#6444884 - 07/06/12 11:07 PM
First race in the Lil' Red Express...
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UglyValiant
Post Master Sr
Registered: 10/09/02
Posts: 6364
Loc: Milwaukee, WI
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...was a failure
Against a healthy sounding 5.0 of the 87-93 vintage. To my annoyance (not that it matters), he had skinnies up front and Drag radials out back.
Was prepared for a race, and when it didn't seem to materialize, I just let off a touch and the truck barked it's tires into second (most 1-2 shifts result in a little bark)...which is when he got back on it. Caught me flat footed now, but I was hoping simply standing on it would get it to downshift and it didn't. The cool thing to me was even pulling from low rpm's, it was still "a race". Given a touch more time, I'd have run him down easily...though that would require me getting up into the 90's, toward the top of second and something I'd never do on such a busy public road.
Wife just laughed and laughed...got to love her...always rooting for the other guy
Still...this thing is too strong for the chassis. I need to rebuild the rear leaf springs so as to control the axle hop...even at 30mph, it'll light them off...which on less than perfect roads causes severe axle hop...enough to shake the truck violently enough to disconnect the speedo cable
Now, I am down to a short "to-do" list:
1. New Torque converter. The idiot that sold this truck to me said it was a TC that should stall at around 2600-2800rpm behind a healthy engine; without a tach, I had no way to verify...as strongly as it launched stock, I thought "hmmm---perhaps". Well, now with a healthier engine that needs to idle a bit higher, you can feel it struggle against the T/C at a stop, and of course, get on it and it's not as strong as it should be up till 15-20mph...then it'll light 'em off.
2. New headers. Bought used ones, got burned. Warped flanges means no about of putzing, no form of gaskets, no rtv, etc will fix this. Gonna buy expensive ones and have a pro do it...I'm figuring out though I do pretty good at this type of work, there are guys FAR more skilled at it than me...I'm happy to pay 'em.
3. Some sort of suspension aide for axle hop. It's *cool in it's own way* to get a truck to exhibit axle hop at decent speed....but it's already tiresome and if it keeps up, will break something. Problem is, there isn't a lot out there for axles mounted under the springs, and what's out there, I'm not a big fan of in the first place. Going to see if I can get a custom set-up of cal-tracs if new/rebuilt springs dont cure it.
Having done those three things, this thing will be nearly daily driver friendly, mid 12 second truck!
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1979 Dodge Lil' Red Express Truck 1989 Shelby CSX (#500/500) The most powerful production minivan money can buy.
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#6445002 - 07/07/12 01:20 AM
Re: First race in the Lil' Red Express...
[Re: UglyValiant]
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NVMYMPGZ
Sr Member
Registered: 05/10/11
Posts: 1058
Loc: White Plains, NY
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I like the sound of this. Post some pics!
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#6445107 - 07/07/12 07:59 AM
Re: First race in the Lil' Red Express...
[Re: NVMYMPGZ]
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scootergeek
Post Master Supreme
Registered: 07/24/00
Posts: 46248
Loc: East of St. Louis
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I like the sound of this. Post some pics!
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Still pissy after all these years...
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#6445117 - 07/07/12 08:33 AM
Re: First race in the Lil' Red Express...
[Re: scootergeek]
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UglyValiant
Post Master Sr
Registered: 10/09/02
Posts: 6364
Loc: Milwaukee, WI
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I like the sound of this. Post some pics!
Ask and you shall receive:
Engine: 408ci small block mopar, 10.5:1, fully ported edlebrock heads (from 2.02 valves to 2.08, flows 300+ cfm), roller cam, 228/236 W 109 LSA, eddy performer air-gap and holley 770 avenger...engine was put together to be very healthy yet streetable. Idles at 14" of vacuum, but a good lope (I need to get a good vid idling in gear...it's healthy).
I really need to get a new pic of the engine...done a ton to get it looking MUCH better, including removing the speed control (far side) to shortening the spark plug wires, new hoses (I was rushed to get it out of the HS shop, so rather than use good hoses, reused the ones it had originally), and of course, found a way to use the stock air cleaner assembly
The original exhaust ran outside the frame rails, but headers dump inside...came up with a novel approach to retain the stock placement of the smokestacks.Stock exhaust was 2.25 inches, crushed bent goodness...these are 3 inch mandrel bent up through the stacks.
Because the exhaust and fuel tank occupied much of the same area, I made the decision FOR NOW, to go with a fuel cell out back. Has it's own sort of "neat" look, but in the future I'll probably get a custom tank made to use the original fuel neck filler and still work with the custom exhaust.
_________________________
1979 Dodge Lil' Red Express Truck 1989 Shelby CSX (#500/500) The most powerful production minivan money can buy.
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#6445121 - 07/07/12 08:39 AM
Re: First race in the Lil' Red Express...
[Re: UglyValiant]
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schtickaz.ai
Post Master Supreme
Registered: 01/23/12
Posts: 34187
Loc: State, Country, etc.
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sick dude. btw why isn't that fuel cell off to the passenger side more? kinda blocks the bed no?
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general douchebaggery
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#6445542 - 07/07/12 03:00 PM
Re: First race in the Lil' Red Express...
[Re: scootergeek]
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UglyValiant
Post Master Sr
Registered: 10/09/02
Posts: 6364
Loc: Milwaukee, WI
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Fastest car in America 1979.
truth!
_________________________
1979 Dodge Lil' Red Express Truck 1989 Shelby CSX (#500/500) The most powerful production minivan money can buy.
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#6445571 - 07/07/12 03:32 PM
Re: First race in the Lil' Red Express...
[Re: UglyValiant]
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NVMYMPGZ
Sr Member
Registered: 05/10/11
Posts: 1058
Loc: White Plains, NY
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very cool
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#6446066 - 07/07/12 09:57 PM
Re: First race in the Lil' Red Express...
[Re: NVMYMPGZ]
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denham
Post Master Supreme
Registered: 04/20/03
Posts: 28051
Loc: Macungie
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call me for some turbos and juice!
_________________________
Mott - www.sloppymechanics.com "I'm gonna denmah my gf tonight." LNXGUY "Denmah has the most consistently entertaining posts of any member here" - Adam G "denmah: because canada can't be the only country with a moof" - jsmonet "LOL, you really are my hero denmah. You actually do the things the rest of us dream or bullshit about." - 98_1LE
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#6564281 - 09/03/12 01:46 PM
Re: First race in the Lil' Red Express...
[Re: ]
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denham
Post Master Supreme
Registered: 04/20/03
Posts: 28051
Loc: Macungie
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call me for some turbos and juice! What did you do with the parts from the turbo truck project?
we just piled it all up in the trunk of the ventura actually
_________________________
Mott - www.sloppymechanics.com "I'm gonna denmah my gf tonight." LNXGUY "Denmah has the most consistently entertaining posts of any member here" - Adam G "denmah: because canada can't be the only country with a moof" - jsmonet "LOL, you really are my hero denmah. You actually do the things the rest of us dream or bullshit about." - 98_1LE
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#6564642 - 09/03/12 07:54 PM
Re: First race in the Lil' Red Express...
[Re: denham]
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aerosaaber
Post Master Supreme
Registered: 06/29/02
Posts: 16004
Loc: Pittsfield, MA
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at least it's cleaner there than in the "engine clean room"
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2006 Subaru WRX Wagon (I'm back on boost!) 2001 Subaru Legacy Outback Wagon Limited (sold) 1994 Saab 9000 Aero (gone) http://www.saabrally.com
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#8978863 - 03/20/17 09:59 PM
Re: First race in the Lil' Red Express...
[Re: ]
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ypMs
Jr Poster
Registered: 03/20/17
Posts: 80
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