Newly Aquired PL 400 Early

[gene french]

The 4 fin problem is not so much the 4 fins themselves which are adequate except for more severe conditions AND aesthetic appeal. It is more about the innards.

PL was all over the map at that point and you never know what you will find inside the covers. Meter differences, lighting differences, control board differences, no die cast saddle on the transformer, caps and bridge mounted to the sides, back wall holes out of spec, the list goes on.

By the time they did the 8 fin, things settled down and the variability inside went away. Plus you had a better looking heat sink set on the back.

The advice is: There are so many 8 fin units out there, don't settle for a 4 fin nightmare...

i converted one 4 fin to wopl and restored a stock 4 fin...i bought joes chassis for the 4 fin i wopled...my 4 fin fins did not match the holes on the new chassis...i had to clamp and redrill...to clear the output pins ....my 4 fin wopl transformer did have the cast cradle...the restored 4 fin did not...was wall clamped caps and rectifier...it all worked out, but required extra work and attention...i did not realize all ot this when i bought my first 400...i bought it then joined phoenix...i should have joined phoenix and then bought one...lol
but, its just a new hobby, and i enjoyed every second of it!!!
still do!!!
support here is the best!!!

 

[Gepetto]

I second that.... NO MORE 4 FIN AMPS

The extra work in getting them completed can be a daunting challenge for the unprepared.

As Forrest Gump would say: Stay away from the box of chocolates...

 

[mr_rye89]

My 4 fin wasn’t so bad…… It already had some White Oak/Wattsabundant goodies when I got it and I had to drill a hole and relocate something….. your mileage may vary

 

[gene french]

In 1998 I spent $23,300 for my ti and still drive it today.

“I made a few *special* modifications myself.”

best i ever did was in oct 93 i bought a used 93 ram 2500 manual diesel...
paid 12,100....a nursery man bought a new one when the old one reached 70 000 miles...as at that time dodge had that warranty....or 7 years...
it had 75000....i kept it 13 years and added another 300 000 to it...i spent 12 buck on valve cover gaskets and 140 to change throw out bearing....excluding tires and batteries....still got 6500 for it...i made it into a dually with some shop made spacers and bud rims...
that was a great truck...but, very noisy...lol....
a buddy used it to pull his boat...to get worked on...tore up his chevy 3/4 ton...it only weighted 44,000 pounds with the trailer...
they had to remove the bridge railing off of the boat to get it under the overpasses...he blew 7 tires on the trailer and it took 8 hours to go 40 miles...
he kept getting car tires from walmart....but, he did get there!!!
when the boat was finished....he leased it to a rod and gun club...and one weekend i got a free catered fishing trip for letting him use my truck...
we had a blast....

had a dodge diesel ever since....
heavy duty trucks...

your mileage may vary...

 

[WOPL Sniffer]

best i ever did was in oct 93 i bought a used 93 ram 2500 manual diesel...
paid 12,100....a nursery man bought a new one when the old one reached 70 000 miles...as at that time dodge had that warranty....or 7 years...
it had 75000....i kept it 13 years and added another 300 000 to it...i spent 12 buck on valve cover gaskets and 140 to change throw out bearing....excluding tires and batteries....still got 6500 for it...i made it into a dually with some shop made spacers and bud rims...
that was a great truck...but, very noisy...lol....
a buddy used it to pull his boat...to get worked on...tore up his chevy 3/4 ton...it only weighted 44,000 pounds with the trailer...
they had to remove the bridge railing off of the boat to get it under the overpasses...he blew 7 tires on the trailer and it took 8 hours to go 40 miles...
he kept getting car tires from walmart....but, he did get there!!!
when the boat was finished....he leased it to a rod and gun club...and one weekend i got a free catered fishing trip for letting him use my truck...
we had a blast....

had a dodge diesel ever since....
heavy duty trucks...

your mileage may vary...

HUH????