Other then some core support work, we don’t do major mechanical work. The work I do on mine is the biggest mechanical work being done at the shop.
CK5
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82 stepside. Thoughts and crazy ideas
- Thread starter KirsL
- Start date
Other then some core support work, we don’t do major mechanical work. The work I do on mine is the biggest mechanical work being done at the shop.
It’s always had a 3 bolt converterWhy do you have a 3-bolt torque converter?
It’s always had a 3 bolt converter
Stock 6.x diesel torque converters have 6 bolts (and a lower stall speed than their gas counterparts). I'm guessing yours is aftermarket given the sticker on the front surface.
I think just the first couple years had the 6 bolt style. Long as it works,3 or 6, makes no difference to me.
Yes this is the converter I got from Phoenix trans a few years back when I was having lockup issues. It’s not going to be reused. Between being a 27 spline input vs the better 30. Too much of a chance of old fluid getting into the new build. So just easier to replace it.
Got my trans back the other day. Then I got it in place, couple bell housing bolts and the crossmember. Still a bunch to do but having it back and physically in is huge.
When pulling everything apart I noticed the bushings for the transmission shifter linkage is pretty much gone. Seems like I can get bushings from either Advance or auto zone for cheap. I grabbed a new cooler and I’m changing out the lines too. As the old ones are pretty beat up. It’s going to be a pretty busy weekend.
A quick update.
I have to take the truck down to the place that rebuilt the transmission. Has a slight leak by/from the torque converter when running. Guy said if I bring it to him he’ll take care of it. So just gotta get the old girl towed down. Hopefully they won’t have it too long. But long as it gets fixed. It’s whatever t this point.
On another note my friend finally finished repairing the wiring harness for my Dodge.
So it’s pull the stepside out and push the Dodge in. Making some progress.
I have to take the truck down to the place that rebuilt the transmission. Has a slight leak by/from the torque converter when running. Guy said if I bring it to him he’ll take care of it. So just gotta get the old girl towed down. Hopefully they won’t have it too long. But long as it gets fixed. It’s whatever t this point.
On another note my friend finally finished repairing the wiring harness for my Dodge.
So it’s pull the stepside out and push the Dodge in. Making some progress.
So slight update. The trans shop has to pull the trans out to fix the issue. So the old girl is waiting her turn. Small place they only have two lifts.
The dodge I need to get inside to reinstall the harness I had fixed. But I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about the trucks future. I’m in a few 3rd gen dodge pages on FB and there have been a decent amount of trucks that have burned down. Just like a fellow brothers truck did. And it has me fairly worried.
This isn’t the first electrial issue have had with the truck and I don’t see it being the last either sadly. It sucks because the engine runs great, trans is recently rebuilt so it’s good. I’m just legit scared the truck is gonna short out and burn down on me.
Now you’re probably thinking “well trade it in for a brand new one, problem solved.” Eh, not so much. I’m hoping/planning to buy a house this year. So a brand new truck isn’t in the cards for a while. Sure I could sell it for some econo-box to save miles on the stepside(which I’ll be buried in) but still a big hit to my credit.
Course then I get crazy thoughts like buying an old crewcab and swapping the engine and trans from it. With a new standalone harness that would solve my wiring fears. But I barely have time for the two projects both trucks currently are. Never mind once I get a house.
And now I’m rambling
The dodge I need to get inside to reinstall the harness I had fixed. But I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about the trucks future. I’m in a few 3rd gen dodge pages on FB and there have been a decent amount of trucks that have burned down. Just like a fellow brothers truck did. And it has me fairly worried.
This isn’t the first electrial issue have had with the truck and I don’t see it being the last either sadly. It sucks because the engine runs great, trans is recently rebuilt so it’s good. I’m just legit scared the truck is gonna short out and burn down on me.
Now you’re probably thinking “well trade it in for a brand new one, problem solved.” Eh, not so much. I’m hoping/planning to buy a house this year. So a brand new truck isn’t in the cards for a while. Sure I could sell it for some econo-box to save miles on the stepside(which I’ll be buried in) but still a big hit to my credit.
Course then I get crazy thoughts like buying an old crewcab and swapping the engine and trans from it. With a new standalone harness that would solve my wiring fears. But I barely have time for the two projects both trucks currently are. Never mind once I get a house.
And now I’m rambling
Got good insurance?So slight update. The trans shop has to pull the trans out to fix the issue. So the old girl is waiting her turn. Small place they only have two lifts.
The dodge I need to get inside to reinstall the harness I had fixed. But I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about the trucks future. I’m in a few 3rd gen dodge pages on FB and there have been a decent amount of trucks that have burned down. Just like a fellow brothers truck did. And it has me fairly worried.
This isn’t the first electrial issue have had with the truck and I don’t see it being the last either sadly. It sucks because the engine runs great, trans is recently rebuilt so it’s good. I’m just legit scared the truck is gonna short out and burn down on me.
Now you’re probably thinking “well trade it in for a brand new one, problem solved.” Eh, not so much. I’m hoping/planning to buy a house this year. So a brand new truck isn’t in the cards for a while. Sure I could sell it for some econo-box to save miles on the stepside(which I’ll be buried in) but still a big hit to my credit.
Course then I get crazy thoughts like buying an old crewcab and swapping the engine and trans from it. With a new standalone harness that would solve my wiring fears. But I barely have time for the two projects both trucks currently are. Never mind once I get a house.
And now I’m rambling
Don’t park inside.
Battery disconnect.
Drive it.
Full coverage on the dodge.
Only gets parked inside when it’s getting work done at my work.
Batteries are currently pulled, since it’s been sitting.
Probably what I’ll end up doing is just that. Finding a House is the most important thing first and foremost. Sometimes I have random ideas going through my head and just have to get them out
.
Ok so I got the truck back last Wednesday and I've been driving to and from since. Other then fixing some small things they did. Like putting the crossmember in spun 180. The old girl has been running well enough.
Today I had to stay a little to fix the linkage coming off the latch for the outside drivers door handle. Not tragic and a relatively easy fix.
When I went to leave and lock up the shop I hD the truck running and the lights on since it's dark. And this was what I saw.
I'm thinking bad ground or bad lamp. Being the bottom its just the high beam and as shown the low beams are on.
They had been working fine, so this is a relatively new issue. All new headlights wouldn't hurt of course. Might be a good time to upgrade to leds.
Today I had to stay a little to fix the linkage coming off the latch for the outside drivers door handle. Not tragic and a relatively easy fix.
When I went to leave and lock up the shop I hD the truck running and the lights on since it's dark. And this was what I saw.
I'm thinking bad ground or bad lamp. Being the bottom its just the high beam and as shown the low beams are on.
They had been working fine, so this is a relatively new issue. All new headlights wouldn't hurt of course. Might be a good time to upgrade to leds.
Check your grounds for sure, same issue on mine....
Yep, that's the first thing I'm checking. Then I'll do the lights themselves.
So the grounds are nice and crusty where they tie into the core support. So part of this weekend projects is to remake those small ground wires. Not hard, just time consuming.
New lights won't solve a ground issue. But it's a good excuse, if you were wanting one...
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I am sure I have never done an upgrade and said afterward hmm bummer I guess that wasn't the problem, well it needed those replaced anyway.
New lights won't solve a ground issue. But it's a good excuse, if you were wanting one...
No, they certainly won't. But it can't hurt
.It's on the list for this weekend. Fix the grounds.
Replace the bushings and seal in the turbo. Getting a lot of oil pushing past the seal.
We'll see what else I have time for.
I didn't get any photos, I work slow enough as is. But I got the turbo rebuilt and dug into my head light issue. A hx35 turbo is fairly easy to rebuild. The hardest part is the monster snap ring that holds the compressor housing on. Getting it off is easy. Getting it back on is a lesson in patience.
As for the lights. I checked and cleaned the grounds on the core support. I cleaned up the battery terminal connections for good measure. Made a small difference but the issue persist. I then checked one of the plugs at the light itself and while not completely corroded its not overly clean either. So my next step is to clean all those real well also.
Ran out of time to try and do it today.
As for the lights. I checked and cleaned the grounds on the core support. I cleaned up the battery terminal connections for good measure. Made a small difference but the issue persist. I then checked one of the plugs at the light itself and while not completely corroded its not overly clean either. So my next step is to clean all those real well also.
Ran out of time to try and do it today.
Was a busy weekend. I was able to get a few hours in on the dodge. I got the harness 90% installed. I did a quick ghetto install to test it out. If all is well I'll put back how it's supposed to be.
I'm waiting for new headlight buckets for the lower lights to come in. But I threw in top lights so I can have trust worthy lights again.
I went with some decent ones off of Amazon. Was 100 bucks for all four. So far so good.
Now it's been a week since I rebuilt the turbo so I figured I give it a look. Well when I took the intercooler tube off between the turbo and intercooler it had a nice coating of oil all inside it. I check both the cdr and the catch can for oil. They have hardly anything in them which tells me there is hardly any blowby, which is good.
So that leads me back to the turbo. Upon close inspection of the bolts that the exhaust housing onto the center section all have a deep blue hue of being overheated many times. So I'm starting think the center section has a slight crack in it. That opens up as the turbo gets warm. Now I say warm and not hot because I've been cruising back and forth to work and it's been cold here in jersey. Hence the cardboard on the front of the truck. So now I'm debating how to test if the housing is cracked. Of course I could just buy a new turbo but I'd prefer to not throw money at it just because.
Oh and the ratio adapter for my speedometer cable broke as it stopped working
. So gotta fix that to now.
I'm waiting for new headlight buckets for the lower lights to come in. But I threw in top lights so I can have trust worthy lights again.
I went with some decent ones off of Amazon. Was 100 bucks for all four. So far so good.
Now it's been a week since I rebuilt the turbo so I figured I give it a look. Well when I took the intercooler tube off between the turbo and intercooler it had a nice coating of oil all inside it. I check both the cdr and the catch can for oil. They have hardly anything in them which tells me there is hardly any blowby, which is good.
So that leads me back to the turbo. Upon close inspection of the bolts that the exhaust housing onto the center section all have a deep blue hue of being overheated many times. So I'm starting think the center section has a slight crack in it. That opens up as the turbo gets warm. Now I say warm and not hot because I've been cruising back and forth to work and it's been cold here in jersey. Hence the cardboard on the front of the truck. So now I'm debating how to test if the housing is cracked. Of course I could just buy a new turbo but I'd prefer to not throw money at it just because.
Oh and the ratio adapter for my speedometer cable broke as it stopped working
. So gotta fix that to now.
Ah, been a while. Been crazy busy. Work has been nuts. I had to move, same general area of Jersey. But still another apartment.
I thought I found a new harness for the Dodge. Well I was wrong. It's 95% right but one plug is missing and another is the wrong style and size. After countless phone calls and emails. I've found that my only option is a used harness because no one and I mean no one makes a replacement for the truck.
The first few years of the 3rd gen Dodges. Chrysler made significant changes about every 6 months. Mine was built in April of 2003. So between discontinued parts, wiring issues besides the current one and a long list of needed mods/maintenance. It's time to let the old girl go. I'm gonna find a used harness so it'll run right. That way I can get a decent amount for it.
Think I have found a decent used harness. Guy says he'll take it back if it doesn't match up. So that's a plus.
It sucks because I still really like the truck and it fits my needs perfectly. But if I can't trust it or find parts for it, what good is it to me. So in due time I'll be on the hunt for another truck. Have to sell this one first.
Now the stepside.
I replaced the turbo. Went with a s54 turbo from Quadstar Tuning.
Yes it's basically a built hx35. Yes I certainly could of built one myself. But it would have cost about the same and I just didn't have the time. I swapped out the old for new it about 2 hours. And it only took that long because I let it cool off some from driving it. I still get a touch of oil but that's from the cdr and the catch can doesn't grab all of it. So I might need to make up my own catch can. The Quadstar one works but not as well as I think it should.
New air filter setup also.
I might add a vent in the fender and box around the filter one day.
I finally changed over all the headlights and buckets.
Nice and bright. Quad leds on high throw a lot of light. Price wasn't bad, little over a 100 bucks on Amazon.
Low beams.
Quad high beams
Quad high beams and light bar.
Plenty of light to blind oncoming traffic.
Plenty more has happened but this is what I have written up for now.
I thought I found a new harness for the Dodge. Well I was wrong. It's 95% right but one plug is missing and another is the wrong style and size. After countless phone calls and emails. I've found that my only option is a used harness because no one and I mean no one makes a replacement for the truck.
The first few years of the 3rd gen Dodges. Chrysler made significant changes about every 6 months. Mine was built in April of 2003. So between discontinued parts, wiring issues besides the current one and a long list of needed mods/maintenance. It's time to let the old girl go. I'm gonna find a used harness so it'll run right. That way I can get a decent amount for it.
Think I have found a decent used harness. Guy says he'll take it back if it doesn't match up. So that's a plus.
It sucks because I still really like the truck and it fits my needs perfectly. But if I can't trust it or find parts for it, what good is it to me. So in due time I'll be on the hunt for another truck. Have to sell this one first.
Now the stepside.
I replaced the turbo. Went with a s54 turbo from Quadstar Tuning.
Yes it's basically a built hx35. Yes I certainly could of built one myself. But it would have cost about the same and I just didn't have the time. I swapped out the old for new it about 2 hours. And it only took that long because I let it cool off some from driving it. I still get a touch of oil but that's from the cdr and the catch can doesn't grab all of it. So I might need to make up my own catch can. The Quadstar one works but not as well as I think it should.
New air filter setup also.
I might add a vent in the fender and box around the filter one day.
I finally changed over all the headlights and buckets.
Nice and bright. Quad leds on high throw a lot of light. Price wasn't bad, little over a 100 bucks on Amazon.
Low beams.
Quad high beams
Quad high beams and light bar.
Plenty of light to blind oncoming traffic
.Plenty more has happened but this is what I have written up for now.
So my new apartment has me driving straight east for a few miles when coming from work. The sun was killing the back of my neck. And making the A/C not work as well as it should.
So I bought some 5% tint off of Amazon. 40 bucks for a roll. Yeah it doesn't look perfect, but it works.
I also have found myself sitting in more traffic. For those from around here I have to now pass through or around Lakewood. It's a disaster either way.
So to help the A/C work better at idle I added a pair of electric fans. I already had the trinary installed just incase I ever needed fans. Couple straight blade fans, works very nice and even pushes air across my trans cooler. Double win.
Speaking of transmission temperature, I finally hooked up my gauge and put in a matching oil pressure gauge.
Transmission temperature is measured sooner as it comes out of the trans. So I see the hottest temp it makes. Sits right around 200 in stop and go traffic in summer heat. I'll take it.
I "fixed" my speedometer issue. The ratio adapters kept binding up. They replaced them twice. And then I found this. (Picture) it's mechanical speedometer driver. It uses GPS and/or vss signal to drive the speedo cable. (Picture) so I pulled the cable from the cruise control module(the cruise has never worked) and tied it in there. And now I have a pretty accurate speedometer.
The other item I have added is some new 12v and USB ports. Simple little bracket mounted on the gauges and done. The USB port also has a digital volt gauge cause why not.
Now you're probably wondering what's with the fuel gauge. I had originally bought it when I was going to run the tanks "T" together. Dash gauge for one tank, secondary guage for the other. But I have since made up and installed a new tank selector valve setup. But the stock gauge is notoriously inaccurate. So I'm planning to tie it into the wiring for now. The gauge cluster is way off, but it is the original one that's now 40 years old. So I can't be mad about it.
Speaking of the selector valve.
I found a couple brass valves that don't need power to stay in position. They are a touch slow, takes 5-7 seconds to switch over and you have to hold the button the whole time. But it does all work through the stock tank switch.
Next on this list, a new brake booster. As it's leaking between the booster and master cylinder. And it's power steering fluid that is leaking.
So I bought some 5% tint off of Amazon. 40 bucks for a roll. Yeah it doesn't look perfect, but it works.
I also have found myself sitting in more traffic. For those from around here I have to now pass through or around Lakewood. It's a disaster either way.
So to help the A/C work better at idle I added a pair of electric fans. I already had the trinary installed just incase I ever needed fans. Couple straight blade fans, works very nice and even pushes air across my trans cooler. Double win.
Speaking of transmission temperature, I finally hooked up my gauge and put in a matching oil pressure gauge.
Transmission temperature is measured sooner as it comes out of the trans. So I see the hottest temp it makes. Sits right around 200 in stop and go traffic in summer heat. I'll take it.
I "fixed" my speedometer issue. The ratio adapters kept binding up. They replaced them twice. And then I found this. (Picture) it's mechanical speedometer driver. It uses GPS and/or vss signal to drive the speedo cable. (Picture) so I pulled the cable from the cruise control module(the cruise has never worked) and tied it in there. And now I have a pretty accurate speedometer.
The other item I have added is some new 12v and USB ports. Simple little bracket mounted on the gauges and done. The USB port also has a digital volt gauge cause why not.
Now you're probably wondering what's with the fuel gauge. I had originally bought it when I was going to run the tanks "T" together. Dash gauge for one tank, secondary guage for the other. But I have since made up and installed a new tank selector valve setup. But the stock gauge is notoriously inaccurate. So I'm planning to tie it into the wiring for now. The gauge cluster is way off, but it is the original one that's now 40 years old. So I can't be mad about it.
Speaking of the selector valve.
I found a couple brass valves that don't need power to stay in position. They are a touch slow, takes 5-7 seconds to switch over and you have to hold the button the whole time. But it does all work through the stock tank switch.
Next on this list, a new brake booster. As it's leaking between the booster and master cylinder. And it's power steering fluid that is leaking.
