xchawk wrote:
Hmmm still overheating slightly pulling hills and head winds. As soon as I slow down it cools right down to 170. Only thing left to check is the Fan clutch or replace the radiator. Does anyone know how to check the fan clutch or lock it up so I can make sure. And by the way while searching parts I've discovered that instead of the 360 I thought I had, in order to get the right parts I need to request parts for a 400.
Keith
Hmmm still overheating slightly pulling hills and head winds. As soon as I slow down it cools right down to 170. Only thing left to check is the Fan clutch or replace the radiator. Does anyone know how to check the fan clutch or lock it up so I can make sure. And by the way while searching parts I've discovered that instead of the 360 I thought I had, in order to get the right parts I need to request parts for a 400.
Keith
when you say over heating is the coolant boiling out of the radiator or is the temp just increasing to the top end of the gauge?
are you pulling anything when overheating and what is the outside temperature when this occurs?
what parts are you having to get that that fit the 400? are you sure of the engine you have? small blocks have the distributor in the rear of the engine while the big blocks are in the front.
I just inspect the clutch fan for leakage in the front area of the clutch. the fan should turn with some restriction when cool and when warm should turn a bit harder. I don't know of any way to accurately test the clutch on the fan. I have seen a guy drill and put a bolt right thru the clutch to lock it up but I sure wouldn't recommend doing that. it also make quite a roar with the thing locked up like that.
Rodney
Rodney
Visit my website
1978 American Clipper 21 ft. 440 Dodge.
Mr.Mopar! wrote:
when you say over heating is the coolant boiling out of the radiator or is the temp just increasing to the top end of the gauge?
are you pulling anything when overheating and what is the outside temperature when this occurs?
what parts are you having to get that that fit the 400? are you sure of the engine you have? small blocks have the distributor in the rear of the engine while the big blocks are in the front.
I just inspect the clutch fan for leakage in the front area of the clutch. the fan should turn with some restriction when cool and when warm should turn a bit harder. I don't know of any way to accurately test the clutch on the fan. I have seen a guy drill and put a bolt right thru the clutch to lock it up but I sure wouldn't recommend doing that. it also make quite a roar with the thing locked up like that.
Rodney
xchawk wrote:
Hmmm still overheating slightly pulling hills and head winds. As soon as I slow down it cools right down to 170. Only thing left to check is the Fan clutch or replace the radiator. Does anyone know how to check the fan clutch or lock it up so I can make sure. And by the way while searching parts I've discovered that instead of the 360 I thought I had, in order to get the right parts I need to request parts for a 400.
Keith
Hmmm still overheating slightly pulling hills and head winds. As soon as I slow down it cools right down to 170. Only thing left to check is the Fan clutch or replace the radiator. Does anyone know how to check the fan clutch or lock it up so I can make sure. And by the way while searching parts I've discovered that instead of the 360 I thought I had, in order to get the right parts I need to request parts for a 400.
Keith
when you say over heating is the coolant boiling out of the radiator or is the temp just increasing to the top end of the gauge?
are you pulling anything when overheating and what is the outside temperature when this occurs?
what parts are you having to get that that fit the 400? are you sure of the engine you have? small blocks have the distributor in the rear of the engine while the big blocks are in the front.
I just inspect the clutch fan for leakage in the front area of the clutch. the fan should turn with some restriction when cool and when warm should turn a bit harder. I don't know of any way to accurately test the clutch on the fan. I have seen a guy drill and put a bolt right thru the clutch to lock it up but I sure wouldn't recommend doing that. it also make quite a roar with the thing locked up like that.
Rodney
The parts I needed were gaskets, and the distributor is in the front of the engine so it must be a 400. Doesn't or hasn't boiled over yet, Pulling a 16x8' trailer and the hotter it is outside the hotter it runs. "gauge climbs in upwards of 220 when normally down around 170 to 180 degrees on the gauge. Hill's, Head winds and trying to drive faster then 60mph all cause the gauge to climb. When I slow down it cools right off.
Thanks
you might try and retard the timing a few degrees. check the spark plugs for correct heat range and take a good look at them that they are burning correctly, might be running a little lean as well, check the intake manifold bolts for correct tourque and the bolts on the flange of the carb and that the air cleaner is clean. other that that you may need to upgrade to a larger radiator.
Mr.Mopar! wrote:
I would guess you have a 440 engine there. That's a good thing.
you might try and retard the timing a few degrees. check the spark plugs for correct heat range and take a good look at them that they are burning correctly, might be running a little lean as well, check the intake manifold bolts for correct tourque and the bolts on the flange of the carb and that the air cleaner is clean. other that that you may need to upgrade to a larger radiator.
I would guess you have a 440 engine there. That's a good thing.
you might try and retard the timing a few degrees. check the spark plugs for correct heat range and take a good look at them that they are burning correctly, might be running a little lean as well, check the intake manifold bolts for correct tourque and the bolts on the flange of the carb and that the air cleaner is clean. other that that you may need to upgrade to a larger radiator.
So it's a 440 and not a 400? the parts store keeps saying 400 so is there a difference? The Air cleaner is clean, I'll check the plugs and timming before the next trip.
Thanks
Keith
the difference between the 400 and 440, the stroke is more, 3/16 I think?
both are great engines but I would what a 440 I a motor home.
xchawk wrote:
So it's a 440 and not a 400? the parts store keeps saying 400 so is there a difference? The Air cleaner is clean, I'll check the plugs and timming before the next trip.
Thanks
Keith
Mr.Mopar! wrote:
I would guess you have a 440 engine there. That's a good thing.
you might try and retard the timing a few degrees. check the spark plugs for correct heat range and take a good look at them that they are burning correctly, might be running a little lean as well, check the intake manifold bolts for correct tourque and the bolts on the flange of the carb and that the air cleaner is clean. other that that you may need to upgrade to a larger radiator.
I would guess you have a 440 engine there. That's a good thing.
you might try and retard the timing a few degrees. check the spark plugs for correct heat range and take a good look at them that they are burning correctly, might be running a little lean as well, check the intake manifold bolts for correct tourque and the bolts on the flange of the carb and that the air cleaner is clean. other that that you may need to upgrade to a larger radiator.
So it's a 440 and not a 400? the parts store keeps saying 400 so is there a difference? The Air cleaner is clean, I'll check the plugs and timming before the next trip.
Thanks
Keith
Only sure way to know is to check the numbers stamped in the block...usually coated in harden grease and dirt (known technically as gunk). Second best way is to look at the manufacturers plate...assuming a previous owner didn't swap engines, which is unusual in motorhomes. It's also possible to decode the serial number, which usually has the original engine encoded...I don't have the decode charts handy but I'll try to look them up.
1970 Explorer Class A on a 1969 Dodge M300 chassis with 318 cu. in. (split year)
1972 Executive Class A on a Dodge M375 chassis with 413 cu. in.
1973 Explorer Class A on a Dodge RM350 (R4) chassis with 318 engine & tranny from 1970 Explorer Class A
Back around page 24 of this thread, you said your MH was a 1978. If so, look at the the 4th or 5th number of your serial number. (Some Dodges in that era had a single letter model identifier at the beginning of the serial number...others had two letter model identifiers, thereby pushing everything else to the right.)
A - 440-3
D - 440-1
J - 400-1
R - 413-3
My guess is you'll find an A or R...most motorhomes had the -3 engines.
BTW - The 5th or 6th digit should be a 7 or 8, for the year. (Your motorhome maybe a '78 built on a -77 chassis.) The third or fourth digit should be a K or C, which designates the GVW.
If none of the above fits, let me know and we'll try harder to figure it out.
btw the boss on the 440 is where informaion was stamped when the engine was built along with the stamp 440. also as Griff said on the side of the block looking from under the vehicle will be the cast in large numbers the size of the block. and the date to.
Griff in Fairbanks wrote:
xchawk:
Back around page 24 of this thread, you said your MH was a 1978. If so, look at the the 4th or 5th number of your serial number. (Some Dodges in that era had a single letter model identifier at the beginning of the serial number...others had two letter model identifiers, thereby pushing everything else to the right.)
A - 440-3
D - 440-1
J - 400-1
R - 413-3
My guess is you'll find an A or R...most motorhomes had the -3 engines.
BTW - The 5th or 6th digit should be a 7 or 8, for the year. (Your motorhome maybe a '78 built on a -77 chassis.) The third or fourth digit should be a K or C, which designates the GVW.
If none of the above fits, let me know and we'll try harder to figure it out.
xchawk:
Back around page 24 of this thread, you said your MH was a 1978. If so, look at the the 4th or 5th number of your serial number. (Some Dodges in that era had a single letter model identifier at the beginning of the serial number...others had two letter model identifiers, thereby pushing everything else to the right.)
A - 440-3
D - 440-1
J - 400-1
R - 413-3
My guess is you'll find an A or R...most motorhomes had the -3 engines.
BTW - The 5th or 6th digit should be a 7 or 8, for the year. (Your motorhome maybe a '78 built on a -77 chassis.) The third or fourth digit should be a K or C, which designates the GVW.
If none of the above fits, let me know and we'll try harder to figure it out.
Thanks for the information. the 5th letter in is a J and I found a universal tag on the valve cover with a punch mark through the 400-1. So I believe it is a 400. The 6th digit is a 7 so again it must be as you said a 77 chassis. Now I'm hoping that a 400 makes a good long lasting motor for a motohome. 55,000 miles and going strong, just get it to run a little cooler on the highway and all should be great.
Griff in Fairbanks wrote:
xchawk wrote:
Intake was tight, but carb bolts were very loose. Still checking plugs. I'll let you know after my next trip if this helped.
Thanks
Mr.Mopar! wrote:
I would guess you have a 440 engine there. That's a good thing.
you might try and retard the timing a few degrees. check the spark plugs for correct heat range and take a good look at them that they are burning correctly, might be running a little lean as well, check the intake manifold bolts for correct tourque and the bolts on the flange of the carb and that the air cleaner is clean. other that that you may need to upgrade to a larger radiator.
I would guess you have a 440 engine there. That's a good thing.
you might try and retard the timing a few degrees. check the spark plugs for correct heat range and take a good look at them that they are burning correctly, might be running a little lean as well, check the intake manifold bolts for correct tourque and the bolts on the flange of the carb and that the air cleaner is clean. other that that you may need to upgrade to a larger radiator.
Intake was tight, but carb bolts were very loose. Still checking plugs. I'll let you know after my next trip if this helped.
Thanks