'88 dodge pu 318 eliminating ESC

carl reitnauer · Sep 5, 2013

just bought a '88 dodge pickup with 25k because the ESC screws up. anyone here old enough to remember the trick to eliminate it? If i remember right it just means changing the distributor and air cleaner. I'd sure like to do it this weekend.

Chuckles46 · Sep 5, 2013

If I remember right I did that to my 84 Dodge six. I replaced the dist.with an older one with points and gutted the air cleaner. Ran just great

J. Everett · Sep 5, 2013

I've got an 81 with a slant 6, put in a points distributer and a carb from 68 I think it is...over 300 k now, It never leavs the farm because of rust.

Hobo,NC · Sep 5, 2013

(quoted from post at 01:00:30 09/06/13) just bought a '88 dodge pickup with 25k because the ESC screws up. anyone here old enough to remember the trick to eliminate it? If i remember right it just means changing the distributor and air cleaner. I'd sure like to do it this weekend.

I think I just dropped a dist. in it and rock and rolled.... Why would you need to go with a different air cleaner :?:

k6zrx · Sep 5, 2013

I think that all you need is a distributor with mechanical and vacuum advance. Get an electronic one for a 318 so the timing curve is right. Use ported vacuum on the carb for the dist. Junkyard or Summit Racing for what you need.

I don't think the trucks had the electronically controlled carburetors. Check to see if there is a plug on the float bowl (there might be a throttle switch, which does not matter). If it does have the electronic carburetor, then you need to replace it with a conventional one or you will not get any enrichment during hard throttle. The metering rods are controlled by an electromagnet, not vacuum on the electronic carbs. I helped a friend get one of the electronic carbs to pass Kalifornia smog check. Not easy.

Josh

Anonymous-0 · Sep 6, 2013

(quoted from post at 23:07:29 09/05/13) I think that all you need is a distributor with mechanical and vacuum advance. Get an electronic one for a 318 so the timing curve is right. Use ported vacuum on the carb for the dist. Junkyard or Summit Racing for what you need.

Josh

You're close, this is what is needed.

Hobo,NC · Sep 6, 2013

(quoted from post at 03:59:45 09/07/13)

Nice, and tote a extra ballast in yer glove box...

I did AAA from 1980 to 1992,,, I kept a Chrysler ballast and a GM HEI rotor button in the glove box,,, EZ money :wink:

The last time I looked their was still a Chrysler ballast in the glove box...

Click to expand...

T in NE · Sep 6, 2013

Or you could call up Davis Unified Ignition and get a HEI distributor specifically for it.

Then if you don't have the separate firewall-mounted voltage regulator, stick one of those in it. They are easy to do, one pole to switched 12v, one to the alternator, the other wire on the alternator to 12v constant, and make sure the regulator body is well grounded.

I don't know which year they switched to the computer controlling the alternator with the gas engines, but it was 91 with the diesels.

Roger in Iowa · Sep 8, 2013

Believe they went to throttle body in 1987. My 1986 is carb.

'88 dodge pu 318 eliminating ESC

carl reitnauer

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Chuckles46

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J. Everett

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Hobo,NC

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k6zrx

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Anonymous-0

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Hobo,NC

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T in NE

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Roger in Iowa

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