ring and pinion help

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Sep 27, 2011 | 08:02 PM

#16

jpeckham

Thread Starter

Senior User

Joined: Sep 2011

Posts: 112

Likes: 0

From: Wyeville

i believe its an overdrive tranny. it seems to hold 60 fairly well without having to stay in it. the carb was adjusted not too long ago by the local shop. no fuel leaks that i can see or smell. i did a full tune up on the motor. plugs and wires, cap and rotor, oil and filter, air filter. the truck has dual exhaust with glasspacks, no cats.

so would i just be better of putting in a slightly bigger motor to help with the taller tires? my neighbor has a whole trailer full of 383's.

Sep 28, 2011 | 12:51 AM

#17

85e150

Super Moderator

Joined: Apr 2004

Posts: 34,495

Likes: 2,810

There is no OD trans listed for that in the fuel economy ratings.

A bigger motor will turn the tires easier, but I don't see how feeding more motor will increase fuel economy. The new engine will turn the same revs and may run more economically under cruise, but the rest of the time it will take more gas.

Have you looked at your spark plugs? Black and sooty maybe?

Sep 30, 2011 | 06:42 PM

#18

jpeckham

Thread Starter

Senior User

Joined: Sep 2011

Posts: 112

Likes: 0

From: Wyeville

i just changed them along with all the other normal routine maintenance. when i took my mpg check, i just took the miles i drove and divided it my how many gallons i put in.

Sep 30, 2011 | 10:55 PM

#19

85e150

Super Moderator

Joined: Apr 2004

Posts: 34,495

Likes: 2,810

What did the old plugs look like? Have you rebuilt the carb?

Oct 1, 2011 | 10:15 PM

#20

jpeckham

Thread Starter

Senior User

Joined: Sep 2011

Posts: 112

Likes: 0

From: Wyeville

the old plugs looked good yet, well like they should anyway. its a new carb that i had a shop rejet and adjust it. i havnt driven it in a year now. i should get it back out and check everything on the motor again and register it and drive it for a week to see what it gets. and when i get around to that, how would i figure out my gas mileage? i have always just took the miles i drove and just divided it by how many gallons i put in it. is that a good way to figure it out?

also im thinking about spending the money and getting a cam to put in the the truck to see if that would make a difference.

Oct 2, 2011 | 07:12 AM

#21

mistakenID

Posting Guru

Joined: Jul 2004

Posts: 1,627

Likes: 0

From: West Valley Utah

If you have an actual 4 inches difference between the original tires and new tires, the speedometer and odometer will both be off. You will go faster and farther than what is shown so using the miles driven divided by gallons used isn't going to be accurate.

Fuel mileage will show dropping quite a bit. You could be off as much as 10 mph. Dodge used an adapter quite often on cable driven speedometer's, screwed into the transfer case then the cable into the adapter. Removing the adapter could bring the speedometer closer to actual reading. My Ramcharger was almost dead on with 33's and no adapter.

Oct 3, 2011 | 10:53 AM

#22

mark a.

Lead Driver

Joined: Mar 2004

Posts: 8,922

Likes: 153

Wondering about the vacuum advance, is it hooked up ? If it is I'd put a vacuum pump on it to make sure it isn't leaking.

Oct 3, 2011 | 06:58 PM

#23

jpeckham

Thread Starter

Senior User

Joined: Sep 2011

Posts: 112

Likes: 0

From: Wyeville

what does the adapter look like so i can see if i got it and see if my readings on mph and odometer are closer. as far as the vacuum goes, that i have no idea. there isnt anything under the hood really besides motor and battery. i havnt looked under the hood or done anything to the truck in about 6 months because its been parked with the gas prices.