Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) 97 auto 2500 with 5th wheel...upgrade Q's

[GLockwood]

Hello ,

My friend has a 1997 2500 auto 12 valve . He has a 8000lb 5th wheel trailer and says the gap between 2nd and 3rd gear is too much #@$%! . ie : the revs drop too much when it changes to 3rd gear .



I said he needs more power and torque .



I have told him to get gauges for EGT , trans and boost :-{} .



Would a TST power kit make it pull better and be safe for the motor ?

We are in Australia . The local shop tried to sell him an Edge EZ .



Thanks,

Graham.

 

[surfbeetle]

If you contact TST, they can answer that one for your. They have a chart on their page showing what is compatible. I have a #5 on my truck but its a stick. http://www.tstproducts.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=31



I have a 32 fifth wheel that is 11,000 lbs and it does just fine in the mountains.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Hello Down Under Graham. . . if the local shop tried selling him an EZ, run!

I think your friend means there is a big gap between 3rd and OD. I have an automatic '98 and there isn't that big of gap between 2nd and 3rd, but there is a BIG drop when it shifts into overdrive and locks up. I would suggest when accelerating onto the highway to leave OD off until the revs get up then switch OD back on at around 95-100 km/h.

Vaughn

 

[blacksheepdiesel]

What Vaughn said.

The TST fuel plate will definitely help but the gauges have to be in there first. I would suggest a plate and a 3k governor spring kit which will allow higher rpms before defueling. He will need to watch the egt gauge to see how this setup behaves in his truck under different conditions. On the TST website it appears the #6 and #8 plates would work in his truck.

Godspeed,
Trent

 

[GLockwood]

. . if the local shop tried selling him an EZ, run!



Vaughn

He is lucky I joined here . I saved him $500 on that one . The 'EZ' would have fit my motor though . I have a 'Van Aitken'?.



His truck is a CPL1863 . (i think that means a California vehicle with exhaust recirculation) . According to TST chart (see link above from 'Surfbeetle') it may not be upgraded to CPL1553 .

I do not really know what that means though .



I have tried emailing TST with no reply so far. Could be an email problem .



If he was towing and EGT got too high what should he do to protect the motor ? I assume slow down and drop a gear ?



Thanks for the replies .

Graham.

 

[GLockwood]

Hi ,

Does anyone know the difference between CPL1863 and CPL1553 and exactly what the note on the TST chart means ? (note 'a' on TST chart- http://www.tstproducts.com/index.asp...PROD&ProdID=31 )

Thanks,

Graham.

 

[jtwcummins]

I understand exactly what you are talking about . Mine felt like a huge flat spot from about 35 mph up to about 60 when rpms passed 2k. Made getting on freeway fun. Anything causing a slow down made it slow to get back up to speed. If the truck has EGR plug the vac line to the valve until you can remove it. Mine fell off and was stolen so I had to put manifolds on intake and exhaust w/o EGR.

installing a number 10 fuel plate does add power, but adding the 3k gov spring kit and readjusting the trans shift points will make the auto more driveable. The gov defuels at about 2700 rpm when new and the defuel rpm will slowly go lower as time passes, springs get weak. of course you are probably going to have to look real hard at the transmission, but unless it is abused, aka racing & pulling, and not serviced regulary, it will do okay.



I did everything to mine to make it have better driving manners. The gov springs make things more gasser like in the engine will defuel about 3200 rpm so trans can stay in each gear longer. The rest of my mods allow me to forget manners when needed!

 

[tgrfan2]

Hello ,

My friend has a 1997 2500 auto 12 valve . He has a 8000lb 5th wheel trailer and says the gap between 2nd and 3rd gear is too much #@$%! . ie : the revs drop too much when it changes to 3rd gear .



I said he needs more power and torque .



I have told him to get gauges for EGT , trans and boost :-{} .



Would a TST power kit make it pull better and be safe for the motor ?

We are in Australia . The local shop tried to sell him an Edge EZ .



Thanks,

Graham.

I think the 97 and my 98 auto have the same pump setup basically. I put in a #6 when I got the fiver(19760 GCW) at 116K. I did the 3K GSK with the KDP after doing the DTT at 185K. Many recommend a #10 and 3K GSK combo as easier on the transmission.

I haven't had EGT problems with the #6 but I would recommend gauges anyway. The change to a BHAF for $40 also cut egts about 50 degrees and my old air filter needed changing anyway.

The #6 added at 116K did make my OE 47re slip locked in OD at 24-26# boost even after adjusting the transmission pressure per DTT. However I got almost 70K of good service out of the transmission just by watching boost and the tach for slippage after installing the plate and it would smoke most any truck around with the slush box!

After doing the DTT, I just wish that "sorry" 47re hadn't lasted so long!

 

[Howard Durand]

Might as well throw in my 2 cents worth. An 8K load shouldn't be that hard to keep moving, even after shifting into OD, but the drop when TC locks is a killer.

I am guessing he also has 3. 54 gears which compounds the problem.

Unless he is using an exhaust brake, he really doesn't need a "mystery" switch but putting a switch in so he can keep it from locking would be handy.

I use that all the time.

I also have an opinion on the throttle position sensor.

 

[GLockwood]

Thanks ,

What exactly is a DTT ?

We are still unsure about the CPL1863 note on the TST plate chart . quote" The CA '96-'98 Manual and autos are both EGR engines 180HP and 420Lb-ft, which may not be upgraded to CPL#1553".

As it says 'may' not be upgraded , are they refering to California regulations , or the 'EGR' prevents the upgrade from working ?

Also , what is CPL#1553 , which we 'may not' upgrade to ?

Thanks everyone .

Graham.

 

[SSage]

If the transmission is in good shape a TST #6 fuel plate and a BHAF or AFE air filter would wake things up big time. I ran the same set up on my 95 and the stock auto transmission has never slipped but, my transmission has low miles. DTT is diesel transmission technologies or something close to that. I've just ordered one for my truck since I'm in need of more power. My stock exhaust worked well with the plate.



TST #6 fuel plate max. Higher the number, the less power you have. Some like a #10



Bigger Air intake / Filter



Gov springs in the injector pump, allows less defueling, 3k springs would work.



The auto transmission won't take much more power than stock, mine has held up well to a TST #6 and I tow very heavy.



An EGT gauge is needed to keep the exhaust temp in check. RPM helps keep EGT down, my trucks run best around 2300 rpm while towing 15,000 pounds or more. My EGT is 1100 degrees F at 2300 rpm pushing 20 pounds of boost with the stock turbo while towing 17,000 pounds in rolling hills.

 

[champspa]

I have a number 8 and it's pushed forward , makes plenty of power . I pull a goose neck trailer with 10k on the deck most every weekend to a pull somewhere or another. better get that auto fixed with a goerend triple lock and that will do it unless your racing that beast.

 

[Howard Durand]

DTT does stand for Diesel Transmission Technologies, a performance transmission builder located in British Columbia. Most people that are happy with their choice of vendor tend to advertise for them.

I like mine and DTT is fairly close to where I live.

 

[GLockwood]

I did the 3K GSK with the KDP after doing the DTT at 185K. ... ... ... ... ... .

After doing the DTT, I just wish that "sorry" 47re hadn't lasted so long!

So , 'doing the DTT' means replacing the entire trans with a rebuilt high performance trans ?





Still looking for clues about the CPL1863 / CPL1553 thing of the TST plate chart .



Thanks for helping .

Graham.

 

[tgrfan2]

So , 'doing the DTT' means replacing the entire trans with a rebuilt high performance trans ?





Still looking for clues about the CPL1863 / CPL1553 thing of the TST plate chart .



Thanks for helping .

Graham.

You can get a crate transmission built to specs after you fill out Bill's sheet of questions. He makes recommendations per your power and hauling requirements. We decided against the billet shafts after some tough discussion since I wasn't going the exhaust brake route or planning to race the truck. Bill has minimum specs though and he won't sell just to sell parts.

I decided on adding the hemi drum and got the livestock version.

My builder was new to them with the closest DTT approved vendor being over 200 miles away. They said Bill grilled them pretty well before agreeing to let them do it. I had talked to the builder several months before doing the job and told him him I would leave it up to him whether he wanted to do the crate transmission or build it himself and put up with Bill! I think he enjoyed Bill's no BS approach, but it takes a guy that knows what he is doing and yet wants to learn from one of the best to work that way.

I have 35K on it since the job and it is doing great. Being halfway around the world is going to be expensive and inconvenient any way you go. Freight cost was about $200 just for the parts and core returns of the VB and TC. I think the transmission exchange would have been around $600 freight for the 3K miles.

I hope I have answered your transmission questions and will leave the pump question to someone more knowledgeable. Good luck!

 

[GLockwood]

Thanks again ,

Graham.