Project BigB... a 1977 Dodge Van 6x4!

[Keyblazer]

Tankless seems like a good way to go to me too.
Maybe mounting it on the wall in the bathroom, it can feed the galley too.

Wow, over 5,000 hits here and an 80% thumbs up!
I'm happy!

[Keyblazer]

These are the specs of the Marey 5L lpg model that is about $185
It looks pretty compact, and gives 1.5g/min of hot water.

Water heating for the whole house, business, auto shops, cottages, camping and many other uses.
•Instant gas water heater activated with water pressure
•Does not require electricity (operates with 2 D cell battery)
•Extraordinary energy and money savings
•Perfect alternative for those homes experimenting frequent power outages
•Heats unlimited volumes of water
•Allows water temperature to be controlled
•Compact design
•Only uses gas while water is flowing
•Works easily with low levels of water pressure
•Anti-combustion and gas pressure safety protection
Technical specifications

•Hot Water Outlet per Minute: 5 LPM / 1.3 GPM
•Gas Type: NG
•Heat Load: 34,614 BTU/h
•Related Gas Pressure (PSI): 0.3
•Exhaust Discharge Mode: Flue Duct Type
•Applicable Water Pressure: 3.6 - 145.0 PSI / 0.25 - 10 bar
•Ignition: Electric Pulse, D Cell battery powered
•Energy Efficiency: 54% - 87%
•Weight: 12 pounds

Dimensions
•Height: 17.0"
•Width: 11.4"
•Depth: 4.7"

[Keyblazer]

Today fishing on Craigs list was good!
Got me a set of Four 8 lug 16x8 Weld Stonecrushers for the front!
Best bit........... $140!
I ran some numbers and it looks like 285/75 16 tires are so near to a perfect match for the rears!

[Keyblazer]

I LOVE CL!
Here is what I got for $140....



I measured the offset and it looks the same, so the 2" difference is all on the outer face, as you can see. Tha means I should not have the clearance problems I had on the front with the 16x10's.

[xped]

Are you going to run 305/70/16 in the back and 285/75/16 in the front? I know the tires are close in diameter but if there is a difference it could wreck your transfer case, especially in a fulltime 4x4 setup.

[Keyblazer]

I did my numbers carefully...
I think this will be close.
Dimensions
Tire A: 305/70 R 16
(33 x 12.01 x 16)
Tire B: 285/75 R 16
(33 x 11.22 x 16)
Difference
Width -0.79" (-20.00mm)
Sidewall height +0.01" (+0.25mm)
Overall height +0.02" (+0.50mm)
Circumference +0.06" (+1.57mm)

If your speedometer has been calibrated for 305/70 R 16 (33 x 12.01 x 16) tires, replacing them with 285/75 R 16's (32 x 11.22 x 16's) would result in the speedometer reading low by 0.06%.

[ujoint]

Be careful with those Weld's, they were known to creak. I know it sounds weird, but they way they're designed causes them to creak & make noise!

[Keyblazer]

I would not be surprised... the fake beadlock is a seperate piece..

[r_w]

You can run different tires front and rear like that, but you NEED to measure the exact tires you are running--don't just rely on the spec numbers.

You can compensate for minor differences by playing with air pressures, but that is a tradeoff on tire wear.

[Keyblazer]

Updates...
Good and bad..
Good:
I found a used set of 285/75 16 Nitto Terragrapplers to match the rears...

Bad:
Got 2 of them mounted and went the the van to see how it worked....
Only to find that the 8x16 wheels I got in the previous post were not 8 on 6.5" PCD as the guy I got them from said, but 8 on 170mm..... I felt stupid cos I didnt check them with my PCD gauge...
Still, I think I can get my money back out of them..

Good:
Got a oil pressure gauge from Harbor freight... like $16 with the coupon!
First I earthed the pressure sensor wire to the block and watched the original cluster gauge max out to 100psi... so that looks ok.
Next I plugged the HF gauge in and started the motor....
A solid 85psi from cold, and warmed the motor up... hot at idle reads 50psi... phew!

Good:
Removed the hand controls, and it went smoothly!

Bad:
A short drive(not on the street) revealed a lack of brakes... until the pedal was mashed, then the front locked(dirt road).
Fluid was full but looked dirty, so I sucked out and refilled with fresh. PITA, cos there is minimal clearance between the Master Cyl and cowl panel. Can barely get the top off!


An hour of sucking with my Mityvac and pumping with my foot, gave me very little fluid out of the rear brakes, but the fronts bled fine...
Puzzled, I gave up for the day.
Both rear axles have fluid now flowing out but its slow going. I am a little confused... the is a brake fluid line going into the trailer brake controler under the dash, and everytime I pumped the pedal the lever on it moved.
With all that traction and weight on the rear two axles I am thinking a adjustable brake balance valve might be a good idea...