Runnin' With The Big Dogs
I own a '93 Chevy 1500 2WD, it has a 4.3 V-6 and an automatic tranny. My question is, how difficult would it be to swap in a 350 V-8? As far as I know, the transmission, torque converter, and all wiring can be retained. Where can I find out what I need?Thank you,Tony BenvenutoLewisville, Texas
Tony,
A V-8 swap in that truck doesn't get much easier. The V-8 will bolt right up to your transmission. You will need a new computer and wiring harness, check out painlessperformance.com, and advanceadapters.com has motor mounts that will help you bolt it right to the frame. Roast those tires with V-8 muscle!
Cuda Envy
I recently bought a '99 Dodge Dakota 5.9 R/T. I seem to recall a few years back, in the tech section, there was an install of exhaust with Cuda-style tips and a roll pan. I believe it was Project Sniper? Anyway, I found myself vigorously thumbing through all of my back issues of Truckin' and I can't seem to find it. (I think my wife may have thrown it out, but that's a whole other can of worms). Is there a website I can go to get that kit, or can you tell me who made it?Thanx,Matt Thomsen
Matt,
We found the article featuring a truck with that kit, it's on our website at: www.truckinweb.com/brandpages/dodge/0101tr_custom_1997_dodge_dakota/index.html. The hood-scoop and roll pan were both made by Profinish-Proglass. The Profinish-Proglass website is currently under-construction, viewable at www.profinish-proglass.com, but the contact information is still there, and it looks like they're working on a whole bunch of new projects. Give them a call at (260) 343-9826, or e-mail proglass@rexnet.net.
Bambi's Revenge
I have a full-sized Chevrolet window van with 5.7L and 700R4 showing 80,000 miles. After an accident with a deer, the headlights are intermittent and no turn signals. The fuses check out OK. I checked the quad headlights and all sealed beams are good. I checked the left and right side headlight grounds on the radiator core support crossmember and they are clean and tightened. I noticed the four-way hazard light indicators steadily stay illuminated when the headlight switch is pulled on. When the headlight switch is pushed off, the four-way hazard lights function normally. I don't know if this '88 has a BCM or not. The only area I haven't checked is behind the damaged bumper. It was pushed in about 4 inches. Could the headlight harness be crimped there? The van is 45 miles out in the boonies at the daughters' and she can't drive it without turn signals or after dark. Could there be a problem in the column? The highbeam lever doesn't seem to "click" when pulled or pushed, either.
PTT1369
PTT1369,
The obvious choice is to have a shop check all the wiring, but there is one other option. Exorcism. It may be that the deer's incorporeal form somehow got captured in the van's electrical wiring and is now trapped in the lighting system. This would be consistent with the proven, sort of, application of dream catchers (those round, Jacob's-ladder-looking things) for capturing nightmares in their tangled webs, where the bad dreams wander until they dissipate. It may be, though, that your van's electrical architecture may not be suitably designed for banishing the deer's ghost. Therefore, you might want to try contacting your local archdiocese and ask if exorcism is the right solution for you. If Mr. Goodwrench can't help, then maybe Father Patrick can!
Dodge Warranty Correction
I just wanted to let you know, I found some misinformation in the Truckin' Volume 33, No. 12 of your mag. On page 97, the mag states that the new 6.7L Dodge has a limited lifetime warranty. After some quick research, I found this not to be the case. The diesel engines offered by Dodge are specifically omitted from this special lifetime warranty. I enclosed a link to the Dodge lifetime warranty page, so you may investigate this issue for yourself. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions. Thanks and keep up the great work.One devoted reader,Jason Smith