Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) 12 valve timing

[dseabaugh]

Still trying to get my fuel milage up to where it was before the crooked factory representative ( notice no st#@ler) did warranty work on my pump. I have finally concluded it must be an advance issue. I would like to know how far the timing should be advanced without causing heating problems while towing heavy. Also wondering how long it takes to change the timing and who to take it to in southeast Missouri and what I should expect to pay.

I Used to get around 22-23 mpg with tracking over several tankfulls, and ended up with around a 20% drop after they repaired my pump for high rpm and low milage problem. I wanted to make a trip to Boca Raton Fl. to pick up materials , but after calculating fuel cost for the 2500 mile trip I decided forget going to Florida to get away for a few days.

 

[dseabaugh]

Forgot to note, that unless the starwheel is al the way forward, the truck does not have enough power to pull out of the driveway, but when forward it will blow smoke and pass any one. The dealer (avoid like the plague on the dealer rating page) had the work done at the Cummins dealer, who subed the work out to a pump shop. Maybe this added info will give some hints to what needs done.

 

[wsmalley]

Shouldn't take a truly good mechanic more than 15 minutes or so to set the timing where you want it. With a forward #6 you would be pretty good at ~16-18*. It shouldn't cost more than an hour's worth of labor if they round up and even less if they charge for a fraction of an hour.

 

[Howard Durand]

15 minutes to time one of these beasts???

 

[datablitz]

chrysler warranty pays 3. 1 hours to set timing... . i dont know where you came up with 15 min...

 

[SRadke]

15 minutes is darn fast but 3 hours seems like a lot for someone who knows what they're doing. I did one in about 1. 5 hours but it was my first time and I was reading the manual at the same time. It also took 4 tries. Of course I had the radiator out and timeing cover off at the time too.



-Scott

 

[Brandon]

15 minutes to accurately set timing, wow that is awesome, could you give out the mans name I would like to call him and pay him for advice on how to do it in 15 min, I would gladly pay him for his time for consulting, I do timing alot and If I could do it in 15 min I think people would surely be impressed





thank you Brandon

 

[Brandon]

forgot to add It takes me about an hour to two, with putting my tools up and I thought that was pretty smooth, but I am always willing to learn.

 

[Jim Fulmer]

Hum..... 15 minutes! Tonight I dropped mine from 25 to 20! First I have a pointer for TDC, roll the motor over to TDC and pull the pump plug..... not there, roll it over one round, there she is, drop the copper washer on the oil catch pan crack the nut loose, pin the pump, back the motor up to 20-21 and lock her down... ... . 45 Minutes as guess... ... she still skates on the road.



Jim

 

[stressedout]

Can we get some step by step instructions on doing the timing this quick? What kind of pointer do you have? None of the shops around the Richmond VA area will advance the timing on these trucks. The local Cummings shop will not do it either.





Thanks

Keith

 

[bighammer]

Fifteen minutes does sound pretty darn quick. With the timing light setup I use (which I think is fast) it takes a bit longer. This ain't the Indy 500, I don't see the need to try to rush thru something as critical as timing, anyway. I'm not sure I'd trusst a mechanic that does it in 15 min.





You sure they got everything connected up right? I wonder what was done to the pump. I assume it's the same one. If you stand on it in neutral, what does it do? How high will it go, any smoke, etc.

 

[dseabaugh]

Acceleration is still a bit slow in neutral, at least when compared to the big cam 1 855 in my dumptruck. That is comparing the speed that the the tach needle goes over. In neutral it will spit a burst of smoke as soon as you floor it and smoke goes away. Tach governors out around 2800. fuel filter is new and fuel pump screen is clean. ( I cleaned it, they didn't) Under load, say 12-15K gross the smoke will stay with it under heavy acceleration till it levels off. with star wheel backed to the middle the acceleration is so slow you literally cannot drive it. it is almost impossible to pull up a gentle slope driveway. Very very slow acceleration then. All the way forward it is perky enough to be comfortable to drive. I am sure it is the same pump since they sent it off to a pump shop in the same town and it took 3 days. I don't know what was done to injectors. How far can advance be set and not meltdown a piston? I have done that on another engine before although I think that was not advance related.

 

[CumminFast]

You can call Jeff Garmon if you want it done in 15.

 

[wsmalley]

Brandon,

Call Jeff Garmon down here in GA. He can do it for you. And I trust him implicitly with my truck. He is the ONLY one allowed to touch my truck except for me and CumminFast.

 

[JAllen]

Where is Jeff Garmon located?

 

[fishjack1]

Jeff has done some work on my truck - very knowledgeable esp. with the Cummins engines.



You can get some info from his website:

http://www.dieselperformancemotorsports.com/

 

[wsmalley]

Jeff's Number

JAllen,

Jeff is located right off of I-75 in McDonough, GA, right in between exits 216 and 218. You can give him a call monday-saturday 8-5.



866-898-8585



The only man who has ever or will ever touch my engine apart from me.