Stock A518 towing jitters.

[Horus]

I recently picked up a 93 D250 club cab truck for a screaming deal. In two weeks I will be towing a trailer and Grand Cherokar based rock buggy for 26 hours straight from Washington state to southern California for the 2013 King Of The Hammers race. This is something I simply cannot do in my 91. A three hour drive is the absolute limit for that particular ox cart.

I am wondering if it would be worth my while to install a decent converter in the D250 before I head out?

The truck is dead stock. The pump is absolutely untouched. It is slow as a slug but makes a great DD. The A518 shifts nicely. Firm enough that I would not doubt someone did a basic shift kit at some point. The truck has a front mounted trans cooler as well as the optional underbed cooler. It will have a Gemtop style cap on the bed sitting about a foot above the top of the cab (ie, not a full on camper). The trailer is a 10K model and we figure the buggy probably weighs 3600 pounds. At most I am towing 6000 pounds. The truck will have a pre-turbo pyro and fuel pressure gauge before I leave.

What do you guys think? I just don't want to smoke the thing 26 hours from home. I am eyeing a Hughes converter as I had great luck with the one I had in a 73 Challenger years back. The truck will never be super powerful so I feel a mid-grade $500 ish converter might fit this truck well.

I guess I am nervous is all, but if there is a big enough benefit I might pull the trigger before I leave. What do you guys think? Am I safe as is or just asking for it?

Thanks.

[tampabayBill]

When I got my truck it was stone stock with 218k miles on it and set up same as yours. The prior two owners had used it to pull fifth wheel trailers all over the country with no trouble. I put in a TFOD shift kit and a SunCoast convertor and liked it a lot better.

[dunes450r]

it would help how much heat the trans sees, but you should be fine since its bone stock

[RumbleFish]

I'd put in a trans temp gauge while you ar there too. A convertor is never a bad idea though.

[kwrank]

i did some moderate towing in hilly terrain with my truck before changing converters. not so good. the hughes might be the best bang for the buck upgrade i've done yet...

[Diesel]

The 518's are pretty stout but you should be doing a pan drop and band adjustment. I always throw in a bottle of Lucas in my Chrysler trans's.

[Horus]

Thanks for the advice guys. It may well be getting too close to departure time to get a converter in time. From the reading I've done it looks like dropping extra $$ on a "good" converter is worth it over a Hughes, which is still a good upgrade over stock.

A band adjustment is on the list of things to do before I leave. If I can find the proper gauge I'll see about increasing line pressure. My truck is having OD issues, kicking out at 55 mph and/or not kicking in unless I let off or floor it. A TPS delete kit from DNR is on the way to fix that. I still have a B&M transmission temp gauge from an older project. Will see if I can find a sending unit for it.

The first half of this trip I will be on my own. Most of the steep hills and grades will be done without the need to keep up with Duramax trucks all cracked out on their EFI Live. Hopefully by taking it easy I'll have no issue with the drivetrain.

I wonder if a $500 Hughes converter would partially pay for itself over the course of 52 hours total towing time, when considering mileage? Hmmm

[dazedandconfused]

I would look into Goerend or specrite converters.
http://www.specriteconverters.com/site/ ... rters.html

[Diesel]

Instead of deleting the tps you could replace the speed sensor. Try fresh fluid and a bottle of Lucas and it might help. I like to suck out fluid from the dipstick and refill with fresh fluid and drive. Then drop the pan and replace some more. It's not a bad idea to get the transmission fluid in order before deleting stuff. They work perfectly with a tps and actually kickown with the pedal. The nice thick Lucas helps with internal leaks. I know I sound like a salesman but I've been using it in my Chrysler 727 based tranny's since the 90's and always fixes that let off the throttle to up shift issue among other things. It's thick stuff so line pressure automatically goes up!

[dantheman300z]

I got my truck in September 2012. Drove it all the way from chelan, Washington to Fort Wayne, indiana. It was bone stock other than the start wheel turned in. We rented a trailer from uhaul and had my wife's 2003 neon on it full of stuff and the bed of the truck was full too. We drove through Yellowstone the whole day with trailer and all on our way. We weren't moving super fast but it did a great job the whole way. It's a 93 W250 a518.

[Horus]

Thanks again for the input guys.

I found the Lucas "trans fix" stuff at the store and grabbed a bottle. Normally I'm not into the snake oil but I'll give it it's day in court. I had hoped to get the buggy done and out of the shop this weekend but it took 14 hours of work to install Reid knuckles and RCV shafts in the front axle and get them dialed in.

If I can find a torque wrench I approve of I'll do the bands while the pan is off. Shouldn't be a problem. Outside of bands and fresh fluid the truck will remain as is for the trip. At least as far as the drivetrain is concerned. This week it gets carpet, full re-seal of the doors, stereo, headlight relay harness, Grand Cherokee leather buckets from a 98 5.9, egt and fuel pressure gauges and a new accessory belt. Whew, just looking at the list wears me out. When do I leave again?

[Horus]

Because everyone loves pictures. Here is my 96 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited.



This is what I am towing to KOH. Not much of the stock sheet metal is left. That said, the entire factory wiring harness is in place including things like the computer that tells me if a tail light is out. It passes Wa, state OBD2 emissions requirements. I drove it down to take the test as well as to work a few times. I have the factory mirrors and bolt on headlights/turn signals for street driving.

My buddy who is "Jeephauler" on here (currently building a VE Cummins powered Powerwagon trail rig for 42 inch tires) built the chassis for me. I like it.

[Horus]

Another from Moab UT, at Area BFE. See the factory dash?

[dunes450r]

very cool, nice grill and i really like the clean sheetmetal body!!!

[PToombs]

Factory windshield too?