KansasRam1997
Junior Member
- Joined
- Nov 24, 2015
- Posts
- 25
- Reaction score
- 6
- Location
- Lawrence, KS
- Ram Year
- 1997
- Engine
- 5.9L 360 Magnum
Hi, this is my first post and I'm new to Ram Forum. Before I get into the flexplate issue I wanted ya'll to hear what I've been doing to the truck over the past year.
You can skip that part and just look at the PROBLEM section if you choose to do so, unless you want to hear a good story.
Introduction of the rebuild:
I have a 1997 RAM 1500 5.9L 360 SPORT STANDARD CAB SHORTBED... Last year around October, I decided to rebuild the engine in my truck at almost 130,000 miles. The two previous owners really ran this truck rough. The guy I bought it from told me the first owner of this truck was a farmer in the Emporia, KS area.
This is my first rebuild EVER! I completely overhauled the engine + transmission with the help of a buddy. He has a big job, so he couldn't help me anymore after that. I worked on it BY MYSELF for many days and nights, on and off, over this past year. Of course, procrastination took it's toll and that's why it took over a full year to be finished.
I had it machined and it was bored .030 over I believe... I had him do a half rebuild for beginners sake because I did not have the proper tools to do some of the build. Basically he put in the crankshaft, camshaft, pistons etc.
With the machining, half rebuild, checking my heads for cracks, cleaning etc. the service cost was $600...
Of course, I had cracked heads, so it's time to order new parts. I ordered remanufactured heads, a full engine rebuild kit along with fresh new lifters, full gasket kit etc. It had a bad starter, so I bought a new one from AutoZone.
I paid much attention to detail when putting it together. Basically every bolt was torqued to spec, thread-locked when needed, sequences, everything. When I have sufficient funds, I'll probably replace the transmission. It's not bad, I just want the system to be fresh.
Then, all by myself, with my engine hoist I manuevered the engine + trans into the engine bay. I'll tell you, this SUCKED the most. Doing it alone is challenging and not recommended. I basically had to put a jack with wood blocks up to the transmission, so it will angle onto the cross member and sit inside the engine mount slots.
Lastly, I just banged out all the wiring, cooler lines, a/c lines, installed the a/c condensor, radiator, hoses, fan etc.
I cranked it for the first time the other day at she's alive!!! But here was the problem...
*PROBLEM*:
(1997 RAM 1500 5.9L 360 SPORT STANDARD CAB SHORTBED)
I don't think I bolted the flexplate to the torque converter correctly, so I think the engine is unbalanced. The reason is I just couldn't find any information on how to do it correctly and was going to figure it out through trial and error once it was put together and here I am....
SYMPTOMS: the idle fluctuates erratically between 500-1500 rpm and eventually shuts itself off. The first few seconds seem fine until it starts speeding up and down.
(I ran it 4 times, a few seconds each, to see the symptoms and stopped to prevent any damage)
NOTE: the flexplate uses weights, so I believe the engine is externally balanced.
Any thoughts, questions, comments, and concerns will help a lot. Thanks guys!
You can skip that part and just look at the PROBLEM section if you choose to do so, unless you want to hear a good story.
Introduction of the rebuild:
I have a 1997 RAM 1500 5.9L 360 SPORT STANDARD CAB SHORTBED... Last year around October, I decided to rebuild the engine in my truck at almost 130,000 miles. The two previous owners really ran this truck rough. The guy I bought it from told me the first owner of this truck was a farmer in the Emporia, KS area.
This is my first rebuild EVER! I completely overhauled the engine + transmission with the help of a buddy. He has a big job, so he couldn't help me anymore after that. I worked on it BY MYSELF for many days and nights, on and off, over this past year. Of course, procrastination took it's toll and that's why it took over a full year to be finished.
I had it machined and it was bored .030 over I believe... I had him do a half rebuild for beginners sake because I did not have the proper tools to do some of the build. Basically he put in the crankshaft, camshaft, pistons etc.
With the machining, half rebuild, checking my heads for cracks, cleaning etc. the service cost was $600...
Of course, I had cracked heads, so it's time to order new parts. I ordered remanufactured heads, a full engine rebuild kit along with fresh new lifters, full gasket kit etc. It had a bad starter, so I bought a new one from AutoZone.
I paid much attention to detail when putting it together. Basically every bolt was torqued to spec, thread-locked when needed, sequences, everything. When I have sufficient funds, I'll probably replace the transmission. It's not bad, I just want the system to be fresh.
Then, all by myself, with my engine hoist I manuevered the engine + trans into the engine bay. I'll tell you, this SUCKED the most. Doing it alone is challenging and not recommended. I basically had to put a jack with wood blocks up to the transmission, so it will angle onto the cross member and sit inside the engine mount slots.
Lastly, I just banged out all the wiring, cooler lines, a/c lines, installed the a/c condensor, radiator, hoses, fan etc.
I cranked it for the first time the other day at she's alive!!! But here was the problem...
*PROBLEM*:
(1997 RAM 1500 5.9L 360 SPORT STANDARD CAB SHORTBED)
I don't think I bolted the flexplate to the torque converter correctly, so I think the engine is unbalanced. The reason is I just couldn't find any information on how to do it correctly and was going to figure it out through trial and error once it was put together and here I am....
SYMPTOMS: the idle fluctuates erratically between 500-1500 rpm and eventually shuts itself off. The first few seconds seem fine until it starts speeding up and down.
(I ran it 4 times, a few seconds each, to see the symptoms and stopped to prevent any damage)
NOTE: the flexplate uses weights, so I believe the engine is externally balanced.
Any thoughts, questions, comments, and concerns will help a lot. Thanks guys!