1988 Dodge D250 Project

A year later...just starting to get back to this project...lol

wow, we lost 340shorty since then. sure miss that guy.

any progress?, hammer time on headers...did the mounts work out?

don't worry, I changed my harmonic balancer this weekend...it has been on the bench since Feb. this yr. LOL!

got the header to fit...got a couple more things to do before I start on the truck again...gotta put the race cars to bed for the winter...

Been working on rewiring this truck...took about a mile or two of wiring from under the hood from the TBI and computer.

Using a starter relay switch I got the starter rewired...the alternator is rewired using an mopar style regulator...and the ignition is a 2 wire HEI distributor...

I got the engine to crank today by jumping the starter relay switch,,,battery was low from sitting.

and then using a 30 amp relay like from a fan or fuel pump I powered the coil ...cranked again and the coil was firing...

now I got to deal with the old electric fuel pump in tank...either use return style regulator or mechanical pump and remove electric pump from tank...

suppose to be pretty cold for vegas this week..so working going slow..plus got a 904 TF to get back together for a 71 Duster....

I'm with ya Scratch, I used to talk to Larry every other week on average. I still think of calling him when I need an answer.
Still bummed!

jumpered it today...and sprayed some brake cleaner in carb...fired up...

forgot i did not have oil pressure gauge hooked up...shot oil up in the air on back of engine..lol..

gotta get in tank fuel pump working now..

spend the day wiring old dodge back together...got the factory service manual that was a life saver...

got everything spliced and back together...hit key and it cranks..and coil fires...found the two wire for the fuel pump...process of elimination...

going to get fuel pumped hooked up tomorrow with relay...going to use a dead head holley regular for now...

the oem fuel pump has very low pressure...i can piss better then it..

I pumped all the old gas out of it as it has been sitting for a year and the gas is getting that smell..

looks like it will not need a regulator ...but i installed a manual pump on it also since it has an eccentric.

hooking up oil pressure gauge and temp gauge...as I prefer the manual gauge anyway...also using a volt meter gauge.

If i did not have so many other project going on........lol

Getting pretty close to being done with this rewiring....

Putting the A/C and alternator back on..Done..

Putting the belts back on....PIA

The power steering is a solid bracket..no where to adjust the belt...

Going to look at the FSM tomorrow to see [ Moparts Family Site - Keep it Friendly ]....

Fired the old Dodge up this afternoon...let it run for a few seconds...got a fuel leak...old holley carb....open headers..

had no water cause i need 3 feet of heater hose....but everything is basically working..

no computer at all..

checked the FSM and found how to adjust PS belt....

few more thing and she is rolling again...

Got heater control valve replaced..new heater hose too..

Put a holley regulator on it...and adjusted the fuel pressure down to 5 psi..

put water in it...and found it spraying water between the water pump and timing change cover...dam..

fire it up..and let it run ...beside the water leak...got a few thing to fix but nothing major...Old truck should be back in service in a couple of weeks...gotta work on a Duster for next weekends race..

But very happy I was able to get rid of throttle body and computer..

Had some free time to work on D250 today...got the water leak fixed...

Then I noticed that the timing mark was nowhere close on the damper and timing chain cover...turned engine over by hand this morning and yes...the damper had slipped....Removed and replaced it this morning......

Need to get eddy 1407 installed...got the thin adapter plate i needed to fix on the eddy performer intake...

and need to swap out headers...got a beautiful set of ceramic coated headers for the truck in a package deal early this year...then off to the muffler shop.

Sounds like your really making it a sweet ride, dig
the look of ceramic coated headers post a pic after you mount them please

Will do....

Got the eddy carb fixed ..i think..

moved the distributor where i thought it should be now that the damper is showing the correct timing...fired right up...

set the timing at 12 degrees initial for now...

Seems to have a small vacuum leak as turning the idle screws in all the way it still will run...slows down but still runs...and smells a little rich...I put the eddy adapter on..then put an 1/2 spacer on...maybe I need to rethink that 1/2 spacer...

But everything is going good...no water leaks..no oil leaks..still gotta hook up the gas pedal..

Changed out the carb..i have a pretty new holley 2300 350 cfm carb...

318 is purry like a kitten...timing dialed in......need to get gas pedal hooked up...lol

I have a E-Brock Performer #2176 manifold and #1406 Carb on my '87 318 and I wish I had bought the smaller (500 CFM) #1403 because I had to buy the #1487 tuning kit to get the tune close. I had a #1407 on my '64 Polara with a 440 cruiser and it was not a happy combination, terrible throttle response with 727 and tight converter. JMHO.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/edl-1403/overview/

I probably had a vacume leak between the adapter and spacer...did not want to deal with it...

I have owned that 1406 since brand new back in 2002...

waiting on the lokar universal bracket and cable to get the gas pedal hooked up

got the lokar cable bracket and throttle cable installed just need to cut cable to length. Just got the header reducers with bungs on them from Jegs. I want to swap out headers,, got a brand new set of ceramic coated headers in a package deal, now I get to get the old cruddy ones off.

Biggest problem I got is getting time to work on this thing...so close..

Finally made a throttle cable that would fit and work...went back to the Eddy 600 carb...I thought it had a vacuum leak...and would not idle down...it was on the fast idle cam...LOL

use the old cable from the TBI and cut it to length..use the cable from the chinese lokar cable and a stock bracket...

removed and replaced passenger side header...new ceramic ones..need to driver side in morning..it is a PIA since it hits the frame...

drove it around the block with open headers...1st time in over an year...October 2014 I started..

need to upgrade the stereo too...

Had to flatten no. 1 tube on driver side to get it to fit...but the ceramic headers are on...got the reducer bolt on with bung for wideband.

Muffler shop near house was closed on Sunday...probably wont get it done this week as I am heading out of town on Friday and in training class rest of week....

got to make a list of small things to do...stereo..seat covers even through the bench seat is in great condition...and new tires..

I wonder if I can find a new back window that opens...

new saddle blanket seat covers on it...new dash cover...

muffler shop said they would have to install catalyst converters on the truck since it was an 88 on they would get in trouble with the DVM, the truck is registered as a classic vehicle and no smog is required...I said NOPE...I will do it myself...

Hooker makes a dual exhaust kit...bought it and two turbo mufflers...just got done tonight..a few hours for two night after work...instead of clamps..mig welded the fitting...no leaks..

so now the truck is good to get back on the highway...needs some tires in a few weeks...but around town should be ok..

will get a picture tomorrow...needs to hose down engine bay...dust has been blowing all over in vegas the past few days..

got a new stereo for it also...

couple of pictures of engine went I started..

Just took these this afternoon...

That looks very familiar just like my '87 and I see you lost your air pump, too. Like the headers, but they are not on my list yet.

Those headers came in a package deal...but I had a set of the cheap old headers available also...