A few questions

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SFROMAN

SFROMAN

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Jun 30, 2009
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I am having a few issues with my 40 and was wandering if any of you guys can answer a few questions for me or point me in the direction of someone who can.

The 40 has three main issues.
1. brakes suck
2. power steering sucks
3. manual tranny sucks

1. I have disc brake conversion up front but still cant get the truck to stop when I get it up to speed. I think it has to do with my master cylinder. Can I maybe install a newer master cylinder? Power brakes MC? All the lines from my power steering pump feed into it. Which leads me two problem number 2

2. I have the saginaw conversion. The steering is fine as long as I am in 2 wheel drive. I think the fluid is overheating. Can I add a cooler in the line? Can I add another reservoir (More fluid will aid in keeping it cool?)? You guys think that its causeing the brakes to fail?

3. Then there is the issue with not being able to go higher than 45 MPH without getting up to 3000 RPM. I know that its normal for guys with SM420 trannies to be able to go up to 65 to 75 MPH from what I have read on MUD. It got alot better when I installed a new throttle cable this past weekend but its still not quite acting right. I still cant really test it fully because Im afraid of the brakes.

The thing is that is bothering me the most is that every day I read about how satisfied guys are with the exact same set up that I have.
Any info, comments, feed back would be greatly appreciated.

Here are a few pics of my MC and my steering pump set up




Thanks in advance
DEL
 
Del thats a very interesting master cylinder/power steering setup, mainly because those units use two different fluids, well at least most do.

Where is the resovoir for the power steering fluid?
 
I'm far from any kind of expert, only really working on mine.

With that said, I don't like what I see. I had to change my master cylinder when I did my disc conversion and it looks nothing like that. I'm sure it will make sense to some of the experts here but I'm confused as to why it was done that way. Sorry I couldn't be of any help...
 
This three pics encompass the whole system to include the pics I posted previously




I am going to start a thread on the 40 section of Mud to see what people think as well.

Thanks
DEL
 
Some other concerns to verify:

-Gear ratio in axles ( you may already know this)
-Fluid level in tranny, I know Ramon had some issues with low tranny levels.
-Again not fimiliar with that style brake master but wheres the brake booster?

I know on one of my previous builds I had breaking issues but that was due to fluid expansion in the lines coming off the master cylinder-they were very close to the fenderwell headers I had and we creating that said heat expansion to the fluid. I say this cause I noticed the 350 valve covers in the photo.
 
Alright further research explains the setup, you have a hydroboost brake master cylinder setup here's some additional info:

Google Image Result for http://i698.photobucket.com/albums/vv349/sleeksilverado/DSCF2334.jpg

Make sure the vaccum lines are connected this could be your problem, if you've ever left the vaccum off the brakes then you would know what this feels like, which brings up another point, if vaccum is the issue it would effect both steering and brakes possibly.....TWO OF YOUR ISSUES.
 
"Make sure the vaccum lines are connected this could be your problem, if you've ever left the vaccum off the brakes then you would know what this feels like, which brings up another point, if vaccum is the issue it would effect both steering and brakes possibly.....TWO OF YOUR ISSUES. "

Vacuum lines to what? Which reminds me. I am also having issues with the vacuum engagement of the transfer case. Could all three issues be related? Or is the transfercase vacuum totaly seperate?

Thanks for the link Greg. From what I read on the link. Those guys love the setup.
 
one line should come from the intake under the carb, if I remember correctly in the back of the intake.

Rereading that they say to cap the line on the hydroboost. I am going to read some more up on this setup on various sources. I am not to familiar with it but thats one way to learn. I wonder also if you could have air in the lines. Is this truck disc all around? I would assume from the wilwood proportioning valve.
 
So am I crazy (don't answer), or is the PS pump being utilized to pressurize the brakes? I have never seen that before, but the T on the HP line with one line headed back to the firewall....

Del, first things first, brakes!!! If you get that fixed, given what I think I am seeing here, I believe you may correct some other issues in the process. Wish I knew more about this type of setup to help, but I just don't!

Keep us posted.

:beer: R
 
I don't have a clue what's going on under the hood of that 2500......

































But I REALLY like it!!!!

:beer: R
 
disk front and drum rear.
So maybe a new cooler in front of the radiator and synthetic power steering fluid will solve the problem?
I should probably start there and go from there.
If that doesnt solve it then I will replace the hydroboost and pump.
 
He Del,

You have a Hydroboost set up there on your brakes and steering. I see them all the time. Diesels go 50/50 on that set up. My old MBs/and my F-250 utilize a vacume pump. The GMs and Cummins and most others use a hydroboost set up.

I think this could potentially solve two of your problems....brakes and steering. They hyrdroboost builds its pressure off of the the powersteering pump. You pump would be the first place to look. Is your belt slipping, is it low on fluid, have a clogged filter, does it need to be rebuilt all together? If it is not pushing out enough pressure you will have hard brakes..but some of my old cars like my powerwagon didn't have any powerbrakes and besides a big right thigh this should not necessarily effect your braking performance.

This will also effect your steering. But I presume the real problem with your steering is that you have a locker in your front. I remember from the trails and looking in the mirror and no slippage what so ever. Combine a locker with a week power steering pump that is also acting as your hydroboost and you will feel like you are strong arming the entire thing when you are only in 4WD as you mentioned.

I can come over and take a look. I need to take that thing for a test drive.

As for your speed problem I'm not sure. I know we talked about gears but you have one hell of a rubber overdrive. I'm starting to think you have a fuel delevery problem. Be it either not enough fuel from the pump or your throttle linkage isn't giving you full throttle.
 
I think Jason really needs to look at it. I have not really messed with this set up either and have had it under my hood for 11 years now in my 3500. Had it in the military also but again did not really mess with it. As everyone else has said i think if you get the main issue fixed the rest will fall into place.
 
Sorry to bring this back up but I was away for work.
I am debating selling the 40 or trading it but in the meantime would like to get the little issues fixed. That Way if it dont sell I can at least enjoy the thing.
So does anyone know a shop or person that can do the type of work that I need done, Preferably within the state but I suppose I cant be to picky.

The things I need done are
1. Convert the TC vacuum lines to a manual shifter
2. Convert the current brake set up to power brakes
3. Diagnose the power steering and fix if need be.

Thanks
 
Del like I mentioned and several others have-I think once you fix the brake issues you will find you have solved the power steering issues.
 
Yeah I wont have the time in the near future to even begin to try to figure out the exact problems. I am off to sage in about 10 days and would just prefer to drop it off with a reputable shop that knows cruisers and have the issues fixed.

By the time I get back in January I would just like to pick up the 40 and head out west with it for about a month or so.
 
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The problem here is that a cruiser shop might not know how to mess with the set up you have because it is not a common one for cruisers. I would even be willing to look at it if you wanted to bring it here.
 
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