Reader: In regard to "Top Down, Windows Open, Fumes In" (Letters, Feb. '08), I think you may have missed the boat on this one. What you failed to mention is that if the reader has an exhaust that exits straight out, under the rear bumper, it will create this problem. As the vehicle travels down the road, there is a vortex that is swirling around at the rear of the vehicle. With the top off, or with the back window open, this will actually take exhaust at the rear of the vehicle and suck it into the passenger area.
The remedy is to change the exhaust to have it exit on either side, behind the rear tires.
Dan Hofer
Hillsboro, OR
Reader: I have a suggestion for the owner of the '77 Jimmy. The exhaust can't run straight out to the bumper, or the cab will fill with fumes with the back window down. It creates a negative pressure inside the cab which sucks in the gases. It should dump behind the rear wheels to the sides, as this is where the factory put it. If I'm not mistaken, Broncos and Ramchargers are the same way. Turndowns could also fill the cab. Anyway, hope this helps.
Jason Hagerty
Kansas City, KS
Reader: It sounds like the Jimmy's stock exhaust system has more modifications than just headers and mufflers. If the tailpipes come out the rear, under the back bumper, than the exhaust will get sucked in the back window when open, or into the rear of the vehicle with the top off. That is why the stock tailpipes were "engineered" to have the exhaust exit to the side-into the "slipstream" between the rear wheels and the rear of the vehicle. Maybe not so "cool" looking, but a heck of lot more agreeable in the functionality department.
Tom Bridges
Redmond, OR
Reader: To the fellow who wrote in needing "Power Ram 50 Suspension Parts" (Feb. '08): As the owner of a Ram 50 with dual side-draft Mukuni carbs, lightweight flywheel, Dual Force clutch, headers, and a 2.5-inch lift with 31-inch Goodyear M/Ts, I can sympathize with the young man's plight. There used to be a builder out in California by the name of John Baker Performance, who sold a lot of parts for this vehicle. We both raced them in stadium competitions. This was the first truck my wife learned to (off-road) in and was the first truck I ever exceeded 160 mph in.
Have the young man look at Rancho-they make both a replacement torsion bar and add-a-leaf kit. Also, do not go over 2.5 inches of lift as it will cause multiple issues with the drivetrain and axles. Any taller than that, and a custom suspension will have to be fabricated, along with upgrading the axles.
Remember that the D-50 was a clone of the Mitsubishi Mighty Max, so parts can be found under either title, on your Web searches.
When he gets older, have him contact me and I will give him the skinny on putting a Starion Turbo 2.6 in the truck to really make it fly.
Charles B. Loraine Sr.
Palm Bay, FL
Editor: We did a little more research, and while we couldn't find the Rancho kit you mentioned, we did find an add-a-leaf kit from Rough Country, as well as helper springs from Hellwig, both listed in the J.C. Whitney catalog. John Baker Performance was located in Wisconsin, not California, and to the best of our knowledge they went out of business several years ago.