SquareRoot
Full Access Member
- Joined
- Mar 18, 2017
- Posts
- 3,659
- Reaction score
- 6,602
- Location
- Arizona
- First Name
- Mike
- Truck Year
- 85
- Truck Model
- K20
- Engine Size
- 350
Since converting from the TH400, I have been slightly perplexed with the "feel" of the drivetrain. Since day one, I noticed considerable "feedback" for lack of words, in the way the truck feels. I have a low mileage, 14FF out of a CUCV with original 4:56 gears and the infamous Detroit Locker. Being built for toughness and sheer strength, I have mostly ignored the comments about the locker not being fun to drive on the street. I'm in the desert and don't drive on ice or snow, so no big deal. Yes, I have experienced the occasional BANG after a turn but that has become normal.
Now to my point. I was thinking I had a lot of slop in the drivetrain because it kind of loads up when I put it in gear. Kinda like its taking up some slack and maybe the parasitic drag of the clutch/syncros pre-loads the drivetrain? Its difficult to explain. All the U-joints are almost new. New clutch. Trans has unknown miles but, is quite and shifts perfect. New motor mounts. Trans mount looks good. I removed the front driveshaft for now and no change.
When I turn into the driveway at low speed (3-5mph) is when I get this loading/unloading clanking thing going on. Then it dawned on me why it's probably the ratcheting action of the locker being transferred thru the drivetrain. This makes sense. What really convinces me is I never felt this when I had the automatic trans in it with the same axle. I'm guessing that the fluid coupling (TQ convertor) absorbs that energy.
I am tempted to swap rear ends and put the factory one back in just to prove my point but that's a weekend experiment I don't really want to tackle. If I'm correct, the locker is coming out and I'll be shopping for a different kind of locker.
What ya'll think? Anyone else have this oddball (manual trans/detroit locker) combo and know what I'm talking about?
I'm going to go drive on some dirt here shortly and see if it changes anything. Maybe if the tires can slip a little in the turns it wont reverberate back into the drivetrain.
Now to my point. I was thinking I had a lot of slop in the drivetrain because it kind of loads up when I put it in gear. Kinda like its taking up some slack and maybe the parasitic drag of the clutch/syncros pre-loads the drivetrain? Its difficult to explain. All the U-joints are almost new. New clutch. Trans has unknown miles but, is quite and shifts perfect. New motor mounts. Trans mount looks good. I removed the front driveshaft for now and no change.
When I turn into the driveway at low speed (3-5mph) is when I get this loading/unloading clanking thing going on. Then it dawned on me why it's probably the ratcheting action of the locker being transferred thru the drivetrain. This makes sense. What really convinces me is I never felt this when I had the automatic trans in it with the same axle. I'm guessing that the fluid coupling (TQ convertor) absorbs that energy.
I am tempted to swap rear ends and put the factory one back in just to prove my point but that's a weekend experiment I don't really want to tackle. If I'm correct, the locker is coming out and I'll be shopping for a different kind of locker.
What ya'll think? Anyone else have this oddball (manual trans/detroit locker) combo and know what I'm talking about?
I'm going to go drive on some dirt here shortly and see if it changes anything. Maybe if the tires can slip a little in the turns it wont reverberate back into the drivetrain.