5.9L injectors question.

[EWingertsahn]

Hello,

I have an 06’ ram 2500 long bed 2wd. I have 378k miles and I performed a simple injector test to see how my injectors are holding up. Needless to say they will need changed. To my knowledge they have never been changed since I bought the truck at 167k miles.

The question I have is since I’m buying new injectors should I upgrade it to build a little more power? If so do you have any suggestions? (I was thinking BD injectors either 5%-15% or maybe even a 33% at max).

I plan on also changing the turbo but I don’t want to put a lot more boost pressure into the cylinders. I’m trying to avoid blowing a head gasket without installing head studs. Any suggestions on that will be welcomed as well.

My current mods are as follows.
I have a Banks intercooler upgrade and intake horn.
Banks ram air box.
Smarty Jr
BD diesel throttle sensitivity booster
Recently built 48RE trans with a billet converter.(no billet input or output shafts were installed). Trans has a shift kit and increased valve body pressure.
Oversized transmission cooler.
The rear end was rebuilt and it now has 342 gears in it from 373. (I don’t really tow at all)
Had the Rocker lash adjusted.
And new rear and front main seals.

Future upgrade with the turbo will be a two piece manifold.

Any input would be absolutely amazing. Thanks.

 

[Ozymandias]

What gives you the impression that your Injectors are bad?
Drive ability issues? Smoke? Higher then normal fuel consumption? Hard starting?

 

[EWingertsahn]

What gives you the impression that your Injectors are bad?
Drive ability issues? Smoke? Higher then normal fuel consumption? Hard starting?

Difficulty starting. Also when I bring the engine to 2500 RPM with no load and completely let off the throttle the engines RPM hangs there for a brief second and then if don’t come back down smoothly. It should react immediately.

I was doing research and came across this test to do.

 

[Rowdy Dalton]

Same issues as me, I was having hard starts too, more regularly. Don't wait until one injector craps out completely, and melts a piston. Then you might be buying a new engine.

I went with new BBI .5 injectors, after a lot of research. It was a noticeable increase in power, without the need for reprogramming anything. Injectors are.expensive, but don't skimp. I heard too many bad stories about remanufactured injectors. If you have the confidence to install them yourself, do it, because labor is a huge cost.

 

[promisedland]

Only reman injectors I would touch are BBI, I'd communicate with them & see which ones they would recommend.
Moded stock turbo from calibrated power would give you a bump in airflow without a lot of $. Again, I'd talk with then and see which model would fit your goals.

 

[Tuesdak]

Any input would be absolutely amazing

The TDR needs a buyers guide for injectors. Lots of cheap out there and it's hard to spend this much coin on a an expensive job when so many cheap gambles are out there. Bosch marketing allowed rebuilt injectors to be labeled as "new" at one point. It's a real mess to have to specify Virgin New. It's also a mess to get warranty on them let alone covering the engine IF it burns the engine down.

The above mess is why I went with the BBi injectors for my 2003 so I would know FOR SURE I was getting 100% NEW.

 

[EWingertsahn]

I spoke with BBI and with my mods I feel like the stage .5 will be the ones I will go with. I’m going with BBI because all who replied so far trust them so I will aswell.

So if I go with sage .5 injectors then what turbo should I choose. I don’t mind spending around 2k or maybe a little bit higher for a turbo. Definitely want to avoid blowing a head gasket but I do want it to be ball bearing. Any suggestions?

 

[promisedland]

I talked with calibrated power about my truck (400to500rwhp) & they recommended the STR moded stock turbo.

 

[promisedland]

Here's the link.https://duramaxtuner.com/turbo-char...cw-2004-5-2007-5-9l-cummins.html?options=cart

 

[Rowdy Dalton]

Here's the link.https://duramaxtuner.com/turbo-char...cw-2004-5-2007-5-9l-cummins.html?options=cart

Enabler.

Every time I get to reading on this site, I have to fight the urge to get new toys.

.

 

[Tuesdak]

I spoke with BBI and with my mods I feel like the stage .5 will be the ones I will go with. I’m going with BBI because all who replied so far trust them so I will aswell.

So if I go with sage .5 injectors then what turbo should I choose. I don’t mind spending around 2k or maybe a little bit higher for a turbo. Definitely want to avoid blowing a head gasket but I do want it to be ball bearing. Any suggestions?

Garrett GT3782R Turbo Kit... I had a Stage 3 on mine, but, I also had a different cam that I feel made a difference for not having the known barking problems of going that big. The Howl just before you spool it up will put a smile on your face. You are making me miss my 2003!

This place may still have some in stock.

https://www.atpturbo.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=759361-5011S&Store_Code=tp

 

[EWingertsahn]

Garrett GT3782R Turbo Kit... I had a Stage 3 on mine, but, I also had a different cam that I feel made a difference for not having the known barking problems of going that big. The Howl just before you spool it up will put a smile on your face. You are making me miss my 2003!

This place may still have some in stock.

https://www.atpturbo.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=759361-5011S&Store_Code=tp

View attachment 140807

That’s a good option but I’m also looking at S300 with a 63mm trim or a STR 60mm trim. Both are really affordable compared to the Garret turbo. Any thoughts?

 

[Tuesdak]

I forget the details of how I landed on this turbo. However the Ball Bearing is less friction so the bigger turbo can spool up faster. It's an obsolete turbo so if you have a failure parts are hard to find. Cost for a good turbo is NOT one of my considerations. I have had the right turbo pay for itself in fuel savings on other engines as an example.

The turbo has a howl under light load that goes away when you load it up. Well worth the price of admission. It worked well for me with a good smoke free tune and a NV5600. I had the stage 1 BBi's as that was all that was available back then. I would exceed the limits of the 2003 cooling system with Evans waterless coolant towing in our extreme heat. I was also starting to slip the 1947-OHD rated for 425HP 900TQ.

 

[EWingertsahn]

Ok guys here is the plan.

I’m getting BBi stage .5 injectors.
104lb valve springs
Stage 1 push rods.
Stealth STR turbo
Two piece BD exhaust manifold

I also lowered my truck with a two inch drop shackle and removed my overload spring. I don’t do heavy hauling and if I’m going to I’m going to add air ride assist for that.

So I should see some decent gains. Opinions welcome.

 

[promisedland]

Nice! Keep us posted!

 

[EWingertsahn]

So a quick update!

I decided to go with BBI stage 1
Also went with stage 2 push rods.
ATS pulse flow manifold.

In about two weeks I’ll have all the parts installed.

Total parts to be installed is:
Power driven Diesel stage 2 push rods
Power driven Diesel 104lb valve springs.
ARP 247 head studs
ATS pulse flow 2 piece manifold
Calibrated Power stealth STR turbo.
Fass 165gpm lift pump
Beans diesel sump kit.
BBI stage 1 injectors with be supply tubes.
Fleece fuel filter delete kit

Parts I’m already using on the truck:
Banks power intracooler system.
Banks power intake with super scoop.
Bd diesel throttle sensitivity booster
Smarty Jr
Single disc billet converter.
Rebuilt trans with increased valve body pressure and shift kit
342 rear end gears.
Airbag it 2in drop shackle
Alpha Rex nova highlights
Alpha Rex fog lights.

I will create another post separate from this one with the progress to the truck.

 

[AH64ID]

Decent parts list. Couple of thoughts, I would downsize the FASS as the 165 is overkill and it will outflow the fuel filters. Also make sure you get good filters for it, and I would not delete the stock filter. To each their own, but a modded stock basket is a much better option than a sump kit on a daily driven truck. FWIW, the stock in-tank pump can push thru 3 filters with enough fuel for 550rwhp +.

Lastly, I would consider a MM3 with a custom tune now that your running larger injectors. The SJR doesn’t have the timing profile to take full advantage of those injectors without getting hot at higher power levels.

 

[BigPapa]

SHHHhhhh! Y'all better be CAREFULLLLL.......

You're facilitating breaking EPA Regulations.......

The forum police will be here directly.....

 

[promisedland]

Oh stop it,
EWingertsahn, What are your power goals?

 

[Blakers]

Difficulty starting. Also when I bring the engine to 2500 RPM with no load and completely let off the throttle the engines RPM hangs there for a brief second and then if don’t come back down smoothly. It should react immediately.

I was doing research and came across this test to do.

Mine drops down in stages when brought up to 2500-3000 rpm (in neutral) and let off suddenly. Otherwise, no issues. Starts great. 195,000 miles.