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Suggestions for conversion & economy
https://slantsix.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=58701		 Page 1 of 2
Author:  bashmaki [ Sun Nov 15, 2015 8:37 am ]
Post subject:  Suggestions for conversion & economy
I bought this old 84 Dodge pickup awhile back at an auction for 300.00. Long story short, I limped it home and got it starting and running under it's own power again. We've put about 1500 miles or so on it and the motor is sound (not surprisingly) so I'd like to removethe lean burn system from it.
I really don't have a lot of money to spend and need some suggestions for a carb. I was going to put a weber on it until I read thread that had a list as long as my arm of stuff needed to actually use a weber carb.

This is a 300.00 pickup that, most assuredly, will be out lasted by the motor. I just need to dothe conversion as cheaply as possible. There is a lot of good info. for doing a conversion cheaply except for carb info.

I have : 1984 Ram 150 with 225 and 4spd manual 3.54 axle ratio

I want: remove lean burn system
Economy
Moderate amount of power

This is a unit I'll drive to work once in awhile and pull a trailer occasionally. Getting from point A to B in a moderate amount of time economically is all I ask.

Thanks
Author:  xjarhead [ Sun Nov 15, 2015 8:58 am ]
Post subject: 
Here is how I did HEI conversion and the distributor i used on my 86 http://1drv.ms/1DSutGA
Disrtibutor recurve is great for more power http://www.slantsix.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=46266

Dave
Author:  bashmaki [ Sun Nov 15, 2015 11:19 am ]
Post subject: 
Dave,
I was able to pull up the link but unable to open the links within that article. I'll probably use the HEI instructions found here anyway.

http://www.slantsix.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=15779

Right now what I'm concerned with is the purchase of a carburetor that will make this conversion both economical and effective. I'm looking for suggestions on a carb that is as close to plug and play as possible or for a single barrel intake. If I have to buy an adapter- so be it- but the simpler the better.

Thanks, Gus
Author:  Reed [ Sun Nov 15, 2015 12:52 pm ]
Post subject: 
The closest carb you could get for a "plug and play" would be a Holley 1945 from a late 70s or early 80s slant six. Just make sure it isn't a lean burn carburetor.

Does the truck have any options like air conditioning, or does it have any solenoids on the carb? Idle stop solenoid? Bowl vent solenoid?

I might have a Holley 1945 that could work.
Author:  emsvitil [ Sun Nov 15, 2015 1:36 pm ]
Post subject: 
Depending on where you live, you may have to take into consideration smog.............
Author:  bashmaki [ Sun Nov 15, 2015 2:49 pm ]
Post subject: 
Quote:
The closest carb you could get for a "plug and play" would be a Holley 1945 from a late 70s or early 80s slant six. Just make sure it isn't a lean burn carburetor.

I already have a lean burn carb. Not sure I want another.
Quote:
Does the truck have any options like air conditioning, or does it have any solenoids on the carb? Idle stop solenoid? Bowl vent solenoid?
There is an idle stop solenoid. No appointments; no air, FM radio. Bare bones just the way.
I like my pickups.

I'm not opposed to spending money on a carb. I just don't want a long list of stuff to change just to make it work. So if a Holley 1945 will net me some good mileage with a reasonable amount of power I'm all ears; as the saying goes.

I actually got it running pretty well on the lean burn system. The vacuum lines were a mess when I got it and it would barely pull itself. After about 3 tries with the vacuum lines and a timing light; I think I got it fairly close to where it should be. It starts hard but runs good. Cold starts are a bear. Once it's warmed up it starts good the whole day. It is almost like loses its prime. You gotta pump your @$$ off.

After all this messing around I'm ready to give the conversion a go.

If you've got a carb I can use; I'm all over it. PM me with a price if you've got one that will net me some decent mileage.

Ed,
I'm in South Dakota. No smog here. In the air or on the books :)
Author:  bashmaki [ Sun Nov 15, 2015 3:18 pm ]
Post subject: 
Dave,
I was able to pull up the link but unable to open the links within that article. I'll probably use the HEI instructions found here anyway.

http://www.slantsix.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=15779

Right now what I'm concerned with is the purchase of a carburetor that will make this conversion both economical and effective. I'm looking for suggestions on a carb that is as close to plug and play as possible or for a single barrel intake. If I have to buy an adapter- so be it- but the simpler the better.

Thanks, Gus
Author:  Reed [ Sun Nov 15, 2015 3:43 pm ]
Post subject: 
Just because a carb is a Holley 1945 does not mean it is a lean burn carburetor.

I have several non-lean burn Holley 1945s which is the carburetor that was put on the slant six in the 1980s when it did not have the lean burn Holley 6145.

I ask again- do you have air conditioning that requires a idle stop solenoid?
Author:  xjarhead [ Sun Nov 15, 2015 4:11 pm ]
Post subject: 
Quote:
Dave,
I was able to pull up the link but unable to open the links within that article. I'll probably use the HEI instructions found here anyway.

http://www.slantsix.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=15779

Right now what I'm concerned with is the purchase of a carburetor that will make this conversion both economical and effective. I'm looking for suggestions on a carb that is as close to plug and play as possible or for a single barrel intake. If I have to buy an adapter- so be it- but the simpler the better.

Thanks, Gus
I too followed the instructions in that post to wire the HEI module.
I realized all the wires in needed, including the ground, were all going to the computer.
So i gutted the computer and mounted it in there to make it appear as stock as possible.
Try coping and pasting the links in your browser and see if you can view them that way.

Dave
Author:  bashmaki [ Sun Nov 15, 2015 6:55 pm ]
Post subject: 
Quote:
Just because a carb is a Holley 1945 does not mean it is a lean burn carburetor.

I have several non-lean burn Holley 1945s which is the carburetor that was put on the slant six in the 1980s when it did not have the lean burn Holley 6145.

I ask again- do you have air conditioning that requires a idle stop solenoid?
And I say again-- no air but there IS an idle stop solenoid. This pickup came without AC.
I don't recall saying I had a Holley 1945 but it could be; I don't know. I DO know that it is a lean burn carb tho. I guess the reason I think it is a lean burn carb is because all vacuum ports have steady vacuum measured on a meter.

This pickup is pretty much unmolested other than it has the wrong air breather on it. I'm assuming the computer went bad and they found another breather with a computer attached and just put it on.

I say this because in order to hook up the hose from the breather to the valve cover; the breather is on the carb backwards. I think it'sfrom a 318 or 360. Not sure which. It does seem to hhave at least some limited usefulness. I could tell from my experimenting with the vacuum lines that were broken off.
This is an old farm field truck. I had to blow the dirt from the cab before I could clean it.
Author:  bashmaki [ Sun Nov 15, 2015 6:56 pm ]
Post subject: 
Dave, I'll try pasting the links thanks.
Author:  Reed [ Sun Nov 15, 2015 7:08 pm ]
Post subject: 
OK. I will see if I have any carbs that are in decent shape and might work for you.
Author:  coconuteater64 [ Sun Nov 15, 2015 7:58 pm ]
Post subject: 
I have a truck that had those exact specifications and a failing Lean Bum system when I got it. What I did was gather up all the parts and in one weekend had the conversion completed. My Lean Bum computer was on the air cleaner but I've also seen them on the fender. Any way, all the wires you'll need for the HEI conversion are right there for the existing ignition box, so it's just a simple matter of cut, crimp, and solder. Make sure you use the heat transfer grease on the new module. I used the module for a 1981 Firebird because I had one NOS in the box. Pretty much any of the four pin modules will work. Junkyards are full of spares for cheap.

I used a Holley 1945 carburetor for a while, until I found a Holley 1920 that was in decent shape. The 1945 I had was junk and leaked air around the throttle shaft, so watch out for that. I also hollowed out the catalytic converters because they were clogged up anyway and that really woke the engine up.

Don't be intimidated by the Weber carb though; I've worked on them for other people and with a little learning they are not too difficult to dial in. IMHO it's the best carb out there for a little bump in power and a sizeable bump in fuel economy over the factory 1 bbl.

Of course, this is a good opportunity to upgrade to a Super Six setup.
Author:  Reed [ Sun Nov 15, 2015 8:28 pm ]
Post subject: 
Quote:
Don't be intimidated by the Weber carb though; I've worked on them for other people and with a little learning they are not too difficult to dial in. IMHO it's the best carb out there for a little bump in power and a sizeable bump in fuel economy over the factory 1 bbl.
Except the Weber doesn't have provisions for the right vacuum signal for Mopar vacuum advance on the distributor.
Author:  bashmaki [ Sun Nov 15, 2015 9:14 pm ]
Post subject: 
Quote:
Quote:

This is exactly what I was talking about. I would love to run out and buy a Weber; just for the economy (I'm a mpg weanie; I confess) but the vacuum thing has me scared off. I love simple.
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