Welcome To Mopar1973Man.Com LLC
We are privately owned, with access to a professional Diesel Mechanic, who can provide additional support for Dodge Ram Cummins Diesel vehicles. Many detailed information is FREE and available to read. However, in order to interact directly with our Diesel Mechanic, Michael, by phone, via zoom, or as the web-based option, Subscription Plans are offered that will enable these and other features. Go to the Subscription Page and Select a desired plan. At any time you wish to cancel the Subscription, click Subscription Page, select the 'Cancel' button, and it will be canceled. For your convenience, all subscriptions are on auto-renewal.
- Replies 2
- Views 701
- Created
- Last Reply
Featured Replies
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.
Did This Forum Post Help You?
Show the author some love by liking their post!
Welcome To Mopar1973Man.Com LLC
We are privately owned, with access to a professional Diesel Mechanic, who can provide additional support for Dodge Ram Cummins Diesel vehicles. Many detailed information is FREE and available to read. However, in order to interact directly with our Diesel Mechanic, Michael, by phone, via zoom, or as the web-based option, Subscription Plans are offered that will enable these and other features. Go to the Subscription Page and Select a desired plan. At any time you wish to cancel the Subscription, click Subscription Page, select the 'Cancel' button, and it will be canceled. For your convenience, all subscriptions are on auto-renewal.
I've slowly been buying parts for my '01 but never seem to have the time to do the install. I work in AK during the summer and run a commercial fishing boat but had to return after just two weeks due to some health issues my wife was having. Since I was now home (first summer in 19yrs and boy is it HOT in Chico CA during the summer, 108 +/- often), I figured I'd take the time do get some parts replaced, starting with some 3.73 gears.
My buddy who is a former GM tech was in between jobs so I hired him to help with gear set install. Well, the Motive D70 3.73 gear set did NOT fit my trucks carrier as we could hardly get a pattern in the paint as the ring gear and pinion were so far apart. We kept adding pinion shims and ended up with the end of the pinion about half way buried in the pinion nut, not good! I checked online and a few places had some Spicer gear sets on sale for 68.00!!!! These were D70 sets with 5/8" offset which is what is needed in Dodge D70 ( don't buy the standard set like some shops will tell you that you need). I paid an extra 30.00 for two day shipping and ended up with the gears a full 7 days later. Just Differentials screwed the pooch on that purchase!
While I waited the 7 days for the gears to arrive (and missed a camping trip with friends since I had no truck to drive), I started installing the numerous parts I had piled up. I added a catch can under the front cross member and used a heater hose repair kit to attach the new section of hose to the factory original hose. I've only got 80k on my truck with no blow by so I think this single can will suffice with no gasket issues as some guys have seen.
I had also purchased 17" rims a year or two ago in anticipation of upgrading the brakes to 3rd Gen units. I got those swapped out at all four corners and replaced the ball joints for good measure. Wow, drilling those ball joints is a pain in the a$$! I couldn't get the lowers drilled out so opted to order new Moog units from Rock Auto and hey, I was waiting on the gear set so had PLENTY of time! I added Monroe Reflex shocks and some coil spring spacers.
The spacer kit for the 2wd is a Daystar unit. It just has two plastic spacers that go on the top of your coil spring. Since you have the steering knuckle off due to the ball joint/control arm replacement, its easy to pull the springs and add the spacer. You do NOT need a compression tool to do this, at least on the 2 wd vehicle. My rig has the factory tow and camper package along with Firestone air bags and the front of the truck sat way too low for my liking. Before the install I measured 34" to the bottom of the plastic wheel well trim and after installing the 1 1/2" spacers I now measure 37"! What the heck?????? I suppose they will settle down a bit but 3" out of a 1 1/2" spacer seems odd. The ride with the spacers seems no different than before.
I also removed the factory trans cooler and hard lines. I went with a Tru Cool 40k unit and mounted it across the front of the cooling stack. I'd have liked to have seen it in place where the old cooler was but its just too big to fit there without interference. I bought hose and fittings from the local hyd shop and the total cost on those items were right at 110.00. I can't comment on cooling difference from old cooler to new as I also relocated my temp sensor from the trans output line to the port in my Derale deep pan.
I have 32" tires and wanted to gain back some of the gearing loss due to the taller tires. I realize going from 3.55 to 3.73 is not much difference but I can run 32-33" tires and keep near stock gear ratio. I see a 125rpm increase at 70mph, going from 1900 rpm to 2025 +/-.
I have a PacBrake unit that I've been fighting a leak on for about a year now so my next task is to find the dang leak so my compressor is not constantly running (I remove the fuse for normal around town driving to keep the thing from cycling on/off constantly).