Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Bitten by KDP

[Ram Medic]

Ok, I got bit. My KDP fell out and broke my housing. I took apart the front end of the truck and will start on the valve covers tomorrow. My question is, since I have it tore down this far, what else should or could I do to make my life simpler or more enjoyable? I already have new belt, upper and lower radiator hoses, and thermostat. Any other ideas? I have considered a new cam, lift pump, and water pump. Also, I have a Cummins South dealer fairly close, what should I expect to pay for a new timing housing?Oo. Oo.

 

[Jeff H]

Best time to do timing. Much easier to clean the pump shaft and gear also.

 

[RT66DOC]

I replaced the water pump when I did mine. Didn't seem to be anything wrong with the original but I thought, at 100K miles, why not as long as I was already there. Around 65 bucks from NAPA. So now I have a spare.

 

[Ram Medic]

I wish I could do the timing. I am pretty sure I don't have the "special" tools to do it. The water pump is a definate. What about upgrading cams? Any good aftermarket cams for a 12V that don't cost a small fortune?

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Piers has cams, around $550 if I remember right, includes a set of refaced lifters. Quite a few guys running them with no problems, definitely helps responsiveness and turbo spoolup.



Power Wagon (Mark K) was telling me you can do timing with the spill port method which doesn't really require any special tools, I don't know how many people do it this way. He said it was more precise. Sounded like it wasn't too difficult to do. In effect you start around TDC, set up your fuel supply & drain container to run through #1 delivery valve, rotate engine until the fuel just stops to flow though, then loosen the inj. pump from the shaft and rotate engine to the degrees you want it then retighten. I'm just repeating what I heard, if I understood it right, but someone who's done it can explain it better than I can (haven't messed around with 12-valves much).



Vaughn

 

[GRW]

Bummer, after all the reading I have been doing.

I didn't want to wait to fix it.

I had to wait long enough to get the truck.

Much less find the one I was looking for.

I installed the TST kit.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

Check TDR 33, pp. 46-48 for some photos etc. on pulling the camshaft etc. to do the gear case. The case should cost around $225-250 or so.

 

[DragonflyDriver]

Originally posted by Ram Medic

Ok, I got bit. My KDP fell out and broke my housing.

I saw where 4 days ago you were planning to tab it this past weekend. Did it come out since that post? Man, talk about bad luck! #@$%!

 

[krs]

Ask Piers if he has a timing cover before you buy one - I THINK that I remember him saying in here that he had them for $150.



Sorry to hear of this. Bad luck always sucks.



Go around checking the torque on all of the bolts that you find under the cover while you're there. Some have come loose for people and they could cause as much damage as the KDP does.

 

[Ram Medic]

At this point, if it were not for bad luck I would have none at all.