89 grid heater controller and other malfunctions

[1stgen4evr]

Can some of the 89 90 owners weigh in here? What is typical as to problems with the controller. Mine don't turn on with the key but I can jump the solonoids and they work. I realize that a momentary switch would work but would like to hear from others as to a "fix" on the problem. I won't be buying a new controller. Have there been problems that didn't involve the controller?



My amp guage is dead. Is this common with the early CTDs? I will most likely install a volt gauge to replace it.



Who has changed the vacuum pump out to the newer style? Looks as though the brackets for the throttle cables would obstruct. Chop the bracket??



This engine seems to have a greater rattle than I am accoustomed to. Have any of you that has had a head off checked the tdc piston highth. Some of the old Macks I worked on occasionally would be slaping the head because the piston would travel a few thousandths too far. I have no reason to suspect a problem with the bottom end. The oil pressure is good and there are only 165k miles on the engine.



Any one needing a 727 before I take it out could drive this one. Works fine. I would like to get some money toward a 518 OD. Or does anyone have an add on OD?



Can the 94 and later automatics be changed to the 518 by installing the 518 governor/control assembly?



Thanks

1stgen4evr

James

 

[bgilbert]

Some of the early grid heaters wouldnt cycle until temps read 15*F and below, that is the way my 89 works. As long as you have a good starter, battery you'll appreciate not seeing the WTS light all the time in nice 50*f weather.

Amp guage, yes very common, in older 70's model amp guage failures would prevent power to the ignition key. Don't think this is a problem on 80's and 90's Dodges, I've had a few where the guage didnt work but didnt have the problem as in my 78.

I think Daniel has upgraded to the new style vac pump.

'Real trucks rattle'. Bill

 

[dpuckett]

I have the new style PS/vacuum pump- chop 2" off the bottom of the throttle bracket, and you're set to go. Doesnt affect throttle support- the bracket is heavy stuff, relatively speaking, and doesnt get that much stress from the go pedal, et al. Wasnt so much an upgrade as it was what was available at the time, and the price was right.



THe rattle could be valves out a little, injectors coked up a bit, or timing too retarded/ advanced, though I'd be inclined to think retarded, esp since none of us have been under the hood. Believe it or not, many symptoms of timing problems are similar for too retarded or too advanced. Pupm turned up will make it rattle louder, even with the idle speed turned back down.



When I had the head off, I didnt check the TDC height, but there was about a 1/4" ring around the top of the cylinders where carbon, etc, had built up a little. Not much, but it made a mark on the walls. Judging by injector spray patterns I've seen, compared to the piston bowls, I'd say no more than 1/4" space between the head and piston @ TDC, though I could be wrong.



My head has the cracks between the injector bores and intake valve seats; guy at the machine shop I had check it for flat and cracking said he'd seen guys put them back on Case tractors with cracks twice as big. I wouldnt think that would make a difference in running or sound- there really is no place for the cobustion gasses to go, unless you have some real canyons of cracks.



Daniel

 

[JLEONARD]

Remember that the non intercooled engines have the timing advanced as stock compared to the IC engines, so this could account for the diesel rattle.

Jay

 

[BCaldwell]

Hey dpuckett, I know this is a little of subject but is there such a thing as too much timing? Notice my signature

Bill

 

[dpuckett]

Yes, when it rattles like a cold 6. 9, you need to back it off some. I had mine at 2. 04mm for a time (no pun intended; and it was a SHORT while). Smoked like heck- greyish, almost white at times- ran like cr@p, had NO bottom or top end, or much middle; in other words, it not only sounded like a 6. 9, it ran like one, too. I hear you gotta watch Wildman Wilson. Sometimes I think he misses his old VE.



Daniel

 

[BCaldwell]

Daniel. Been hammered to the head SMOKES Black lots of low end mid range high end power,must have got lucky. Will put down a skeeter colony in nothing flat. Bill