zetan
09-11-2006, 04:14 PM
I bought the van last July for two purposes; haul the band around and get to burningman!
In the last year, I had the following done to the van:
replaced rear axle + diff
fixed oil cooler leak
new radiator hoses
new fuel filter
new air cleaner
replaced fuel lines
replaced left idler arm
rebuilt injection pump
rebuilt transmission
added an autometer tach
I towed a enclosed 10' trailer stuffed to the gills with camping gear, 4 people, 4 bikes on top, and the back of the van loaded up. We probably had 50 gallons of water between us (8.5lbs per gallon - 425lbs).
Most of the hills at 5 or 6% grades I had to downshift to 2nd, 35mph, 2000rpm all the way up. Usually at 1/2 temp, but reached 3/4 temp once and pulled over to cool off (kept it running, popped the hood).
Semis were passing me left and right. I did pass quite a few VW busses, though.
Quite a while ago in this forum someone wrote "in order to make real diesel power, you have to make black smoke." Well actually, black smoke = carbon buildup = heat = death. So I spent the whole trip watching my tailpipe in the side view mirror and backing off the throttle until it stopped gushing.
At night I coudln't see the smoke unless a car passed me illuminating the cloud of smoke I laid on the road behind me.
I took to letting off on the fuel until I felt a loss of power, then edging it up slightly. This little foot manuver took some getting used to but saved fuel on the way home.
Someone said I should get a cylinder head temp gauge - anyone done that?
On a flat highway, 75mph - 2000rpm in overdrive - was my top speed.
I drove the beans out of it, sometimes reaching 2400rpm in 3rd while passing people. Man what a racket the exhaust makes at that high RPM ( not a leak, just the ka-pow ka-pow ka-pow ).
I had the NP833 transmission rebuilt by my local diesel shop about a month before - 1 week for the rebuild - then 3 weeks for them to 'get it right.' (for free). Only several days after they fixed the last gear clash, vibration at clutch out idle, and scary noises did we leave. The tranny had NO problem whatsoever the whole trip. It drives so much better with a load than unloaded.
Headwinds on the way back crushed any power I had left - could hardly get 45mph in 3rd sometimes.
At one point the shifter stick got HOT - really hot to the touch. May have been the 100+ degree day, maybe the transmission working hard. I can't imagine the linkage could transmit that much heat, but maybe it did.
Is there ever a problem of manual trannies overheating like I hear the 700r4s do? Do I need to add a gauge?
We stopped in Lakeview, climbed a nasty gravel road to a cabin, and loaded up another 500lbs of water, then crawled the remaining 200 miles into Burningman.
We took a shortcut to skip Alturas up Fandago Pass - gravel road to the top, super steep switchbacks going down. 1st gear all the way, baby!
Engine braking was better than brakes on that downhill. CRAWL or die by falling several thousand feet.
With almost 1000lbs of water, getting started in 1st gear up a hill (rest stops, parking lots) I almost killed it several times.
Burningman wants you to drive 5mph to keep the dust down.
I discovered that after getting some momentum, idle speed 500rpm in 1st actually crawls at 5mph with all that weight. My 1st gear is too high due to the rear end to go that slow usually (tops out at 15mph).
My 'art' for the year consited of a bike trailer, 12amp hour battery, 50watt car stereo amp, and two JVC 3-way speakers running from an mp3 player of Tank & Airplane sounds captured in Belgium from a WWII tank re-enactment last year. Tons of fun biking around with diesel tank roars, dive bombing P-38s, and artillery explosions. Scared the crap out a few unsuspecting people and pissed of a tent full of girls doing Yoga.
You can listen here
http://www.skylab.org/~zetan/media/TankSounds/ (http://www.skylab.org/%7Ezetan/media/TankSounds/)
At the end of a GREAT week in the desert, lots of cars had dead batteries due to doors open & dome lights on. Not the van! Started up without hesitation. Not a drop of oil on the desert floor. Passed a LOT of tow trucks going in to get people. Not Me!
1359 miles, 99 gallons of diesel, 13.72mpg, $340.
Cheapest fuel was biodiesel at $3.29 in Portland, most expensive was $3.66 in Bly, OR.
The worst wreck I saw was a big diesel Ford pulling a trailer 5th wheel with a BOAT & TRAILER BEHIND THAT. That moron jackknifed on a downhill and ended all twisted up.
In retrospect, the 3.42 rear end I installed last year was a bit too weak for this towing adventure. I think a 3.73 or 4.11 is on the table for the next year so I can tow with a bit more power. I'd like to get my leaf springs beefed up next time too - the trailer & the van bed weight really crushed the rear end. I'm still not sure if the chassis/springs are 1/2 or 3/4 ton. The vin says G25, but 5 bolt axles?
Overall, traveling was a stress free event. Man I love driving this van!
My photos & videos are here - enjoy!
http://www.skylab.org/~zetan/media/bman2006/ (http://www.skylab.org/%7Ezetan/media/bman2006/)
http://www.skylab.org/%7Ezetan/media/bman2006/tn/DSCN0916.JPG
I realize this post is not about any 6.2 engine problems - but a 6.2 engine success story!:ro)
-Zetan
In the last year, I had the following done to the van:
replaced rear axle + diff
fixed oil cooler leak
new radiator hoses
new fuel filter
new air cleaner
replaced fuel lines
replaced left idler arm
rebuilt injection pump
rebuilt transmission
added an autometer tach
I towed a enclosed 10' trailer stuffed to the gills with camping gear, 4 people, 4 bikes on top, and the back of the van loaded up. We probably had 50 gallons of water between us (8.5lbs per gallon - 425lbs).
Most of the hills at 5 or 6% grades I had to downshift to 2nd, 35mph, 2000rpm all the way up. Usually at 1/2 temp, but reached 3/4 temp once and pulled over to cool off (kept it running, popped the hood).
Semis were passing me left and right. I did pass quite a few VW busses, though.
Quite a while ago in this forum someone wrote "in order to make real diesel power, you have to make black smoke." Well actually, black smoke = carbon buildup = heat = death. So I spent the whole trip watching my tailpipe in the side view mirror and backing off the throttle until it stopped gushing.
At night I coudln't see the smoke unless a car passed me illuminating the cloud of smoke I laid on the road behind me.
I took to letting off on the fuel until I felt a loss of power, then edging it up slightly. This little foot manuver took some getting used to but saved fuel on the way home.
Someone said I should get a cylinder head temp gauge - anyone done that?
On a flat highway, 75mph - 2000rpm in overdrive - was my top speed.
I drove the beans out of it, sometimes reaching 2400rpm in 3rd while passing people. Man what a racket the exhaust makes at that high RPM ( not a leak, just the ka-pow ka-pow ka-pow ).
I had the NP833 transmission rebuilt by my local diesel shop about a month before - 1 week for the rebuild - then 3 weeks for them to 'get it right.' (for free). Only several days after they fixed the last gear clash, vibration at clutch out idle, and scary noises did we leave. The tranny had NO problem whatsoever the whole trip. It drives so much better with a load than unloaded.
Headwinds on the way back crushed any power I had left - could hardly get 45mph in 3rd sometimes.
At one point the shifter stick got HOT - really hot to the touch. May have been the 100+ degree day, maybe the transmission working hard. I can't imagine the linkage could transmit that much heat, but maybe it did.
Is there ever a problem of manual trannies overheating like I hear the 700r4s do? Do I need to add a gauge?
We stopped in Lakeview, climbed a nasty gravel road to a cabin, and loaded up another 500lbs of water, then crawled the remaining 200 miles into Burningman.
We took a shortcut to skip Alturas up Fandago Pass - gravel road to the top, super steep switchbacks going down. 1st gear all the way, baby!
Engine braking was better than brakes on that downhill. CRAWL or die by falling several thousand feet.
With almost 1000lbs of water, getting started in 1st gear up a hill (rest stops, parking lots) I almost killed it several times.
Burningman wants you to drive 5mph to keep the dust down.
I discovered that after getting some momentum, idle speed 500rpm in 1st actually crawls at 5mph with all that weight. My 1st gear is too high due to the rear end to go that slow usually (tops out at 15mph).
My 'art' for the year consited of a bike trailer, 12amp hour battery, 50watt car stereo amp, and two JVC 3-way speakers running from an mp3 player of Tank & Airplane sounds captured in Belgium from a WWII tank re-enactment last year. Tons of fun biking around with diesel tank roars, dive bombing P-38s, and artillery explosions. Scared the crap out a few unsuspecting people and pissed of a tent full of girls doing Yoga.
You can listen here
http://www.skylab.org/~zetan/media/TankSounds/ (http://www.skylab.org/%7Ezetan/media/TankSounds/)
At the end of a GREAT week in the desert, lots of cars had dead batteries due to doors open & dome lights on. Not the van! Started up without hesitation. Not a drop of oil on the desert floor. Passed a LOT of tow trucks going in to get people. Not Me!
1359 miles, 99 gallons of diesel, 13.72mpg, $340.
Cheapest fuel was biodiesel at $3.29 in Portland, most expensive was $3.66 in Bly, OR.
The worst wreck I saw was a big diesel Ford pulling a trailer 5th wheel with a BOAT & TRAILER BEHIND THAT. That moron jackknifed on a downhill and ended all twisted up.
In retrospect, the 3.42 rear end I installed last year was a bit too weak for this towing adventure. I think a 3.73 or 4.11 is on the table for the next year so I can tow with a bit more power. I'd like to get my leaf springs beefed up next time too - the trailer & the van bed weight really crushed the rear end. I'm still not sure if the chassis/springs are 1/2 or 3/4 ton. The vin says G25, but 5 bolt axles?
Overall, traveling was a stress free event. Man I love driving this van!
My photos & videos are here - enjoy!
http://www.skylab.org/~zetan/media/bman2006/ (http://www.skylab.org/%7Ezetan/media/bman2006/)
http://www.skylab.org/%7Ezetan/media/bman2006/tn/DSCN0916.JPG
I realize this post is not about any 6.2 engine problems - but a 6.2 engine success story!:ro)
-Zetan