• When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

Not Exactly a B Body...

71newp

Well-Known Member
Local time
12:55 AM
Joined
May 6, 2014
Messages
146
Reaction score
64
Location
USA
But I hear Dodge vans were based on B-bods, or something like that. Here is the question. 1992 Tradesman with a 318 TBI. Under load it makes a muffled back-fire sounding noise. Puffing and popping. It almost seems like the vacuum advance isn't working. Any other ideas or advice appreciated.
Dear mod..sorry if this is too far "out there"
Newp
 
Burnt valve
 
That should be the first year the 318 had sequential injection and we had some problems with the dist/oil pump shaft bushings wearing out and causing alot of play in the dist shaft. You could tell when you pull the dist cap and feel alot of side play in the shaft. There was a TSB on replacing the dist/oil pump shaft bronze bushing to fix that. They would usually start to run bad (miss and pop) around 2000 rpm or in that area when the bushing wore out. There is a Miller special tool to replace the bushing. You also have to set the dist to crank sensor posistion on them as if that was far enough off they would run bad also. We could check the dist posistion at the dealer with the DRBIII scan tool. It can also be done with a voltmeter as you have to crank the eng and get the crank in the right spot and then find the spot with the dist where the dist hall efect sensor would make and break the 5 volt reference signal. The dist sensor is basically the cam sensor on that eng. There is also a TSB telling how to set the dist posistion. I used to get them in the dealer where guys would try to set ign timing with the dist which you cant do on the eng with the sequential inj as its just a cam sensor and has to be in the right posistion in relation to the crank sensor. But if you have to set it and cant find the info just let me know and I can tell you how. Ron
 
Thanks for the reply. I pulled the dis cap, there is a little play in it. How do I know if the movement there is a lot? Would it be best to take it someplace and have them check the play?
Tim
 
Well they have a very small amount but if your not used to feeling whats normal it would be a good idea to have a tech check it and give you his opinion. You dont want much side play at all and it can fool you with the movement of the mechanical advance as sometimes that will feel like side play. What I do is grab the rotor and twist it opposite of normal rotation to put pressure on it so you dont feel any movement of the mech advance and then work it side to side to determine the side play. Ron
 
Auto Transport Service
Back
Top