flagmanruss

I'm sure everyone here knows what a CAI (Cold Air Intake) is... designed to draw cooler outside air into the engine instead of warm / hot underhood air. This is argueably desireable in summer when the under hood temp climbs outta sight. These thoughts carry over from our experience with gassers and I'm not at all sure they directly apply to a compression fired engine (diesel)... especially a turbo-charged intercooled diesel. Any rate the OEM air box is plumbed into the fender which draws cold air from behind the headlight... Atmittedly not a huge passageway but a CAI. Just a general reminder, that diesels "fire" from the heat of compression. A turbo adds temperature when it boosts the charge pressure but then in goes through the intercooler... before reaching the intake manifold. NOW I want to flip flop the scenerio... in winter the ouside air will be well below the most economical point. The IAT sensor will adjust the fuel to run righer in order to make it run. The cold fronts so many of us use block some or all of the grill raising the under hood temps above ambient. Those who are running BHAFs are already drawing engine room air... despite any heat shielding panels that may be in place. So this may be benificial in drawing the warmest winter air available. I'm still running the stock air box plumbed into the fender. Even with the cold front in place I suspect the air drawn in behind the headlight is still colder than underhood air. So my theory is that it would be better to disconnect the snorkle into the fender & block that opening in winter. Maybe even do the swiss cheese mod to the airbox. Your thoughts?

I used to be the one helping the neighbors out! I used the backhoe to open the snowbacks at the road for the neighbors. The machine is so big... hard to turn around on the narrow street. I'd go down the street, making one swipe each diagonally across the opening, then the opposite coming back. It was nice. Russ

Have you checked under the back seat... That's where I always keep mine. Look where it should not be: either still in the socket on the bumper or still on the last trailer used. The adaptor from Dodge is a dealer part but I'm sure I've seen other aftermarket brands. I would definately check WalMart as well as a well stocked autoparts. I looked up Reese brand http://www.reese-hitches.com/product_categories/electrical#connectors (12.05 + s&h) then search on Amazon.com for a discount price. http://www.amazon.com/Reese-Towpower-74607-Wiring-Adapter/dp/B000CPI6VI/ref=sr_1_32?ie=UTF8&s=automotive&qid=1264509828&sr=1-32 (4.52 + s&h) Wait! Are you saying the OEM trailer socket back into the truck wiring harness? I'm confused! If you lost this part of the OEM harness you have 2 choices, Steal one from your neighbor's Dodge... no wait, he owns a shot gun... how about a salvage yard! Or dealer. There are some dealers who will sell OEM parts over the internet. Russ

Tell you what... it was kind of hard to deny with one wet to the waist wifee staring out at the oil slick rising from the bubbling truck! The guy was trying to cheat on a $10 ramp fee... I got paid more than that to go down & put a hook on it. Come to think of it, the yard truck was a Dodge Power Wagon with a winch on the front. They put a chain from a "dead man" (concrete anchor set in the ground) to the trailer hitch on the rear. Engaged the winch & wound the cable in. Oh, yeak, the yard charged him too for pulling the truck out. A shame, nice classic truck... after a sinking, never can get the salt out.The guy had backed the trailer into the water & left the wife in the running truck with the E-brake set. Like I said when the floor boards got wet, she bailed or I'd have had to do a body recovery! The truck had gome all the way to the mud bottom on the salt pond (opened into the ocean) right off the end of the gravel ramp. When the trailer stopped the truck overran it but stayed coupled bending the tonge. The yard had tried to hook the bump with a grapel but had no luck since the truck was in the mud & the bumper flush against the gravel. It was only about 10 feet of water but you can drown in a tea cup.

I am not used to being this forthright outside a MS group. If one has to have Multiple Sclerosis, it is best if discovered early as the DMTs I mentioned earlier can slow it down. All MS is Progressive but I was entering the later Secondary Progressive stage when I was diagnosed in 2001. I have tried to compensate & work around my limitations... just keep doing the things I love but each year I have lost ground. Simple fact. Sometimes I know what I want to do, but do not realize the obsticles I will encounter. I have done a lot this way but am just running out of tricks to work around. I know life is not fair. We would like it to be... but Gad made no such promise. I have counciled others on this point. Still it is hard to accept another set back personally.

Sheila did not want me out there with out supervision... guess she wants to be there if I fall again but I did not give her the pleasure. I propped a short ladder (section cut from an aluminum step ladder) just enough if it's positioned right so I can get up there. So I put the deck plates back down... One had been a bugger to wiggle out but went back no problem. I Never Siezed the bolts & after hand starting, ran them down with an electric wrench. So Sheila helped me put the tarp on it. I'm thinking that the crud buildup which binds the reverser linkage may be made worse by debris washing off the deck if the machine is tipped slightly forward. My thought is to put a bead of calk in the deck center plate where it goes under the console. This would encouage run off to run elsewhere than onto the tranny & this linkage. There's 1/2" gap between the console & the plate. I don't think I need to "calk" it... just build a dam. Since thing has happened before... need to solve this. Next, I'm going to price batteries... see if I can get Dave to come over to put them in. I am very frustrated when I run into MS limitations. Russ

NO LONGER A LAWN ORNAMENT!I left the backhoe over night with 2 cords... one to the battery charger, other HD cord to the block heater. (I didn't try to start with the 10 year old batteries but figured no point in lugging them too!) I brought the CTD over & jumped started it first try. I had sprayed the linkages with liquid wrench after scraping the crud up yesterday. I had both forward & reverse so I turned it around & moved it back near the barn. The only difficulty was actually me physically getting onto the machine. I started replacing the deck plates. Some of them were difficult to free up, hope they go back easier. Goal for tomorrow: lay deck plates & Never Sieze the bolts. The cover tarp needs to go back on tomorrow as they're predicting rain.Russ

So suddenly it's a priority. Unfortunately it's been siting uncovered... Yup, that green tarp did not make it back on last time! Last time I jumped it & had the motor running, I could not get the reverser to engage. I had a mechanic come in for this previously & discovered after we got the deck plates up that the piled mouse poo, acorns & litter on the top of the tranny was frozen/physically blocking the crazy linkage (from left hand lever under the steering wheel to right side of the transmission). I did convince a buddy (retired from town highway dept) to come by. I had the side deck plates off though not the one right center (console to under the seat). But we magaged to break up & remove most of a inch think cake of crap. Since the machine was stone cold, we ajourned for the day. I'm going to soak the linkage with penitrating oil & try jump starting it hopefull tomorrow. I have the block heater plugged in overnight & battery charger (though I expect the ancient batteries will still need to be jumped off the CTD). Getting up on the machine is a struggle with my legs the way they are... Sheila gets upset if she figures out I used a ladder but no one else is going to do it. If it is operable, I'll be buying batteries. Hopefully I can get help to install these mothers. Sheila, bless her, wants to clear a bunch of trees off the kitchen... the idea is to build an entry addition with a wheelchair ramp... which I'm hoping to avoid using. I'm hoping my cousin can get the trees out. The MS specialist has taken me off the "DMT" (Disease Modifying Treatment) drugs. It appears that I am too far into the Secondary Progressive for them to be effective... and there is considerable risk to the Tysabri treatment. I am out of options, there is no other DMT left to use.

I'm running stock box, ring still in... with the big exhaust & straight through muffler... this truck is not quiet! I'm not into blasting audio so I can hear the turbo as soon as it kicks in... until the exhaust rumble drowns it out.Russ

I had a CJ type on my mind... but in consideration of my mobility issues, a CJ entry probably would not do. I'm re-thinking... What about a Cherokee type? Are they they durable enough? Are there other Makes & Models that are available economically, that I should consider?Russ

We're not used to having others do for us... years ago, a neighbor had a plow on his truck. I had the JD. Which ever of us got out first would plow each other & neighbor's mailboxes & etc. But he moved out of town. Plowing a gravel drive is an art. My ex's brothers excavated in the summer, plowed in the winter... really had the skill. You can really mess up a gravel driveway with a JD! I'm a quick learner. I'm not up on Jeeps CJs & equivelents... but I'd like a dedicated plow Jeep. It would need to be on road just enough to keep the thing from rusting up the brakes. I had a used Suzuki that would have made a good plow vehicle if I could have kept a fan belt on it. Well, it's gone now, so too late. But it was a stick & I can't drive a stick because my left leg won't work a clutch... guess it doesn't matter.

Although these cold fronts block the entire GRILL AREA, there is still substantial openings in the bumper letting in fresh air. I've run mine to 60 degrees outside air temp with no problem, though I'm running light. The engine temp gets into the normal range quicker & just sits below the half way on the temp guage. Nice job, by the way. I'd thought about trying some aluminum flashing off a roll I have around, but I got to the plastic first.Russ

There are only a handful of houses. We have Management area across the street & behind us. No kids around... I think it is unwise to lock into the CTD... It's not set up with winter tires or a plow & besides the long stretches there are several in & outs that need doing. The ATV actually does plow it but it takes many passes. But it sure is maneuverable. I plowed for quite a few years with the JD... but often I am not able to get up on it. After years of fighting it, I admit I feel threatened by the likelyhood that I will need a wheelchair at least part time.

We are in a pretty rural area. Kids not around. Not likely to be interesting in shoveling 400 feet of driveway anyhow. This is last winter... second wrecker (first one broke an axle trying to get town truck back on the road). House is up this hill.

I had been plowing with my backhoe... but please recall my MS has gotten to the point where I can barely walk a few steps. My dear wifee wants no parts of plowing with the backhoe. I suggested putting a plow on my signature truck... long cab + long bed... It's not the most maneuverable in close spaces. She's did not like that idea either. To be honest, I'm not sure how long I'll be able to drive myself nor certainly how long to keep the CTD TRUCK. So she's plowing with an ATV we picked up. Bombadier 650 with a plow. It gets it done eventually BUT if it's cold, snowing, etc... it means fully suiting up. Said dear wifee is 65 yo. I am think of a Jeep type vehicle with a geated cab. I'd really like to be able to actually get into it. I really am not able to lift my left leg worth a darn. Is this making any sense? Thoughts?Russell

There are lots of places not to park your truck... or leave your wife in it! She jumped when the floorboards got wet! Guy had snuck into the Marina to use their ramp without paying, he was getting the boat... not quick enough! I was the diver who put the cable on it, rode the running boards coming out. It had been fully submerged in salt water. The jack-knifed trailer did not fare well either. We had the Marina next door... kept my gear in the office. Russ

Don't blame me, I didn't suggest shootin' it... I just suggested a larger caliber! BTW, What caliber is 1 1/4"? I've seen trucks with dangling testicles. I was thinking of suspending 2 large hex nuts fron my hitch. Russ

Ovaries? As in can't make up it's mind? Or it wants to have your babies? ROTFL! If you park it down range, we can use it for target practice. Yep, that thing sounds like a cannon! Russ

If I have to replace lines, I'd sure feel better about NEVER having to do so again.Russ

I've not tried this on cold fronts but cardboard I needed to keep intact... I used some spray coating on. Artists fixer. Spray laquer. Even spray paint. (NOT while installed in the grill, of course). I just happened to have some plastic materials left over from another project... originally bought at "Modern Plastics". If I was going to buy for this I'd have used a thicker material as what I have will sometimes buckle. As I recall a single sheet of plastic material was not all that much.Once you have used them, you'll wonder why you did not do it sooner. Russ

OK, it's was on my C30 454 built for towing. I caught 3 tailgaters on it & never got my tailgate dented. This photo was during a cab-off restoration... reassembly... Russ

My daily driver is 98 Cirus, signature TRUCK 01 Dodge CTD $X$ etc, Moma drives a Subaru Outback...

I had a customer that opened his door into traffic... 3 different vehicles... and each time a passing vehicle took it off... funny thing was he always claimed it was the other guy's fault. WTF? I'm not a big believer in coincidences...

64 Chrysler 300 68 Plymouth Roadrunner 383/335Dodge 1/2 ton slant 6, 4 sp stick, work truckAcme Marine Hoist, Dodge slant 6 repowered my 18' work boat with a 360 cid marine conversion (inboard) out of a Dodge Diplomat, Fresh water cooled80 Dodge Challenger (Jap built) 2.6, 4speed (nice car)2001 Dodge CTD 4X4 etc98 Chrysler Cirus (was my Mom's car)

Too cool! I need 10 characters to post this... OK Mike get in the front of the line.Russ