Traveller Smurf (Cubey's '89 van)

[Cubey]

I finally got around to swapping out the 3/4" tube and fin cooler for the Hayden 779 1.5" plate style cooler. While also swapping out the incorrect 3/8" hose for the correct 5/16", i found this. The return hose from the cooler the the transmission was squashed between the skirt below the grill and the radiator support/front of the body. I doubt that was helping things. It probably squished more as it got hotter. I routed the 5/16" a different way so that it can't get squished like that.

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I was able to reuse 3 of the aluminum mounting bars I made, only having to drill the holes up to 1/4" and rearranging them. For the forth, I just connected two pieces together... an existing one and scrap leftover from making them, to make a longer piece. It's a bit crooked but I don't care how it looks. As long as it works and stays in place.

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[Cubey]

Added a sewer hose carrier, since I have the grey water tank that uses standard RV hoses. That was the easiest way to mount it. I can access both ends and it'll fit two shorter hoses, plus the angled end. I put flat aluminum bar under it, to help keep it from breaking from bouncing. It sticks out a little but the side mirrors stick out much further of course. It just required two 1/4" holes in the running board to mount it. It doesn't stand out too much, being black against the very dark blue.

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[IDIBRONCO]

It looks good. I had to look twice before I saw it.

 

[Cubey]

I finally installed the cheap digital vacuum gauge that I got a year ago. Engine off and booster vacuum consumed, it shows (positive) 6.

Engine on, it goes into negative numbers; being vacuum after all. Idling without pressing the brake, it reads about -25. Pressing the brake gives it a reading in the (negative) teens. I don't care how accurate the reading is per say, so much as a visual warning of a weakening or dead/non-op pump.

The "warning" display is useless, it always shows that. Unless it goes out at some greater vacuum than an IDI pump can give. (Edit: if it shows zero, a tiny red warning light comes on)

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[IDIBRONCO]

I don't care how accurate the reading is per say, so much as a visual warning of a weakening or dead/non-op pump.

That's the main thing. You'll learn to love it. I did mine and now it's a must have in any IDI powered vehicle along with a fuel pressure gauge. Early warnings are invaluable!

 

[Cubey]

That's the main thing. You'll learn to love it. I did mine and now it's a must have in any IDI powered vehicle along with a fuel pressure gauge. Early warnings are invaluable!

I had one on the RV too, but it was one of those awful backlight ones with a hard to see needle. I couldn't even see the gauge showing zero when two VPs failed despite looking at it occasionally because it was dim and the needle didn't stand out well. That's why I got a digital one this time. I will never buy gauges of that awful style again.

I have a cheap low pressure digital fuel pressure gauge I have not installed yet too, plus an in line fitting for the sender.

 

[Cubey]

I drove to town today for laundry/food one last time this season. I need to start heading back to Arkansas on Tuesday or Wednesday next week, so I can be there around March 1 at lastest to help out my mom due to ongoing eye problems she's having. That gives me lots of extra days to get there, in case I have a minor breakdown, as well as not feeling rushed in general.

The E4OD temperature stayed below 160 (about 150-155 tops?) the entire way to the laundromat, 55° temperature outside and windy. 55mph tops on the highways, a bit of stop and go in town. Sounds good to me.

Better to run a little cooler when not towing in warm winter than to be running hot in hot summer when towing.

Edit/updated: it got just about to 160 coming back, in heavy headwinds and slight uphill the 20 miles.

I'll have a good idea next week how the temperature runs when it'll be 75-80 degrees and I'll be pulling the cargo trailer full of stuff.

 

[IDIBRONCO]

I need to start heading back to Arkansas on Tuesday or Wednesday next week,

not feeling rushed in general.

Don't be in too big of a hurry. It's supposed to be pretty cold here for the next week or so. I supposed it'll be chilly farther south too.

 

[Cubey]

Don't be in too big of a hurry. It's supposed to be pretty cold here for the next week or so. I supposed it'll be chilly farther south too.

Once I enter Texas (a bit before, if I go by way of Roswell) I'll have access to free RV city parks with electric along the way. I have a tiny electric heater (350w?) that I can use at them. I have plenty of bedding too, including a cheap sleeping bag.

Not worried about the cold, as long as it's 25+. When I bought the RV in January 2019, I had to sleep in it the first night when it was 20-25 degrees without any working heat. I had my old early 90s sleeping bag i brought with me on the Greyhound bus and that was enough. It got thrown away finally a couple years ago because it was ripping to sheds from the nylon rotting away.

The one I have now, I bought after I flew to pick up the van in Colorado. Again I had no heat, and it's was pretty cold in Colorado in late September.

I do have a propane cook stove, so I can get some heat from that if needed when awake and monitoring it (sitting at the table across from it)

 

[IDIBRONCO]

I don't know what kind of weather Texas is in store for this time, but I do know that they've had some pretty cold temps in some of the past storms this winter. The heater will sure help. It's not a big heater, but it's not a big space inside the van either.

 

[Cubey]

I don't know what kind of weather Texas is in store for this time, but I do know that they've had some pretty cold temps in some of the past storms this winter. The heater will sure help. It's not a big heater, but it's not a big space inside the van either.

I can layer clothes too, if I am feeling that cold. Cold doesn't bother me too much though, unless it's combined with high winds blowing on me. I have a sweater and a coat for Lucy, but I doubt it'll be THAT cold. The dash heater works for heat when driving, if needed. I've been in snow of NW Texas before in the truck camper and RV. Of course, I had a Buddy heater. I left it permanently installed in the RV when I sold it, because it was plumbed into the big tank low pressure system, bypassing it's regulator.

Those are too big to haul around in the van. The "little buddy" is pretty big too and doesn't have a long enough run time for overnight use. It's not something I need often, so it's hard to justify having it take up space in such a small living space. I use my camp stove inside in the morning to boil water for coffee and oatmeal, so I get heat that way.

 

[Cubey]

I hit the road late this morning, heading back to Arkansas, pulling the cargo trailer. It was about a 75° day.

The bigger Hayden cooler is making more of a difference. It runs about 190° at 55. Runs about 195-205 at 65. That's with coolant gauge at 195-200 and EGT 600-700. Also that's with overdrive on. The highest EGT got was 800, trying 65 on a good sized hill just to see what the transmission temperature would do. It didn't seem to go crazy.

The biggest thing though is it'll actually go back down to 190 after 3-5 minutes of slowing down/down hill from 200+. I couldn't hardly cool down the transmission when still driving before, even without towing and the big 3/4" thick tube and fin cooler.

 

[Cant Write]

Overall are you glad you downsized from the RV to the Van?

 

[IDIBOBS]

I would not tow in od at all. The 4th gear does not spin the pump as fast and lower gears and can cause heat build up and low line pressure. Low line pressure causes wear on the torque converter and clutches. The original owners manuals for these truck said to turn off OD when hauling or pulling. A reputable trans shop even on a high end build will say the same thing. I don’t even tow in higher gears in a modern truck. Sometimes we just gotta slow down in these old rigs. 3rd gear 55mph is still moving pretty good. In most states back in the 80s and into the 90s max speed was 55 and towing speed was 45. Now many states max tow speed is still only 55

 

[Cubey]

I would not tow in od at all. The 4th gear does not spin the pump as fast and lower gears and can cause heat build up and low line pressure. Low line pressure causes wear on the torque converter and clutches. The original owners manuals for these truck said to turn off OD when hauling or pulling. A reputable trans shop even on a high end build will say the same thing. I don’t even tow in higher gears in a modern truck. Sometimes we just gotta slow down in these old rigs. 3rd gear 55mph is still moving pretty good. In most states back in the 80s and into the 90s max speed was 55 and towing speed was 45. Now many states max tow speed is still only 55

Thanks for your input. The only state I've been to with 55mph towing is California.

I turn off OD when merging on from a ramp, or going up a grade. I was going mostly 65-70 this afternoon between Texas Canyon rest area (I-10 Arizona) and San Simon rest area (same). It was hanging around 170-180 for the ~55 mile drive. It got to 190 finally just as I arrived.

I might as well just have C6 if I have to never use OD, because this van is always fairly loaded, and usually towing.

I don't recall if you know but this thing had the AC condenser (original tube/fin style) plumbed in as the transmission cooler, from a past owner. It was running 190-210 even with OD off and going 55-45mph because it just couldn't cool properly, it seemed. I was pulling a 64 VW bug but still.

First I tried a Chinese roughly 13x11x0.75" tube and fin cooler, instead of the AC condenser. Drove to Arizona in mid November, not towing, and the cooler still wasn't doing enough. Put a Hayden 779 (about 13x11x1.5", stacked plate) in place of the Chinese cooler, and now it seems manageable temperature wise.

I don't know if it's just because it's such a big van, or maybe that spin on filter mod someone did is causing problems, or what. I replaced the filter when I put the Chinese cooler. The filter is on the output side of the transmission, before the radiator.