So far my project to make my baby (truck) into a reliable and beefy machine is going well so far.

Apparently, my ball joints and suspension maybe next. However, I am running into something I am not sure of.

First what has been done.

So far in the past 3 months, I have done the following:

-Plenum with Hughes kit
-Oil and filter to amsoil
-Transfer case, Front and rear diff to synthetic.
-Trans fluid to amsoil
-Complete tune up
-Cleaned TB
-Replaced IAC and TPS with BWD
-Removed CAT and welded 3in to muffler and 3in out. Headers are still stock.
-Replaced pre-cat O2 with NGK part#23151
-Replaced T-Stat but with 195 Degree i beleive?
-4 new Michelin MS/2 245/75/16
-4 freeze plugs replaced.

What I plan on doing:

- flush the Powersteering.
- Front end work
- Tranmission
- Tuner chip (i have death flash)

**what may put a stop to all this is what I am experiencing now.

1. At 1400-1600 RPM I am hearing a howl. It sounds like a howling wind. I am thinking maybe an exhaust leak? It does not matter what gear I am in.

2. Now what it will do when in Park is idle smooth and then every now and then, maybe every 2-3 seconds it will stumble. Best way to explain it is if I have a water bottle in my cup holder, it will be vibrating and then it will all the sudden shake.

I popped the hood and looked at the engine when it does this and the engine looks like it shakes or jumps a little.

This happens cold or hot.

I also noticed when I start it up that I do have white smoke. It lasts for about 2 min then does not smoke anymore.

Are these really something I should worry about?

 

Howl: Where does it sound like it's coming from?
Vibration/shake: That sounds like the IAC might be going out, since it sounds like the idle is dropping. Did you clean out the IAC passage on the back/bottom of the TB when you cleaned it all?

White smoke: that's likey just condensation in the exhaust.

 

it sounds like its coming from underneath center to maybe rear of the truck.

I replaced the IAC a month ago and I cleaned the TB very well. I would say about 99%. The idle still drop to the line above 500 RPM. it will stay there all day. No stall.

 

I did start using 89 octane recently. Past 2 tanks. No tuner. It was running smoother at one point.

 

A howl coming from the rear of the truck is a bearing going out in the diff. Unless I'm mistaken.

It's possible you COULD have a bad IAC, not saying it is, but it COULD be. If it's not Mopar or Standard Motor Products, stuff likes to break on these trucks. lol

 

How can I check to see if the bearings in the rear diff are going?

Is this a new rear end?

 

That I do not know.

Not usually, usually if the bearing is going out and you treat it soon enough it's just yanking the carrier and freshening everything up.

 

It will it make this noise all the time? I only hear the howling from 1400-1600 rpm.

 

That depends on the damage I would imagine. I think it will eventually howl all the time IIRC.

 

ok. So what are some good suggestions to beefy up the rear end? Are there parts that are bulletproof for this repair? I definitely dont want to do this again soon so if I am going to do it, then I want to make this thing solid!