bad performance
New User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: new mexico
lots of good info here. the main reason you slow on hills is like a couple of guys said,you have a 302 in your truck. I have a 94 lightning and have pulled a 23' travel trailer with it. on the hills here in New Mexico I really had to really mash on the gas to keep speed. it has a factory souped engine with 4-10 gears. dont get me wrong ,the 302 is a really good engine, but should be used to pull that little fishing boat or light small trailer. my 351 gets around 15 mpg at 55 or 100. yours should get lots better gas mileage though.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by HardScrabble
Automatic overdrive will not work unless it is supposed to. If you think you can design a better transmission than Ford, do it.
I second the advice to read the book.
I second the advice to read the book.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 183
Likes: 4
From: Indiana
Originally Posted by jrmahan
Well. I guess I'll put in the 4.10 gears and see what happens next. .
Thanks to all,
Jim
Thanks to all,
Jim
Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,021
Likes: 0
From: Brandon Mb
Is the cooler on your truck external, or built into the rad? If it is just in the rad, get an external one, I believe they work better.
Also, I'd check what gears are in your truck before changing them, 3.73 is plenty. 4.10's for a 1/2 ton ford are tough to find. My 351 could pull 5000lbs at 85mph all day, and that was with 3.08's in the back!
If you can't take the converter out try to find a different one, cause it will probly be plugged up, thus restricting your exhaust.
Get a compression test done to see what kind of shape the engine is in. They aren't expensive, I had my 3.5L Chrysler done in the summer (bad news
) for around $60US.
Before you go and put a new camshaft in, try electronic tuning. I am going to guess that it would turn out around the same price after you buy the cam, lifters, gaskets, etc. maybe a bit cheaper, and would take a lot less time to do. Hope this advice helps,
Trevor
Also, I'd check what gears are in your truck before changing them, 3.73 is plenty. 4.10's for a 1/2 ton ford are tough to find. My 351 could pull 5000lbs at 85mph all day, and that was with 3.08's in the back!
If you can't take the converter out try to find a different one, cause it will probly be plugged up, thus restricting your exhaust.
Get a compression test done to see what kind of shape the engine is in. They aren't expensive, I had my 3.5L Chrysler done in the summer (bad news
) for around $60US.Before you go and put a new camshaft in, try electronic tuning. I am going to guess that it would turn out around the same price after you buy the cam, lifters, gaskets, etc. maybe a bit cheaper, and would take a lot less time to do. Hope this advice helps,
Trevor
