Honestly, no. Never really got any experience with Autolites. The 4180 had best be on it's best behavior or it will get replaced. My carb guy is still thinking positively so at this point, so will I. 8 1/2 would be nice if it would handle the trailer ... but I know from experience another 3,000# and a bunch of additional wind drag does make a difference.

We'll find out shortly ....

 

Well, I'll lift a glass and toast that you have a good and most of all, safe trip. And if you ever find yourself in Southeastern Montana, let me know and I'll buy you a soda....................and let you fix Hoss on your dime.

 

Looked through your album ... nice job on the engine. Clyde should look so good. My next project ... provided those exhaust manifolds don't get a whole lot worse ... will be a touch up job on the interior. The saggy headliner and discolored door panels need a little TLC.

I appreciate the thoughts and the invite! As the opportunity presents itself and I roll through Billings I'll bring my Meguires and my buffer and at the very least we'll get Hoss really, REALLY shiny

Homer will have to get his own shades.

 

Well, Clyde made the trip to southern Colorado OK ... actually in style I might add. Never lacked for power. The new trailer is wider, longer, taller and heavier by ~3000#. The 3.54 to 4.10, rebuilt carb and the straight up timing gears were a great equalizer. Handled the new trailer as well or better than it did the old one.

My big problem was trying for mileage and running "light footed". The killer was a consistant 15-25 mile wind out of the S/SSW again!!!

On the part of the trip where I wasn't fighting the wind I was cruising along at ~9-10" of vacuum ... then the wind popped up. On a long stretch of Hwy 30 (running generally east to west across Nebraska) I would be running ~5" and when we ran "upstream" of a shelterbelt (large bunch of trees planted parallel to the south of the highway blocking the wind) my vac gauge rolled right up to the 9-10" reading, the wind noise from turbulance quit and it was like being in another world. Sure wish I could have spent MORE time there.

We fought this all the way to our destination ... three days worth! The worst was running east to west, the direct cross-wind was a killer! Running head-on was much better than the cross wind.

Mileage REALLY SUCKED!! Worst was 5.4 and to make matters even sadder my best was 6.6 over the almost 1000 miles. Prices ranged from $3.299 to $3.499. Don't even want to add up the numbers

What really good "plus effects" the mod changes made the south wind taketh away. Hopefully the return trip in ~a week will be better.

 

Roger,
Glad Clyde did so well with the new mods and heavier trailer! Doesn't supprise me that mileage really suffered with the vacuum level ~ 5" Hg. The first stage of the power valve likely opens at around 8". Hope for better on return trip.
Ken

 

Back home. 2024 total miles with all but ~ the last 400 fighting cross or head winds. 335 gallons of gas totalling $1135.69. Balanced against airfares, rental cars and motel rooms for a little over two weeks and getting a chance to see the country and meet some really nice people I think it was a winner. Too bad the trip had to coincide with the Memorial Day fuel price increases. We paid $3.30-3.60 for most of the trip. The last fill coming home was $3.10 and we'd seen fuel under $3 in a few places.

Throw out the worst mileage number, 4.8 running a mandatory Colorado ethanol blend against head winds and major grades, and take off the best, 7.1 running ENE with a SSW wind, and the average was ~6.4. Not much difference from earlier trips with the smaller camper and 3.54 gears when we averaged ~6.8 overall.

Once I said "ta hell with it" and set the cruise on 62 we sailed right along. After this trip I've got a lot of confidence in the old horse to be able to handle just about anything I want to throw at it.

Adding a secondary tranny cooler worked out great. Pressure port temps generally ran ~190-95 fighting winds and pulling grades. Highest seen from the C6 w/o lockup Tq.convertor was ~210 and that didn't last long. Time well spent!!

The wind deflector is a toss up. I think the rig was a little more stable against the winds and semis we encountered and there's a whole lot less bugs baked onto the front of the camper. If you can get one cheap like I did go for it ... otherwise save your money for Bug-OFF remover.

Lost the oil pressure switch for the "Hot Fuel" system in Iowa. All of a sudden I had two loaded tanks and no fuel. Glad I understood how it works! No sound from the tank pumps so I hooked a jumper between the battery and the wire that comes off the starter solenoid and we were off and running again. Guess if you're going to run an old truck you had best know it.

So much of my knowlege has come through this site ... THANKS GUYS!!

 

It sounds like you have some problems solved at the moment. If you run into future carb problems, I would switch out for the Holley Street Avenger. I have 4 of them working for me right now. I have a 570 on my 79 2wd 400, a 670 on a built 400 in my 79 4x4, a 770 on my built 390 68 2wd, and a 670 on a mild 390 in a 72 F100 4x4. I would avoid the truck avengers, they aren't engineered as well as the street avengers.

If you do go with a new street avenger, you will have to do a little tuning, but these are about the easiest carbs to tune. A secondary spring and jets were all I have ever needed.

 

Hi Matts, You're backing up the "Plan B" that my carb guy had suggested ... a 570 Street Avenger .... if the 4180 was a disappointment on the trip, which it was not. He was pretty confident. Will have to give him a call and an update.

At this point I guess I'd have to say that I'm happy with what I have (with the exception of the mileage but then ya can't win them all!) Two thousand miles of successful heavy towing has been real good for that warm fuzzy feeling ya can get when "someone" you love has done a good job. If a benefactor is available and I could have a day or two to refit I'd be happy to go back and do it all over again.

Gonna try to run the engine more often, even though the new job has really put the brakes on our usual long weekend getaways to Lake Superior ... and maybe hit the fuel stabilizer a little harder.

Thanks for the input.

 

40' 5th wheel, 12,000# dry, '85 3/4 ton 460, pulls great, same carb as yours, do you got cats on it? they could be plugged.