• Welcome to For Trucks Only !

    We are a community of American Brand Pickup Truck and SUV owners. Join now! Its Free!

speed issues

68GTX440

68GTX440

Active Member
Joined
Apr 8, 2016
Messages
58
Reaction score
2
Location
LV, NV
alright my 84 dodge with a slant six and a 904 transmission lately after about 15 twenty minutes of driving the truck just doesn't really want to go, the other day I was on the freeway coming back from a job and I was only able to get it to 55, and trying to push the accelerator down just a little more it goes into a kick down and won't gain anymore speed you have to let off and stay at 55. but before the drive and it heats up you can have the damn speedometer buried. I've already checked water level, transmission fluid and oil. transmission and motor are both a fresh rebuild going on two and a half years. only other thing I can think of is in the summer there's a vapor lock issue no matter what we've done we've changed fuel pumps from standard to electronic(electronic made it ten times worse after awhile) we've rebuilt the carb a few different times. so I'm wondering if this is the same issue just not a full vapor lock yet?
 
Last edited:
Have you gotten rid of the lean burn or were you luck and never had it?
The 82 use to have a 6/ with manual od that would do exactly what you are describing. I never knew how the lean burn was going to respond. When it worked right it was great and when not top speed was always a question.
 
No I haven't gotten rid of it. My dad was never sure if he did if the truck could pass emissions. since I'm in Las Vegas emissions are getting more strict, they failed me last year for having an incorrect sticker on my hood! I replaced the hood from an 88 after my dad's wreck.
 
68GTX440 said:
No I haven't gotten rid of it. My dad was never sure if he did if the truck could pass emissions. since I'm in Las Vegas emissions are getting more strict, they failed me last year for having an incorrect sticker on my hood! I replaced the hood from an 88 after my dad's wreck.
Click to expand...
If you can get rid of the lean burn, do it. I've only had one that worked properly, in a 5th Ave that was owned by a priest. Must have blessed it! I hate emissions, but if you have to do them, you still might be able to pass the test. The lean burn was for at speed use, I'd think a well tuned carb should be able to pass the sniffer test. Throw in the needed ignition boxes (I don't know what you need as I put in an MSD box) and see what happens.
 
The big problem with the lean burn is finding one that works. Many did not shortly after purchase. There are no replacement part for the computer and sensers were not the same from one year to the next.
The MSD Box would be a practical addition. Hide the box in the cab and conceal as much new wiring as possible.
 
LocuMob said:
If you can get rid of the lean burn, do it. I've only had one that worked properly, in a 5th Ave that was owned by a priest. Must have blessed it! I hate emissions, but if you have to do them, you still might be able to pass the test. The lean burn was for at speed use, I'd think a well tuned carb should be able to pass the sniffer test. Throw in the needed ignition boxes (I don't know what you need as I put in an MSD box) and see what happens.
Click to expand...
Did the MSD box you installed control timing advance? That would be the only thing that would keep him from retaining the factory distributor.
 
7mopar said:
Did the MSD box you installed control timing advance? That would be the only thing that would keep him from retaining the factory distributor.
Click to expand...
Forgot about that. Yeah, need to replace the distributor also.
 
Alright so on a scale of 1 to 10 how hard will it be to convert from the lean burn to the MSD? I've personally never done anything like that I've only ever rebuilt engines and transmissions lol! my dad was the one that was always doing things like this.
 
2. Easy, just splice a few wires. Instructions are simple and straightforward. A wire cutter and crimper and something to bolt the box down is all you need. My friend his his under the dash of his Super Bee to give the engine bay a cleaner look.
 
I'd just go with a reman non lean burn distributor. Might have to look at older years to get the non lean burn, maybe not. Just make sure you have a vacuum advance canister on the one you buy. The 6A box should work fine unless you want/need a rev limiter, then the 6AL. I've bought mine used, the MSD box, and saved some coin and never had a problem.
 
I'll look into it thanks! I was trying to look up some lean burn to hei conversions it looked like it would be a pain, but with what you're saying it'll be a breeze
 
Hei is for gm applications. Never got the issue with a coil not on the distributor.
 
I thought it was GM, but that's what I saw when I first looked up how to get rid of lean burn, everyone automatically jumped to hei conversions
 
I like keeping it as factory like as possible. Chrysler has all kinds of parts you can swap from one car to another.
 
Think if mine I would leave all the lean burn possible in place just to keep it looking original even if it will no longer be used.
If the inspection people complained about an emissions sticker being wrong they will more than likely have a fit if the lean burn is missing.
 
I was planning on leaving the lean burn system on, but just using the msd box and a new distributior
 
7mopar said:
Think if mine I would leave all the lean burn possible in place just to keep it looking original even if it will no longer be used.
If the inspection people complained about an emissions sticker being wrong they will more than likely have a fit if the lean burn is missing.
Click to expand...
That's a good point, didn't even think of that. You could even go so far as to have a dummy vacuum line that is plugged if they ask about the vacuum advance.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top