Bert H. said
Make sure to run it all the way up to the rev limiter (3,200 rpm)Bert (approaching 370K on my old Cummins)
With my gear ratio 80 mph is about 2,000 rpm, not sure I have enough highway (or nerve) to push it to 3,200, I have an automatic transmission.
PS, I finally had to replace the alternator, piece of junk Dodge Bosch original alternator only lasted 15 years and 189,000 miles. Replaced it with the high output version and I rebuilt the original with a $25 Bosch kit so now I have a spare (although I will be at least 80 before I need another one).
Best Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
JWA said
Big Larry said
Hard to find any at 30,000′. Looking forward to seeing you. Bruno’s has been slow lately. Tom and I had a pizza last week. Big Larry
I was at 32,000 last night and dodging storms. Home next week if you and Tom are available? Be about a 6 hour round trip (plus Bruno’s) but it will be worth it. I need to stretch the legs on my Dodge Cummins anyway, it has only been making short hops to the airport the last few months and that 6.7L diesel is straining at the leash.
Best Regards,
We will be. Bring the Missus and your Daughter too. Big Larry
JWA said
Bert H. said
Make sure to run it all the way up to the rev limiter (3,200 rpm)
Bert (approaching 370K on my old Cummins)
With my gear ratio 80 mph is about 2,000 rpm, not sure I have enough highway (or nerve) to push it to 3,200, I have an automatic transmission.
PS, I finally had to replace the alternator, piece of junk Dodge Bosch original alternator only lasted 15 years and 189,000 miles. Replaced it with the high output version and I rebuilt the original with a $25 Bosch kit so now I have a spare (although I will be at least 80 before I need another one).
Best Regards,
Jeff.
2,000 rpm = 81.5 mph with my gear ratio (and is the exact rpm & speed in which I traveled at for much of my trip home from Cody last month). @ 3,200 rpm my old 5.9L Cummins w/6-speed manual (NV5600) is clicking along down the freeway at 117 mph. I don’t keep it there for very long as my fuel consumption drops from 18.3 mpg down to just under 10 mpg! Other than the added air noise in and over the cab, it does not feel or drive any differently. It certainly does not make the “telephone poles looked like a picket fence.” in the immortal words of Commander Cody.
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Big Larry said
We will be. Bring the Missus and your Daughter too. Big Larry
Wish I could, Sandy is teaching Kindergarten this year (school started last week) and my daughter graduated college (BS in nursing) last year and is working full-time for an orthopedic surgeon.
You are stuck with just my ugly face for lunch. Let me know if there is a better day for you and Tom, I am fairly flexible next week.
Best Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
November 7, 2015

Bert H. said
JWA said
Bert H. said
Make sure to run it all the way up to the rev limiter (3,200 rpm)
Bert (approaching 370K on my old Cummins)
With my gear ratio 80 mph is about 2,000 rpm, not sure I have enough highway (or nerve) to push it to 3,200, I have an automatic transmission.
PS, I finally had to replace the alternator, piece of junk Dodge Bosch original alternator only lasted 15 years and 189,000 miles. Replaced it with the high output version and I rebuilt the original with a $25 Bosch kit so now I have a spare (although I will be at least 80 before I need another one).
Best Regards,
Jeff.
2,000 rpm = 81.5 mph with my gear ratio (and is the exact rpm & speed in which I traveled at for much of my trip home from Cody last month). @ 3,200 rpm my old 5.9L Cummins w/6-speed manual (NV5600) is clicking along down the freeway at 117 mph. I don’t keep it there for very long as my fuel consumption drops from 18.3 mpg down to just under 10 mpg! Other than the added air noise in and over the cab, it does not feel or drive any differently. It certainly does not make the “telephone poles looked like a picket fence.” in the immortal words of Commander Cody.
Actually telephone poles pretty much disappear for me somewhere around 120 but most times I was chasing someone at night so I have no idea. My current vehicle gets pretty thirsty much over 75, I don’t much care for fast driving anyway.
Good job on the alternator, Jeff. Most alternators today don’t have serviceable parts but most techs today can’t install a set of distributor points. They’d have no idea what to do with bearings and a set of brushes. For $25 I’m guessing the rectifier was still good.
Mike
Believe it or not, the $25 included the bearings, brushes AND rectifier. I was looking in the package for the voltage regulator but after Googling it realized the “voltage regulator” is now in the cars computer system. Certainly NOT the same as the AC DELCO Remy alternator in my ’72 Chevy Suburban I grew up with.
The other thing I learned is that after swapping a significant component you have to turn the key to the second position and give the computer time to recognize and learn the new component (which it did) while flashing me all kinds of code words, lights, signals, etc. which I didn’t understand. Amazing technology nowadays but luckily it still takes a grunt like me to actually INSTALL the bearings, brushes and rectifier or computers would rule the world……
RickC, sorry to hijack your thread, we are still in awe of your display – thanks for posting the pics!
Best Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
JWA said
Big Larry said
We will be. Bring the Missus and your Daughter too. Big Larry
Wish I could, Sandy is teaching Kindergarten this year (school started last week) and my daughter graduated college (BS in nursing) last year and is working full-time for an orthopedic surgeon.
You are stuck with just my ugly face for lunch. Let me know if there is a better day for you and Tom, I am fairly flexible next week.
Best Regards,
Much admiration for your lovely wife and daughter. Toms wife is a Nurse Navigator at the Cedar Cancer Center. I don’t mind being stuck with you no matter what your face looks like. We always have a good time. Big Larry
Big Larry said
Sorry, Wednesdays are usually good.
Wednesday works for me, I will give you a call when I am about an hour out. Meet at your house first or at Bruno’s place for lunch?
See ya soon my friend!
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
JWA said
Big Larry said
Sorry, Wednesdays are usually good.
Wednesday works for me, I will give you a call when I am about an hour out. Meet at your house first or at Bruno’s place for lunch?
See ya soon my friend!
Will that be next Wednesday? Need to firm it with Tom. Eat first, guns later.
RickC said
Haha enjoying all the replies. Not many folks repairing their own vehicles these days. I drop my vehicle off and then give the dealer my arm & leg when it’s time to pay.
I wish I could do that. This past December my wife’s Dodge Caravan (with the Pentastar engine) developed a tick which turned out to be a bad roller rocker which then took out the cam. Took it to the dealer and said “fix it”, they said ok that will be $6200. Since the vehicle is not worth that much I said we’ll just scrap it and buy a new one. The dealer said “great! we’ll have one in stock for you to pick up in about 3 months”.
So, long story short, I ordered all the rebuild components including a full set of roller rockers, cam, lifters, gaskets, etc. and spent the 2 days after Christmas rebuilding the engine. Took 1.5 days and the parts were $500. Had never seen the inside of a DOHC Pentastar before but I had no choice 🙁
Engine purrs like a kitten now though.
Best Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
JWA said
I wish I could do that. This past December my wife’s Dodge Caravan (with the Pentastar engine) developed a tick which turned out to be a bad roller rocker which then took out the cam. Took it to the dealer and said “fix it”, they said ok that will be $6200.So, long story short, I ordered all the rebuild components including a full set of roller rockers, cam, lifters, gaskets, etc. and spent the 2 days after Christmas rebuilding the engine. Took 1.5 days and the parts were $500.
So now you know what that dealer (or any other) expects for profit margin. He’s a generous employer if his mechanics make more than $30/hr.
Big Larry said
Will that be next Wednesday? Need to firm it with Tom. Eat first, guns later.
Yes, this coming Wednesday, August 31.
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
November 7, 2015

Nice complement for the collection, Rick. Jeff’s 69 book helped me appreciate the 57 and it certainly belongs in this collection. Well done!
Mike
steve004 said
Rick and Larry –Very nice displays and collections
TXGunNut said
Nice complement for the collection, Rick. Jeff’s 69 book helped me appreciate the 57 and it certainly belongs in this collection. Well done!
Mike
Thanks Mike & Steve. Appreciate your comments. After yrs of center fire collecting I found a new interest in Winchester 22 collecting, and more budget friendly!
Rick C
JWA said
I wish I could do that. This past December my wife’s Dodge Caravan (with the Pentastar engine) developed a tick which turned out to be a bad roller rocker which then took out the cam. Took it to the dealer and said “fix it”, they said ok that will be $6200. Since the vehicle is not worth that much I said we’ll just scrap it and buy a new one. The dealer said “great! we’ll have one in stock for you to pick up in about 3 months”.
So, long story short, I ordered all the rebuild components including a full set of roller rockers, cam, lifters, gaskets, etc. and spent the 2 days after Christmas rebuilding the engine. Took 1.5 days and the parts were $500. Had never seen the inside of a DOHC Pentastar before but I had no choice 🙁
Engine purrs like a kitten now though.
Best Regards,
That’s a lot of work. I’m sitting here contemplating whether I want to set my solid lifters and replace the points in my dual point.
November 7, 2015

Chuck said
JWA said
I wish I could do that. This past December my wife’s Dodge Caravan (with the Pentastar engine) developed a tick which turned out to be a bad roller rocker which then took out the cam. Took it to the dealer and said “fix it”, they said ok that will be $6200. Since the vehicle is not worth that much I said we’ll just scrap it and buy a new one. The dealer said “great! we’ll have one in stock for you to pick up in about 3 months”.
So, long story short, I ordered all the rebuild components including a full set of roller rockers, cam, lifters, gaskets, etc. and spent the 2 days after Christmas rebuilding the engine. Took 1.5 days and the parts were $500. Had never seen the inside of a DOHC Pentastar before but I had no choice 🙁
Engine purrs like a kitten now though.
Best Regards,
That’s a lot of work. I’m sitting here contemplating whether I want to set my solid lifters and replace the points in my dual point.
Last Ford dealer I worked for didn’t have a mechanic that could install a standard set of points in a Ford. I still remember the part numbers and can set them close enough to run with a matchbook cover. (Remember those?). I installed points in a dual point distributor when I was in high school, we had a distributor to play with in auto mechanics class. I don’t know if today’s technicians are familiar with feeler gauges, Chuck, pretty sure solid lifters would stump most.
Mike
1 Guest(s)
