Putting a Chrysler Industrial Hemi in a 52 Dodge truck

Took another ride last night...everything's in good working order now.

During the teardown of the front brakes (and with Charlie's help) we confirmed that all the parts I have are correct. The spacers are installed correctly too.

I think there were a few things going on with my install.

1) My spindle might be a bit different...who knows for sure. I mean I have a 52 Dodge Truck with a 53 Title...so who knows what they did back then. Anyway...carefully grinding the lower portion of the spindle gave me some extra clearance. I now have about 5/32" of clearance and that seems to be enough.

2) When I put the nuts back on the spindle shaft, I was able to get an extra 1/8th turn on the nuts (so I had to drill them out for cotter pin holes). Maybe I didn't have the bearing properly seated the first time...it wouldn't be the first thing I goofed on.

3) Toe adjustment...some guys at the pilothouse forum have said that the toe out shouldn't matter...that it shouldn't pull the rotor in...but maybe with the combination of the above two things, having the toe out so much was pulling the tire in at the bottom...and that pulled the rotor with it.

I've been able to drive around now on a couple short trips (and even went through some roundabouts at speed) and everything looks good. No ugly gashes in my rotors and the wheels look right.

I must add that Charlie was great...we spoke on the phone a number of times (late at night) and he followed up with emails. The RustyHope.com kit is top notch and the follow-up service is even better. Great to be able to find a good guys out there who don't leave you hanging after the initial purchase.

 

Dan,

I really like this build. I especially like that you didn't do anything very radical. You updated the driveline while still staying traditional. Made it safe and highway friendly with a new rear and disc brakes, but basically you can still use it as a truck. I also like you kept the straight axle. Well done!

 

Dan,

What wheel/tire combo are you running?

Scott.

 

I'm running the original 16" wheels that came stock with the truck.

The tires are 215/85/16 Firestone HT radials. I think they're the size that you'd find on a modern dually pickup.

 

My engine has developed a wobble...the whole truck basically shakes.

It starts right up and runs good...it just has a rhythmic wobble.

My first thought is that the balancer moved. When I put it back on, it had a square key, so not sure how it would move. I put a timing light on it and it reads that the timing is more advanced than before. So either my timing is now off...or the balancer moved.

If it is the timing being too far advanced, would that cause the engine to wobble like this? Should I try to retard the timing a bit first?

This is going to suck...I don't think I have room to turn over the engine to check to see if the timing pointer at zero matches with cylinder one being at TDC....so I probably have to pull the whole front end off again (including the radiator).


This is a new phenomenon...I did sense a bit of a wobble last time I pulled it in the garage...but when I went to start it up last night to go for an ice cream run with my daughter, the whole cab was moving, so I turned it off.

 

Something that moves the cab that much is more than just a balancer...and yes, the outer ring can become loose, but.....
The other 'likely' suspect is the torque converter since it is a large hunk of rotating mass tied to the crank, but again, not much can go wrong between drives to the store.

So the engine starts ok, Idle ok? sound ok? Can you put your hand(s) on various components and 'feel' anything rhythmic?

This will be interesting.

Gary

 

It fires right up and runs well. I don't even have to crank it over much. One blip of the key and it's running.

No strange sounds or clanking.

I can visibly see the engine wobbling. It settles down if you rev the RPMs, but that's probably just because the wobble is faster.


I'll get under the truck during lunch and see if the converter is loose. Could something inside the converter go bad and cause it to be out of balance?

 

Could it be the tranny mount turned loose? Or does it seem internal?

 

Not likely to be the trans mount. Before I was road-worthy, I actually ran the engine before the trans mount was tightened up and it ran really smooth.

 

Ok.....

 

maybe pull the transmission, fire up the engine and see where the wobble went

 

Been reading online and it does seem like it could be the torque converter. I'm not looking forward to pulling the trans out now that I have everything installed. That's gonna suck.

As a distraction, I took some time to clean up the look of the interior by installing a floor mat.






I searched high & low for a plain rubber mat, but couldn't find anything that was wide enough and thinner than a pickup bed liner. While walking through Home Depot, I saw they had this 3'x5' door mat. It was around $17, so I figured I'd give it a shot. It cut easy enough with a utility knife and I think it looks ok for now.

 

welllll shucks that door mat looks awful nice, it oughta hold up well too. Them lap belts look like they came with the truck.

 

I like the look of that floor mat and for $17.00 you can just toss it in the trash once it's too dirty to hose off.

 

That mat does the trick, sorry about the Torque Converter, but you almost got it licked.

 

Took some time, but I got the transmission out of the truck last night.

Tonight, I fired up the engine (sans trans) and it started up and ran smooth. No wobble. I feel so much better now. At least I know I don't have to pull the front sheet metal off again to pull the engine.

The torque converter doesn't have any weights on it, but I can't say for sure that it ever did. I don't see any evidence of a weight being thrown (no evidence of a broken weld or missing paint spot). Not sure if there's a way to test a torque converter to see if it's balanced or working properly ( I called the machine shop that did my engine and he doesn't have a way to check or balance a torque converter).

I would like to know for sure where the problem was. Don't want to bolt it all back together and find out that it's something like the trans pump (or anything else).

 

Ya gotta love this project, that Pickup is "bitchin"

 

What's the history on the torque converter, flex plate and transmission? It almost sounds like you have a flex plate intended for an externally balanced engine.

 

Dan,
I sure am proud of you and that truck! You have done a great job. When you purchase a new flex plate and torque converter, just don't add the money to your original estimate. It will make you feel a whole lot better.
Smile.
Congrats....you are almost there!
George

 

I'm leaning in this direction also. Have you talked with the supplier ?

.

 

I would throw the torque converter back on the flexplate and check the runout with a dial indicator.

 

I would also carefully check the crank hub, crank hub adapter and any indexing pins to make sure nothing is munged up with any burrs, high spots etc. I would also check the run out on the crank hub extender when attached to the flex plate and torque converter assembly. Somethings not right in the crank adapter/torque converter/flex plate assembly.

 

The flexplate came from Wilcap with the adapter. It was specifically setup to put the TH350 behind the hemi. I don't know the specs, but will call Wilcap to make sure there isn't a specific torque converter I need to buy.

I don't believe this to be the problem though...the engine ran great for the first 15 miles or so...the problem is a new development.

The engine runs nice & smooth without the trans attached, but the flexplate mounted. If the flexplate were the issue...wouldn't it be off balance now?

 

Ok, that makes sense as long as everything is running true. It doesn't leave much left but the torque converter, unless you find some loose hardware or some misalignment of parts. I'm sure you will have this sorted out soon. This has been one of my favorite builds on the HAMB, so thanks for throwing it all up here for us to watch.

Scott.

 

Dan, did you figure it out? Is it all back together again?

 

Not yet...lot of business travel over the last week. Going to get back on it this weekend.

 

I'm ready to throw in the towel.

Got everything back together last night and it still seems out of balance.

I checked the crank hub and flexplate before reassembly and everything seems fine...nothing that would cause an out of balance.

I don't understand why it would feel smooth with the trans & converter off, but feel out of balance with it back on (a new converter too). If the out of balance is on the engine, would the extra weight of the converter magnify it?

As mentioned before, the engine ran smooth and the out of balance developed after a short time (only a few rides in the area...I think I've only got 14 miles on the ODO and it ran fine for 13 of them).

I'm at a loss on what to do.

 

I have seen a late 727 adapted to a 331 hemi where the transmission was not concentric to the crankshaft, probably off about .030"-.060". It was fine for a short while and then developed a vibration and a massive fluid leak. the front pump bushing was chewed out and the converter was flopping on the flexplate, eventually cracking the flex plate.

The only way we found to measure concentricity was with an empty trans case and a dial indicator on the end of the crank reading the ring where the front pump seals.

Sounds like you may have that issue going on here

My 2¢, sorry for your frustration but, you need to check all the basics to find this problem.

 

I hope that's not the case...I wouldn't even know where to start to try to figure out what you had to do.

If it matters, everything lined up perfectly when it was bolting back together. The converter slid right into the hole on the hub and the bolts all lined up. There's also no sign of any leaks on the pump (but it doesn't have a lot of miles on it).

 

You sure it's a 318/340 converter & not a 360?