws along the windshield were removed prior to buying the Dodge.
This is the lower dash and support for the instrument cluster and switches for headlights, heater, and radio. The highlighted boxes represent missing pieces of the lower dash.
I have found a full replacement at LMC Truck out of Kansas for under $200. As soon as I can get the harness connected and the fractures / breaks in the lower dash fixed with JB weld, I am going to order the upper dash replacement. I will post pix of the finished job when it is whole again.
Meanwhile, we are planning our engine modifications that will include a new fuel plate, lift (fuel) pump, AFC / p-pump tune, advance the timing from current setting (should be 14*) to 15 1/2*. We are also going to be replacing the OEM injectors with Stage 2 (5X.012) 90 HP injectors.
The fuel plate should give us 50-100HP.
The AFC will be good for a few more.
Timing will get an additional 25 HP.
and the 90 HP gain from the injectors should be a total improvement of nearly 200 hp.
But first we will need to add gauges prior to the engine mods. It is highly recommended you have a fuel pressure, boost and EGT (exhaust gas temperature) gauges. We will also add a transmission temperature, oil tem and oil pressure as well.
Here is the Dodge from the driver's side.
The upper dash was just shattered pieces held in place with black duct tape. It bounced around as the screws along the windshield were removed prior to buying the Dodge.
This is the lower dash and support for the instrument cluster and switches for headlights, heater, and radio. The highlighted boxes represent missing pieces of the lower dash.
I have found a full replacement at LMC Truck out of Kansas for under $200. As soon as I can get the harness connected and the fractures / breaks in the lower dash fixed with JB weld, I am going to order the upper dash replacement. I will post pix of the finished job when it is whole again.
Meanwhile, we are planning our engine modifications that will include a new fuel plate, lift (fuel) pump, AFC / p-pump tune, advance the timing from current setting (should be 14*) to 15 1/2*. We are also going to be replacing the OEM injectors with Stage 2 (5X.012) 90 HP injectors.
The fuel plate should give us 50-100HP.
The AFC will be good for a few more.
Timing will get an additional 25 HP.
and the 90 HP gain from the injectors should be a total improvement of nearly 200 hp.
But first we will need to add gauges prior to the engine mods. It is highly recommended you have a fuel pressure, boost and EGT (exhaust gas temperature) gauges. We will also add a transmission temperature, oil tem and oil pressure as well.
Friday, July 8, 2011
Every journey has a little RAIN...
July 7 & 8, 2011
We pulled out of Shipshewana at 8:00 A.M. Thursday morning. We had fueled up the night before when we spotted diesel for $3.86 a gallon. I thought I could catch I-94 west after a short drive on the Indiana Toll Road. WRONG…the ramp for I 94 west was closed and the detour ended $14.00 and 25 miles later when we found ourselves on I-94 heading into downtown Chicago. Suddenly we were facing another toll of $14.00!! We pulled out an old I-Pass transponder I had used in 1997 and held it to the windshield. The light went green and we continued on our way. The traffic in Chicago is never easy, especially in a Dodge 2500 with a 33-foot 5er.
We made our way north and jumped on I-90 west towards Rockford, Illinois. By the time we left Illinois at the South Beloit toll, we had paid another $12 in tolls at 6 other toll-ways. Never again will we be on the toll roads of Chicago. In 2002, we paid .35 cents for each toll stop, for a total of $3.50. But to spend $26 in Chicago and another $14 in Indiana is outrageous I believe.
It has been nearly 9 years since we had been this way. Though I had traveled it more than 30 times in 1996, I had a difficult time remembering the route. We did remember the Cheese Shack we stopped at in December 2002 just as we were leaving the Madison city limits heading north.
As we were getting closer to the Dells, the landscape looked more like parts of North Carolina than the area around Janesville. We stopped just outside the Dells at a really nice rest area. We noticed immediately the Prairie School influence. Wisconsin’s native son—Frank Lloyd Wright, made this architectural concept famous.
Just as every maiden voyage looks like all is good, before things go bad, this was not going to be the exception. Now that the Coachmen was relatively happy, it was time for the Dodge to act out.
We had plans to spend 2 nights at Country Roads RV Park while exploring the Dells on Friday. After checking in at Country Roads, the Dodge decided it didn’t want to turn over. I thought for sure the batteries were toast. The engine S L O W L Y turned over—groaning with every turn. The great folks at Country Roads came to our aid and jumped started the Dodge. I worked the rest of the afternoon trying to charge the batteries (our park neighbors had a battery charger) and checking wires and alternator connections.
Today there was NO improvement in the Dodge’s condition. I managed to get it started with a jump, but the engine continued to resist. I now have it at Blain’s Farm and Fleet in Baraboo were they are putting in a new starter for $199 plus labor…OUCH…
Tim and Mary
In the Dells of Wisconsin
We pulled out of Shipshewana at 8:00 A.M. Thursday morning. We had fueled up the night before when we spotted diesel for $3.86 a gallon. I thought I could catch I-94 west after a short drive on the Indiana Toll Road. WRONG…the ramp for I 94 west was closed and the detour ended $14.00 and 25 miles later when we found ourselves on I-94 heading into downtown Chicago. Suddenly we were facing another toll of $14.00!! We pulled out an old I-Pass transponder I had used in 1997 and held it to the windshield. The light went green and we continued on our way. The traffic in Chicago is never easy, especially in a Dodge 2500 with a 33-foot 5er.
We made our way north and jumped on I-90 west towards Rockford, Illinois. By the time we left Illinois at the South Beloit toll, we had paid another $12 in tolls at 6 other toll-ways. Never again will we be on the toll roads of Chicago. In 2002, we paid .35 cents for each toll stop, for a total of $3.50. But to spend $26 in Chicago and another $14 in Indiana is outrageous I believe.
It has been nearly 9 years since we had been this way. Though I had traveled it more than 30 times in 1996, I had a difficult time remembering the route. We did remember the Cheese Shack we stopped at in December 2002 just as we were leaving the Madison city limits heading north.
As we were getting closer to the Dells, the landscape looked more like parts of North Carolina than the area around Janesville. We stopped just outside the Dells at a really nice rest area. We noticed immediately the Prairie School influence. Wisconsin’s native son—Frank Lloyd Wright, made this architectural concept famous.
Just as every maiden voyage looks like all is good, before things go bad, this was not going to be the exception. Now that the Coachmen was relatively happy, it was time for the Dodge to act out.
We had plans to spend 2 nights at Country Roads RV Park while exploring the Dells on Friday. After checking in at Country Roads, the Dodge decided it didn’t want to turn over. I thought for sure the batteries were toast. The engine S L O W L Y turned over—groaning with every turn. The great folks at Country Roads came to our aid and jumped started the Dodge. I worked the rest of the afternoon trying to charge the batteries (our park neighbors had a battery charger) and checking wires and alternator connections.
Today there was NO improvement in the Dodge’s condition. I managed to get it started with a jump, but the engine continued to resist. I now have it at Blain’s Farm and Fleet in Baraboo were they are putting in a new starter for $199 plus labor…OUCH…
Tim and Mary
In the Dells of Wisconsin
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Ounces and pounds
OMG...remember --DO NOT HIT THE ESC key when blogging--it erases everything and there is NO "control z" to restore 30 minute worth of blogging...ARGH!!
So we are loading the Coachmen 5er in preparation for taking to the road by June 14, 2011. Mary and I are looking at what we need or might need to have while we are traveling. That means we need a list. Maybe two lists. We begin writing down what we think is important to have and some things that could be nice to have with us as we transition to full-time RVing.
I am not sure how the list grew to the three or four pages, but it is taking on a life of its own. I was just starting to think we didn't own that much, but it is all too apparent we need to scale down---STILL.
We start with the heavier items first. It is probably easier for us to jettison the weight from the get go. We decide what will stay and either be sold or donated. The items we keep, will either go North to be redistributed to family or into storage with family. We will, at some point, return to claim our item from storage--sometime.
I look over the list and stop when I come to "tools." Having grown up working on cars, and later restoring our first home, tools are rather important. Yet I realize that there will have to be some sacrifices made. But today might not be the day those decisions are made.
Looking at the kitchen, we discuss our table settings. How many Corelle© settings do we need? There will be the two of us for the most part. Maybe an ocassiona friend will join us, but we can cary more acrylic or plastic place settings. Then we look at each other as we come to "coffee cups" on the list. Mary and I LOVE our coffee. We started collecting coffee mugs even before we were married. Our first collectible cups were from Bahama Breeze. We have since added cups from various places we have visited. Washington, North Carolina, The Sanitary seafood resturant in Morehead City, North Carolina, Skidaway State Park near Savannah, Georgia. At some point we will no longer have room for ALL the coffee mugs. For now we don't have to worry giving up any mugs, however if the cost of coffeee continues to rise, we may not be drinking any from the mugs anyway.
I think the clothing issue is straight forward--we will primarily be in warmer climates so we need a few shorts and t-shirts. Mary wants something for a night out or meet and greet. Also she reminds me of our Florida trip December 2010. 30* in St. Augustine for an overnight low and daily highs around 55*. We might not need the Carhart© but a sweater and jacket will probably be a good idea.
We will finish our list Monday or Tuesday. Sometime before next weekend we have to solve the mystery of the Dodge 2500 short...
So we are loading the Coachmen 5er in preparation for taking to the road by June 14, 2011. Mary and I are looking at what we need or might need to have while we are traveling. That means we need a list. Maybe two lists. We begin writing down what we think is important to have and some things that could be nice to have with us as we transition to full-time RVing.
I am not sure how the list grew to the three or four pages, but it is taking on a life of its own. I was just starting to think we didn't own that much, but it is all too apparent we need to scale down---STILL.
We start with the heavier items first. It is probably easier for us to jettison the weight from the get go. We decide what will stay and either be sold or donated. The items we keep, will either go North to be redistributed to family or into storage with family. We will, at some point, return to claim our item from storage--sometime.
I look over the list and stop when I come to "tools." Having grown up working on cars, and later restoring our first home, tools are rather important. Yet I realize that there will have to be some sacrifices made. But today might not be the day those decisions are made.
Looking at the kitchen, we discuss our table settings. How many Corelle© settings do we need? There will be the two of us for the most part. Maybe an ocassiona friend will join us, but we can cary more acrylic or plastic place settings. Then we look at each other as we come to "coffee cups" on the list. Mary and I LOVE our coffee. We started collecting coffee mugs even before we were married. Our first collectible cups were from Bahama Breeze. We have since added cups from various places we have visited. Washington, North Carolina, The Sanitary seafood resturant in Morehead City, North Carolina, Skidaway State Park near Savannah, Georgia. At some point we will no longer have room for ALL the coffee mugs. For now we don't have to worry giving up any mugs, however if the cost of coffeee continues to rise, we may not be drinking any from the mugs anyway.
I think the clothing issue is straight forward--we will primarily be in warmer climates so we need a few shorts and t-shirts. Mary wants something for a night out or meet and greet. Also she reminds me of our Florida trip December 2010. 30* in St. Augustine for an overnight low and daily highs around 55*. We might not need the Carhart© but a sweater and jacket will probably be a good idea.
We will finish our list Monday or Tuesday. Sometime before next weekend we have to solve the mystery of the Dodge 2500 short...
Friday, May 6, 2011
FRIDAY and the rain has blown through
It is Friday again. Usually it is a good thing, but lately they seem to be coming a little faster. Rained for a few hours, mostly a drizzle, but here in North Carolina when the clouds roll in the temperature rolls down. It doesn't take long to realize how cold intolerant you are when it's 60* and you need a jacket to be comfortable outside.
Pictures and work on the floor tomorrow--gotta make it happen.
The truck diagnosis is back full circle as I know believe my original concern--the fuel solenoid being bad ---is probably correct. Time to remove one piece of electronic and replace it with good old fashion MANUAL technology. Going to the parts store for a choke cable and turn the fuel shut-off to a push-pull system.
Pictures and work on the floor tomorrow--gotta make it happen.
The truck diagnosis is back full circle as I know believe my original concern--the fuel solenoid being bad ---is probably correct. Time to remove one piece of electronic and replace it with good old fashion MANUAL technology. Going to the parts store for a choke cable and turn the fuel shut-off to a push-pull system.
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