Overdrive swap finally in gear
B. Sitton
Posted 2016-11-26 9:21 AM (#4163)
Subject: Overdrive swap finally in gear


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Location: Ignacio Colorado
Years of talk and preparation coming to a head. #902 has been backed into the shop and engine and transmission are removed. The 440 is getting the 413HT camshaft (.366" valve lift) and a 2 barrel intake manifold from a 1959-60 Chrysler 383. The modified 46RH overdrive transmission will be bolted on and then the shoehorn comes out. The assembly is 1&5/8" longer than the stock setup. Half an inch of that is the adapter plate that bolts the small block 46RH case to the big block. Looked into a couple of ways to make that space. One is to move the differential forward a couple of inches. I plan to go back the 1&5/8" with the engine.
Changing to an oil pan from a 1969-71 or so high performance 383/440 with same capacity and center sump. The front of the pan is very shallow and will clear the K frame. Engine mount perches will be moved towards rear of coach and welded back into place, after driveshaft alignment is worked out. Have to build or remodel existing transmission cross member.
Short car/truck type water pump will keep the fan where it belongs. Lou has a fan spacer/adapter that came with a marine pump that is the right thickness and has the big pilot for the original fan. May have to run the short oil filter or install the dual remote oil filter setup that I took off of #412.
Hopefully have it going before Christmas. Will try to post pics when it gets interesting.
Bill
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jevans
Posted 2016-11-26 3:47 PM (#4164 - in reply to #4163)
Subject: Re: Overdrive swap finally in gear



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Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado
we await with bad breath. Did you want ONE more FMC to experiment on? #110 is still for sale ;-). Belated happy turkey day, and keep the dirty side down.
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LCAC_Man
Posted 2016-11-26 5:57 PM (#4165 - in reply to #4164)
Subject: Re: Overdrive swap finally in gear


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I've heard a couple mention moving the differential forward to create clearance, I looked at what that would take and didn't care for the additional/increase in angle of the output shafts to the swing arms/hubs...not to mention the actual work required to remove the diff, and machine/bore new mounting holes in those 1" thick mounting bars..
I think you picked the smarter option..
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B. Sitton
Posted 2016-12-09 11:01 AM (#4205 - in reply to #4163)
Subject: Re: Overdrive swap finally in gear


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Location: Ignacio Colorado
Progress pictures in overdrive album. In stock location for first fitting. If it clears the floor I may go forward with differential.
Bill
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LCAC_Man
Posted 2016-12-09 3:26 PM (#4206 - in reply to #4205)
Subject: Re: Overdrive swap finally in gear


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Location: Oceanside, CA
How is the rear output seal incorporated? Couldn't tell from the pic's.
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B. Sitton
Posted 2016-12-09 6:57 PM (#4207 - in reply to #4206)
Subject: Re: Overdrive swap finally in gear


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Location: Ignacio Colorado
Used a seal that matched original park brake hub on I.D. And the overdrive housing to transfer case input gear seal for the O.D.
Bill
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LCAC_Man
Posted 2016-12-10 7:42 AM (#4208 - in reply to #4207)
Subject: Re: Overdrive swap finally in gear


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Gotcha, those rear flanges can be a bear to get sealed and leak free, I know on both my international scouts(had 727's) that connection to the transfer case was always a PITA to keep dry.
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B. Sitton
Posted 2017-03-02 7:49 AM (#4419 - in reply to #4163)
Subject: Re: Overdrive swap finally in gear


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Location: Ignacio Colorado
Will winter never end? Changed plan and moved the differential 2 inches forward. Just bolted it back into the coach yesterday. Also changed the heads on the 440 to closed chamber heads from the mid 60's to increase compression ratio to close to 9:1. These heads also have smaller exhaust valves. This change was to mimic the use of the 361/413HT heads as far as compression is concerned. Not a long term investment but the data will be useful. More to come soon.
Bill
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LCAC_Man
Posted 2017-05-03 7:09 AM (#4564 - in reply to #4163)
Subject: Re: Overdrive swap finally in gear


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Alright Bill, it's been 2 months since a progress report...tell us what's going on...you out burning up the local roads?
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B. Sitton
Posted 2017-05-03 7:48 AM (#4565 - in reply to #4564)
Subject: Re: Overdrive swap finally in gear


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Location: Ignacio Colorado
I bolted the exhaust system on yesterday!
I lost both my parents this winter 50 days apart. That will put your world into a spin. Started this project mid November then Mom passed November 30th. Married for 64 years it was no surprise that Dad followed swiftly. Working to get there house on the market before summer. Nice place within a mile of Navajo lake here in southwest Colorado if you know anyone looking to move to Colorado. I can toss in a pontoon boat to get the fishing started. Some of the club was at a rally at Navajo lake about 10 years ago and got a ride on the pontoon.
Hope to get back to full speed ahead with the coach. Fear not as I picked up coach #547 during this ordeal so we won't miss the chicken fry camp fest Mother's Day weekend in an FMC. Actually I have plenty of backup now owning 6 FMC coaches.
Bill
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LCAC_Man
Posted 2017-05-03 8:24 AM (#4566 - in reply to #4163)
Subject: Re: Overdrive swap finally in gear


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Sorry to hear of your family losses. Glad you're making forward progress again!
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B. Sitton
Posted 2017-08-03 9:10 AM (#4838 - in reply to #4163)
Subject: Re: Overdrive swap finally in gear


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Location: Ignacio Colorado
So #902 is rolling and out of the shop. Still at a snails pace. A couple trips down the driveway and back so far. It's a mile long driveway with lots of up and down along the way. I am pleased with the feel of the modified engine. Have some brake work before I get it on the pavement. Need to change to a speedometer that will read the speed sensor added to the rear of the transmission. I have one, just not installed yet.
Still have to dial in the pressure switchs that will shift it into overdrive. Should have more info by the end of the month.
It's demolition derby time here and we have 3 entries this year. No FMC's! 2 cars and a truck.
Bill
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LCAC_Man
Posted 2017-08-03 10:25 AM (#4840 - in reply to #4838)
Subject: Re: Overdrive swap finally in gear


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Location: Oceanside, CA
Sounds like you've got a lot of work to do to get to California next month!
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B. Sitton
Posted 2017-08-15 6:23 PM (#4874 - in reply to #4163)
Subject: Re: Overdrive swap finally in gear


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Location: Ignacio Colorado
Well the derby is over, won first place in the truck competition!
Back to #902, and it's many changes. Got it out on the pavement for a run without overdrive. Very happy with the engine performance. Wires to run for manual switching and hope to get back on the road again tomorrow to see how overdrive and my low rpm 440 mingle. Smaller camshaft, valves and carb pulled great. Only thing missing was wide open throttle roar and drop to 6 mpg.
More to come soon.
Bill
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LCAC_Man
Posted 2017-08-16 7:05 AM (#4875 - in reply to #4874)
Subject: Re: Overdrive swap finally in gear


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Congrats on the win!
Sounds like solid progress, you'll be on the road again in no time!
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BigRabbitMan
Posted 2017-08-16 11:16 AM (#4876 - in reply to #4163)
Subject: Re: Overdrive swap finally in gear



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Yes, he will have to hang his head in shame if he is not at the Felton rally!
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B. Sitton
Posted 2017-08-16 1:34 PM (#4877 - in reply to #4163)
Subject: Re: Overdrive swap finally in gear


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Location: Ignacio Colorado
Can't knock me off my new high! No shame. I just drove my FMC in overdrive. Sweetest 2,000 rpm 60+ mph cruise I ever had in it. Now to get my speedometer working.
Bill
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dkarnath
Posted 2017-08-16 4:23 PM (#4878 - in reply to #4877)
Subject: Re: Overdrive swap finally in gear


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Location: Medford, OR
When you going to sell us "With a lil' help from an ay-dap-ter kit" Bill??
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B. Sitton
Posted 2017-08-16 5:40 PM (#4880 - in reply to #4163)
Subject: Re: Overdrive swap finally in gear


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Location: Ignacio Colorado
Getting ready to calibrate the new VDO speedometer on the next test drive. Better let me get some miles on it before getting too excited. Who am I kidding, I'm excited as heck!
Bill
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LCAC_Man
Posted 2018-07-09 4:00 PM (#5626 - in reply to #4163)
Subject: Re: Overdrive swap finally in gear


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How'd it perform on the run to Chama and back?
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B. Sitton
Posted 2018-07-09 9:10 PM (#5627 - in reply to #5626)
Subject: Re: Overdrive swap finally in gear


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Location: Ignacio Colorado
A 100 mile run of up and down hill while climbing 2,000 feet, Chama being at 8,000 feet. The low rpm 440 with the overdrive performed very well. I do have a sticky governor to get fixed but overall the 2 barrel 440 and overdrive is a sweet cruise. 1,800-2200 rpm most of the time. Pull hills (the ones I used to pull in first) at 2,500 rpm one gear higher than with the 727.
So 100 miles uphill, on top of the world, 7.8 mpg. Wait till I get to run to low elevation!
Like I said, runs like a diesel but on gas. Will change to the 413 HT heads and original Holley 600 from the 413HT on an edelbrock SP2-P intake manifold. The saga continues.
Bill
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LCAC_Man
Posted 2018-07-10 7:22 AM (#5628 - in reply to #4163)
Subject: Re: Overdrive swap finally in gear


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Sounds great, nice drama free test run!
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B. Sitton
Posted 2018-07-10 7:59 AM (#5629 - in reply to #5628)
Subject: Re: Overdrive swap finally in gear


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Location: Ignacio Colorado
No drama but not problem free. Changed valve body in Chama but seemed to be the governor sticking. Chama knows what an FMC stuck in first gear sounds like. A blast of air in governor port freed it up for the trip home.
Bill
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B. Sitton
Posted 2018-09-16 7:47 PM (#5861 - in reply to #4163)
Subject: Re: Overdrive swap finally in gear


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Location: Ignacio Colorado
I’ve been driving the coach short trips around our area. Getting used to running 2,000 rpm. Valve body still late on the 2-3 upshift but the 1-2 shift in the 20 mph area at moderate throttle. 2-3 shift sometimes requires mph of 40 then back off throttle.
Added a conditioner to transmission and that got the 1-2 shift working and I have no doubt the 2-3 shift will come around with a little more road time.
50 mph then into overdrive then lock up the converter and enjoy the 2,000 rpms. I’m running at 6,500 feet elevation and can’t wait to drive down to Oregon next month. See what some air will do for this engine/transmission combination.
This low rpm 440 has impressed me up here at the top of the world. What will another 15-20 % increase due to low elevation turn it into.
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dkarnath
Posted 2018-09-17 9:16 AM (#5862 - in reply to #5861)
Subject: Re: Overdrive swap finally in gear


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I'm looking forward to seeing it.
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B. Sitton
Posted 2019-08-02 12:00 PM (#6664 - in reply to #4163)
Subject: Re: Overdrive swap finally in gear


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Location: Ignacio Colorado
Next week my low rpm torque 440 and overdrive transmission take the test. Montana bound. 1,100 miles one way. Lots of mountains but should get plenty of time in overdrive to get more seat time (Data). Took off the 2 barrel intake/carb I used for the Chama rally and put an Edelbrock SP2-P manifold and carter thermoquad on for this run. The manifold has very narrow ports which should be useful in the 0-2,500 rpm range.
Will update when the data starts coming in.
Bill
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andy1canada
Posted 2019-08-04 4:40 PM (#6671 - in reply to #6664)
Subject: Re: Overdrive swap finally in gear


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Location: Victoria, BC. Canada
Looking forward to zee update and data-set, Boss.

Safe journey...

Terry
#846
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B. Sitton
Posted 2019-08-08 7:45 PM (#6693 - in reply to #4163)
Subject: Re: Overdrive swap finally in gear


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Location: Ignacio Colorado
So I’ve got the coach out on the road, in Montana now, 7.0 mpg through the mountains and 7.7 mpg on less steep hills running 70-80 mph. Still all fairly high elevation driving. Will try to slow it down to 70 or so and see what the mpg does then. We were pushing some headwind but that’s driving. If all goes well the trip next month to Oregon will get me into lower elevation and better numbers. Really want to make it this year.
Bill
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andy1canada
Posted 2019-08-08 8:40 PM (#6694 - in reply to #4163)
Subject: Re: Overdrive swap finally in gear


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Location: Victoria, BC. Canada
Yeah... wish I was goin' - had a blast at the last one!

Ya gotta 'one-up' my large pork (center-cut) roast we spun on the barbie along with Vicki's fabulously-awesome pasta salad at that rally.

Yeah - it's a challenge!

I'll be waiting for Stephen's pics to confirm the 'whole-pig' spinning or whatever actually happens.

Safe running my friend.

Terry
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B. Sitton
Posted 2019-08-21 8:16 PM (#6729 - in reply to #6694)
Subject: Re: Overdrive swap finally in gear


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Location: Ignacio Colorado
Got back and haven’t done a final fuel fill but the run back across Utah we got 8.9mpg. Lots of wind and never from the back. Looking foreword to getting more miles on it.
Bill
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andy1canada
Posted 2019-08-21 9:51 PM (#6730 - in reply to #4163)
Subject: Re: Overdrive swap finally in gear


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Location: Victoria, BC. Canada
So fa'... so good!

Terry
#846
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