Hello folks! I just joined the list. I am Greg Cooper in Huntsville,
Alabama. I have been doing Turbo Dodges since the mid-eighties. I am
active in several Shelby-Dodge related lists as well.
I am an ex-Chrysler engineer and was the Manager of the Mopar Tech Hotline
for several years.
I just bought a really straight '95 Dakota Sport. I purchased it from a
local junkyard for $800. It was in need of an engine overhaul and some
cleaning. It has the AX-15 five speed and the good 'ole 2.5 common block
motor. This was part of the draw for me because I have built several dozen
of these little engines over the years, albeit turbos.
After several weeks of tinkering and an engine job, I have almost everything
on the truck functioning as well as or better than new.
I have a friend that is an aerospace machinist and he helped me out with
some mods. I first enlarged the stock TBI unit to 50mm from the paltry 43mm
bore (27% increase in area). A 35mm phenolic spacer was installed under the
throttle body. A Wolverine Blue Racer Torque cam was installed, as well as
header wrap on the exhaust manifold. The head and intake were enlarged and
dimple ported (like a golf ball), the compression was increased a full
point, flame propagation grooves were cut into the combustion chambers,
colder plugs installed, base timing increased 4 degrees, and cylinder bores
were increased .040 (adding 60cc's displacement). My friend is in the
process of turning an underdrive pulley for me right now for a %25 reduction
in accessory speeds.
Having said all that, I can honestly say that the little engine runs quit
well. I never expected a powerhouse. If I had that in mind I would have
gone with a turbocharger and maybe a sixteen valve head.
The speedometer has me completely perplexed, however. I have swapped three
separate speed sensors, checked all the wiring for continuity and
resistance, checked the voltages to the sensor and changed the instrument
cluster. The speedometer didn't work when I first bought the truck. I
swapped the speed sensor and it worked. I then did the engine rebuild and
now have very intermittent speedometer function. It sometimes works when
cold an almost never works any other time. I am stumped by this
speedometer. Is there anyone out there with experience in dealing with a
similar situation?
Greg K. Cooper
Huntsville, Alabama
1983 Dodge Rampage (restoration project)
1986 Shelby Charger Super 60
1987 Shelby Daytona
1989 Plymouth Acclaim Turbo II
1992 Dodge Daytona IROC R/T
1995 Dodge Dakota Sport
1998 Chrysler Concorde LX
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