1979 Power Wagon CTD Build

[79Powerwagon]

Took this junk to Mopar's in the park ( big Mopar car show) On the way there the trans started to feel like it was slamming in and out of 3rd gear/chattering badly. Figured fluid was getting cooked or something. It was 85* out and the farthest I've driven it, about 2 hours on the highway.

Oh well , tried to baby it. Thought that 518 had to shred itself sometime. 35s and big injectors must have took their toll.

So I dropped the pan today, good bit of shiny shavings in there but nothing too catastrophic. Adjusted bands and line pressure, New wix filter and a 90% fill of hydraulic fluid with a 48re pan I had laying around(slightly deeper) ......Same problem. So now I'm thinking this suckers gotta be smoked.

Messed with tv cable and found return spring was gone. Still acting up.

Then I disconnected my manual overdrive switch got wire. Problem gone!! Turns out when I swapped fenders I pinched the ground wire between inner fender and cab.

Whew. The 518 lives another day

Here's a halfa$$ accel vid. Accidentally had OD toggled

https://youtu.be/sQQNEIsWW3U

[Rob_O]

Those marker lights on the bed sides have got to go!

[79Powerwagon]

They may as well be gone. Not hooked up anyway.


Anyone have any slick mods for getting full throttle travel and full tv travel?

If I set my tv cable tight against the lever, my throttle will not make a full sweep as the tv maxes out.

Trying to get it dialed in.

[Remps]

How much low idle screw do you have sticking out? If you have enough, you could try setting your throttle linkage back one notch on the throttle shaft, and reduce the idle with the low idle screw, and/or possibly lengthen the slot on the tv cable. Or fab up a different ratio bellcrank thing. It's been a couple years since I've even seen my 1st gens, so my memory is kinda rusty. I never did solve that issue with my w250, I disconnected mine and pulled as much cable as I could without making it upshift at too high of rpm and strapped it there. Not a recommended fix. A full manual valve body would eliminate the tv cable.

[79Powerwagon]

How much low idle screw do you have sticking out? If you have enough, you could try setting your throttle linkage back one notch on the throttle shaft, and reduce the idle with the low idle screw, and/or possibly lengthen the slot on the tv cable. Or fab up a different ratio bellcrank thing. It's been a couple years since I've even seen my 1st gens, so my memory is kinda rusty. I never did solve that issue with my w250, I disconnected mine and pulled as much cable as I could without making it upshift at too high of rpm and strapped it there. Not a recommended fix. A full manual valve body would eliminate the tv cable.

Don't think I have much idle screw.

It seems to me the only way to do it would be that bell crank, like you said. Or a sort of different ratio lever on the trans end.

I guess I shouldn't be that concerned with it as I don't want to have an auto forever. But it'd be nice to have it shifting at its best.

[Rob_O]

Anyone have any slick mods for getting full throttle travel and full tv travel?

If I set my tv cable tight against the lever, my throttle will not make a full sweep as the tv maxes out.

Trying to get it dialed in.

You just made me decide to adjust my cable. Here's how I did it

1)Loosen the adjuster pawl on the TV cable
2)Set up a broomstick or whatever to hold the pedal to the floor. Verify the throttle lever on the pump is at full travel
3)Push cable forward, then back it off a hair or stick a paperclip in the slot or whatever so the TV cable is just barely shy of full travel

I'll let you know how it works out

[79Powerwagon]

Problem is if I do that then the throttle moves before the tv cable does off idle. I'd like to have them move at the same time.

[Rob_O]

Factory adjustment procedure calls for .180 between the pin and the back of the slot with the throttle closed

https://www.dieselbombers.com/dodge-die ... tment.html

My adjustment procedure resulted in 1/2 shifts about 15 MPH an 2/3 shift happened at about 25 just puttering around under light throttle so I'm going to back it off a few clicks to get the shift MPH back down. I haven't started turning screws inside the pan yet, need to do more of that before I turn up the smoke any more

[79Powerwagon]

Factory adjustment procedure calls for .180 between the pin and the back of the slot with the throttle closed

https://www.dieselbombers.com/dodge-die ... tment.html

My adjustment procedure resulted in 1/2 shifts about 15 MPH an 2/3 shift happened at about 25 just puttering around under light throttle so I'm going to back it off a few clicks to get the shift MPH back down. I haven't started turning screws inside the pan yet, need to do more of that before I turn up the smoke any more

Yeah that factory adjustment is pretty much useless once running higher rpm than stock.

I've got mine pretty darn close but it's still tough to get full throttle.

Wot run today it hit 3rd at about 50-55

The hydraulic oil sure made a difference. That and the tv cable being set up fairly decent. Cruising rpm is way down.

Feels like i went back to a 33" tire the way it pulls now.

[Rob_O]

The hydraulic oil sure made a difference. That and the tv cable being set up fairly decent. Cruising rpm is way down.

I don't have the money for a fancy low stall convertor so I'm going to do the heavy tractor fluid thing too. That and a shift kit should help with some of the problems Chrysler designed into this transmission

[79Powerwagon]

https://youtu.be/k73j_puvKSQ
https://youtu.be/c5xG2xetuVo

[spencerdiesel]

You made my day better

[79Powerwagon]

I just picked up a set of rims with 32" tires....they look kinda small but it really scoots now

[79Powerwagon]

Dodge down today.

Steering got extremely stiff as I got off highway.

Won't steer left from center at all. Thinking gearbox failed. Seems the power steering comes and goes.

[79Powerwagon]

Ordered up a redhead steering box.

Turns out the original box chipped a tooth and locked up.

Need to get this thing back out before the snow flies!