'76 360 van problem

From : jr

Q: hi i have a 1976 360v8 dodge sportsman van w/76k orig. miles. ive noticed the temp and oil pressure are rising. i change the oil regularly and the coolant system always seemed to be fine. im in a wheelchair and am not able to check it out and my scaredy-cat friend wouldnt pull the cap even though it sat for quite a while but said the overflow was at the line. i smell nothing unusual and it burns a little oil but not much. a mechanmic said flushing was unnecessary because it wouldnt clean out calcium blah blah but it would be $150 for temp guage new coolant oil change but didnt mention pressure test. my question is can these two things be related. the temp pegs near the top of the acceptable range was at 1/3 acceptable and the oil is hard to see from where i sit around 60 lbs usually 30-40 lbs.. can anyone steer me in the right direction thanks john .

Replies:

From : tbone

it sounds more like your gauges are getting too high a voltage. fist thing that you need to do is check the alternators voltage regulator and make sure that you are around or under 14 volts with the engine running. iirc your van also has a voltage limiter behind the instrument panel to limit the voltage on the instruments to 5 volts. this is probably what is failing and making your gauges show higher values. this should also be effecting your fuel gauge so i would watch out for that. -- if at first you dont succeed youre not cut out for skydiving hi i have a 1976 360v8 dodge sportsman van w/76k orig. miles. ive noticed the temp and oil pressure are rising. i change the oil regularly and the coolant system always seemed to be fine. im in a wheelchair and am not able to check it out and my scaredy-cat friend wouldnt pull the cap even though it sat for quite a while but said the overflow was at the line. i smell nothing unusual and it burns a little oil but not much. a mechanmic said flushing was unnecessary because it wouldnt clean out calcium blah blah but it would be $150 for temp guage new coolant oil change but didnt mention pressure test. my question is can these two things be related. the temp pegs near the top of the acceptable range was at 1/3 acceptable and the oil is hard to see from where i sit around 60 lbs usually 30-40 lbs.. can anyone steer me in the right direction thanks john .

From : tbone

thanks. i would have not thought of that. btw my ignition wire went out and was replaced but now my lights dim at the stop lights as it was before it died and the wire was replaced about 9 months ago. i know...it sounds like its time to put a new van around the wire but funds are lacking. ill have the voltage checked at both areas. fuel guage never goes past 3/4 so im always careful there. ive had the van since 96. thanks so much. john me http//www.doobfan.com/photos/rich/vegas/saturday/sat022.jpg no problem and good luck. -- if at first you dont succeed youre not cut out for skydiving .