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Two weeks ago I made a road trip to Carson City, NV in the truck in a caravan with a few friends. As soon as I hit a grade I started slowing down. At a few points I had my foot on the floor and couldn't get past 35MPH.

My truck is basically a stock D100 with a slant 6. It has an older camper shell on the bed. It's a great flat-lander but add hills and it's slow going. Any suggestions besides yanking out the 6?

Do you have the NP 435? With the low gearing in the trans alone combined with the slant pushing your "brick through the wind", it's gonna get pretty slow on a grade if you have your stock 1bbl. They say the super six setup is good, and they also have a pretty cool looking 2x1 intake from offenhauser but with the offy you have to find 2 good carbs I have a 727 in mine and it gets SLOW going up the steep ones. There's a good thread on this somewhere where Rodger explains how to get power and economy with all mopar parts you can get cheap or from wrecking yards. If your camper is light enough it may actually help make the truck more aerodynamic. Good luck!

strummin67 wrote:Two weeks ago I made a road trip to Carson City, NV in the truck in a caravan with a few friends. As soon as I hit a grade I started slowing down. At a few points I had my foot on the floor and couldn't get past 35MPH.

My truck is basically a stock D100 with a slant 6. It has an older camper shell on the bed. It's a great flat-lander but add hills and it's slow going. Any suggestions besides yanking out the 6?

What's your current axle gear ratio?
John

John,from his early posts, it's a '62 6/4spd....bet it's got a 3:91. Chris.

Sir

So that you learn about your truck and its engine ... stop at any
Local Neighbor-Hood Muffler Shop and ask for The Slant Six
Exhaust Manifold Gasket ( the one that uses two bolts and connects
The Down Pipe ). All 1961 to 1988 Cars - Trucks or Vans use the
same one.

With this new gasket stop by your local NAPA to inform The
Clerk that you want "A straight Muffler with the same in-side diameter
as The Exhaust Gasket that you are showing them". The longer The
Body of The Muffler is the better your truck will sound by the time
The First Snow Falls. The Muffler is just an muffler and can be called
"universal".

Now with NAPA's Premuim New Muffler ( still in the box ) go back to
The Muffler Shop and Have them install it using one size of Diameter
Pipe from The Exhaust Manifold To The New Muffler. The Newer
Diameter is larger than what their informational book states to use.

You will now have The Same Exhaust System as an "Feather Duster"
or "An Super Six" ( minus The Cat ). So that you know The Factories
offered An OEM Resonator in the rear secton The Tail Pipe which was
to lower The Exhaust Audio Level. You too may do the same with your
truck since noise does not equal more power.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Another related part of enhancing your power in an easy way is to do
as The Factory did in the late 80's to every MoPar ... get rid of the
directly bolted to The Water Pump Shaft Engine Cooling Fan Unit and
replace it with an very very short shaft Silicone Fan Drive ( # 271-303
at NAPA ) and any 1980 to 1990 MoPar Front Engine/ Rear Wheel Drive
Engine Cooling Fan which is less than $10 at the pick & pull ( most of
them are with five paddles and some are with seven paddles ).

You will need four short bolts to attach the Fan Drive and four short
bolts to attach the Cooling Fan To The Fan Drive ( pick & pull supplied ).




Rodger & Gabby
FltSgt@msn.com
COS

I'm not sure what model of trans I have but it's definitely a 4 speed with the compound low. The rear gears, according to the tag are 3:55s. I have a Holley 350 cfm 2bbl that needs to be rebuilt. I could put that on there. The exhaust is stock. I'd like to get the Dutra Dual manifolds and run a complete system.

Sir

The 2 bbl Carburator will need an 2 bbl to 1 bbl adapter and an completly
different Air Cleaner.

OR

The "Super Six" Intake Manifold and an competly different Air Cleaner.

********************************************************************
The "Super Six" Exhaust Manifold is the same part number as all 1 bbl
units.
********************************************************************

For any vehicle that is mostly driven on the streets ( or even some Road Trips )
... The Dutra Dual Exhaust Manifold Unit is "a hole lot of Bragging Rights" that
is not an good "bang for the buck" investment.




Rodger & Gabby
FltSgt@msn.com
COS

strummin67 wrote:I'm not sure what model of trans I have but it's definitely a 4 speed with the compound low. The rear gears, according to the tag are 3:55s. I have a Holley 350 cfm 2bbl that needs to be rebuilt. I could put that on there. The exhaust is stock. I'd like to get the Dutra Dual manifolds and run a complete system.

The 3.55 is a good all-around gear. Rodger has a good idea that might
get you "over the hump", so to speak. Have you ever done a compression
test on the engine? If the engine is "tired", it'll bog down on steeper grades.
If you could locate a nice healthy A or LA 318 and corresponding flywheel, you
could jump up about 60hp. The \6 to 318 swap is easy. I have
nothing against the \6..... I much prefer the sound of a V8 with a nicely tuned
dual exhaust.
John

The Slant has about 165k on it. I haven't done a compression test but I'm pretty sure it's getting tired. Thanks for all of the suggestions.

The camper shell may be on the heavy side since it's insulated and about the same age as the truck. However, I am finding it useful so parting with it may be difficult. ;)

Guess I lost that bet on the rear ratio. I'm with John, if you are going to have to rebuild at some time, look at the option to switch to a 318. Pretty easy swap. Bet you can locate a good poly or la out your way if you are patient. Chris.

Well, being an Inliner I'd prefer to keep it a 6 but yes, I think another engine will be in it's future.

is the dwell and timing set correctly? if not it may sound fine but lack power. set dwell fist THEN timing.

How do you set the dwell?

strummin67 wrote:How do you set the dwell?

Old school dwell meter is the best way. Look for one at a swap meet...

Or convert to electronic. I like the distributor out of a 70s non-california slant six personally.

I plan to use a Pertronix kit.

strummin67 wrote:How do you set the dwell?

Here's something to dwell on....
http://autorepair.about.com/library/a/1h/bl483h.htm
John

Rodger wrote:Sir

The 2 bbl Carburator will need an 2 bbl to 1 bbl adapter and an completly
different Air Cleaner.

OR

The "Super Six" Intake Manifold and an competly different Air Cleaner.

********************************************************************
The "Super Six" Exhaust Manifold is the same part number as all 1 bbl
units.
********************************************************************

For any vehicle that is mostly driven on the streets ( or even some Road Trips )
... The Dutra Dual Exhaust Manifold Unit is "a hole lot of Bragging Rights" that
is not an good "bang for the buck" investment.




Rodger & Gabby
FltSgt@msn.com
COS

If I put the 2bbl on there I'm adding more into the combustion chamber. Wouldn't it make sense to let more of it out on the exhaust side?

Could it be a slipping clutch?

I don't think that's happening because the RPM drops too.