Back in the Old

[JHumphries]

Well, after a two year hiatus, I'm back in a first gen.
During my break I had a fourth gen, and am currently selling my third gen.
She's a `93 W250, Auto OD.
There are helper bags on top of the front springs, and air bags replacing the shackle at the rear of the rear springs.
I call the last shot the Prius Rear View.

 

[JHumphries]

By the way, the truck has 300,000 miles on it. Supposedly, the transmission has never been rebuilt.
What do I need to do, to preserve this transmission for as long as possible?
I won't be doing any real towing.
I won't be messing with the pump or power level. Yet. :{

If I recall corrctly, it's a 518?
Does it have a lock-up converter?

 

[Nyoest]

Congrats on the nice ride. Good looking truck.

 

[ZedMikey]

By the way, the truck has 300,000 miles on it. Supposedly, the transmission has never been rebuilt.
What do I need to do, to preserve this transmission for as long as possible?
I won't be doing any real towing.
I won't be messing with the pump or power level. Yet. :{

If I recall corrctly, it's a 518?
Does it have a lock-up converter?

You're right on the model number: A518. Unfortunately, no lockup torque converter... get ready for crappy fuel economy compared to the guys running manuals. I can't wait to swap an NV4500 into mine...

 

[JHumphries]

... I can't wait to swap an NV4500 into mine...

That's what I was thinking.
ATS has a "built" NV4500, but no information about what "built" is. Any ideas what has been done?

Of course, I've also been thinking about doing the 47RH swap that Diesel Power did with Project Rust Bucket.

Along the lines of the manual swap... I seem to remember the transfer cases being different. Is there an adapter, or do I need the manual transfer case?

 

[Nyoest]

More than likely the ATS trans has the upgraded fully splined mainshaft and fifths gear. Best to call them and ask. I put a bluementhal 5 spd in mine this fall with the upgrades and so far all is good.

That transmission will probably out last your patience. You'll get tired of being redlined at 62 mph and look for something else. If it were me and I had to go through the pain of a swap I'd put in a newer built od auto trans and smile.

 

[JHumphries]

I'm nowhere near readline at 62 mph.
3. 54 gears and 33 inch tires.
I'm around 2000 rpm assuming the speedometer has been corrected.

 

[Nyoest]

Thats much better than the d3500 I test drove. It was about 2700 rpm at 62. Crazy.

 

[HHhuntitall]

As for keeping your auto in good shape... change the filter and add fresh fluid, maybe adjust the bands. Other than that, there's not much you can do to keep it going. If you're not towing, it should make it for a good while. I had one that ran 320k before it gave up, and usually pulled at least a 16' bumper pull welding trailer every day.



Upgrading trannies is a good idea in theory. You just have to be willing to spend the money. I put a Blumenthal NV4500 in my '93, but it was already a standard... ... it fits pretty well, IMO. Upgrading auto trannies is an option, too. You can find several people that offer lockup trannies for these trucks, which would help your economy a great deal.



Transfer cases. There a lot of them out there. All of the NP205s that I've seen that came in the Dodge Diesels were the same. I've never seen otherwise, but have heard different... ... . Measure and count the splines on the rear of the transmission you find, if they're the same, you're good. Personally, I think the 205 is one of the best ever built, much better than the NP241 or 271 like in the newer trucks.



Lots of options to fit almost everyone. It only takes money. Good luck.

 

[EDankievitch]

Lucky guy... My wife will not let me buy another toy truck... . Lol

 

[ENafziger]

Do you still have your 4th gen? Just curious

--Eric

 

[JHumphries]

Do you still have your 4th gen? Just curious

--Eric

Nope. I traded it in on the 3rd gen last summer. I was going to kill that engine, so I got rid of it with only 10k on it.
The funny thing is, the tank was empty when I traded it in. The dealership filled it when they delivered it. Two days later it died.
After three months going back and forth between Cummins and Dodge, they replaced the engine! The fuel system was apparently shot.

 

[JHumphries]

... Upgrading trannies is a good idea in theory. You just have to be willing to spend the money. I put a Blumenthal NV4500 in my '93, but it was already a standard... ... it fits pretty well, IMO. Upgrading auto trannies is an option, too. You can find several people that offer lockup trannies for these trucks, which would help your economy a great deal.

Transfer cases. There a lot of them out there. All of the NP205s that I've seen that came in the Dodge Diesels were the same. I've never seen otherwise, but have heard different... ... . Measure and count the splines on the rear of the transmission you find, if they're the same, you're good. Personally, I think the 205 is one of the best ever built, much better than the NP241 or 271 like in the newer trucks... It only takes money. Good luck.

After reading quite a bit on here last night, I don't think I want to go with a later auto. Trying to add the PCM/stand-alone controller, sounds like more trouble than it's worth.

Although, swapping in a manual is no picnic, either. :{

As for money... .
If I had it, I have a very good imagination.
8. 3L (Real Jake Brake), 13 speed, divorced straight drop transfer case (maybe a 3 speed), Arvin-Meritor axles out of a GMC Top Kick, Crew Cab plus Club Cab, 10' dump flat bed. Oo.

 

[Nyoest]

You just need to get a peterbuilt and get it over with.

As to your trans it sounds like you have good gearing. What kind of mpg do you get

 

[JHumphries]

I've only had the truck for a day, so I don't know yet.
The previous owner said he got 17-20 depending on how he drove it.
The torque converter seems fairly loose, but having never driven one of these rigs with an auto before, I don't have any real basis for the comparison.
It sounds like an old school bus. The driver floors it, the engine revs up to about 2200, and pretty much stays there until the driver lifts the foot. There is the occasional drop when the trans shifts. When you let off of the throttle, the engine drops to idle.

So much less fun than rowing through the gears.

 

['strokeThis_'07]

Gorgeous truck!



I've been debating on the engine/trans for my 84 Crew; originally I was going to go with a VE 12v, then a P-pump 12v, then a 24v, then a CR... basically the engine is still in the air. :-laf



As for trans, I though a 48re, but the standalone TCM for that (or a 47re) is $3k give or take. On top of a built unit, that's some cheddar. What I may have settled on is a PCM from a 96 or 97 12v; I believe it runs the overdrive and lockup functions, and that's pretty much all you need. May even be able to use the TPS you have.



Granted, I still need to look into the 96/97 auto PCM in a Gen-1 truck, but I don't really see why it wouldn't work. I pretty much got over the manual swap, since it's already an auto.

 

[RSchwarzli]

T case

NP 205 auto is different splines than stick. When I swapped my factory 727 to a stick I had the choice of picking up another t case or swapping shafts. T case was cheaper and easier.


Nice ride! Welcome back to the first gen camp.

As for transmission, really comes down to if you want a stick or an auto. Both are semi involved and both with take a bit of cash. Just depends what you want.

 

[NIsaacs]

After reading quite a bit on here last night, I don't think I want to go with a later auto. Trying to add the PCM/stand-alone controller, sounds like more trouble than it's worth.



Although, swapping in a manual is no picnic, either. :{



As for money... .

If I had it, I have a very good imagination.

8. 3L (Real Jake Brake), 13 speed, divorced straight drop transfer case (maybe a 3 speed), Arvin-Meritor axles out of a GMC Top Kick, Crew Cab plus Club Cab, 10' dump flat bed. Oo.

Nice truck, and I like the way you think:-laf I do think the C-series Cummins never used a true jake, the small L-series did.



Nick

 

[EWalshak]

JHumpries nice truck. !!!A trans from a 94-96 is govorner controlled so it is non-electronic. The lock-up is the only feature that you might consider electronic. The pcm supplies ground to the lockup solenoid when certain criteria are met and can be bypassed with a ground switch if you so desire. Good luck whichever way you decide to go.

 

[HHhuntitall]

Well, adding the stick is less work, IMO, than all the wire loom adaptations for upgrading to a newer transmission. IN saying that, you might try just upgrading your torque convertor..... there are some fine makers out there. I recently spoke to THE guy at Blumenthal's that makes all of theirs. He said he'd make me whatever I wanted, and the cost was under $500 (wholesale). I'm not sure what he could do with a non-lockup, but I'd bet he can make it much tighter than the factory.