Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Early '94 auto-unique beast??

[BDaugherty]

A friend from work has a '94 2wd cab/chassis dually with the CTD and a automatic. He claims that his transmission is different from later model 12v trucks. He says that it has 2 transmssion pans and that it is just a regular 3 speed with an overdrive added to it from the factory. I think build date was Feb '94. I don't know anything about trucks like his, but what he's telling me just doesn't add up. Could someone help with the auto trans history from late 1st gen to early 2nd gen?



Also, he put in the "biggest fuel plate" BD sold for his truck (180hp I think) and moved it full forward with the AFC backed all the way out. It still doesn't smoke or have very much power. I think that he just didn't follow the instructions correctly or maybe even didn't buy the right parts, but I don't know what advice to give him. I'm not sure on the rear end gears. I'm thinking 3. 50, but I'm not 100%. Also, his truck has 280K miles.



Any commentary/history/helpful advice would be appreciated.

This is sort of a backwoods, oldschool kind of guy. He doesn't have or use internet. I printed a bunch of install and hop-up direction from Piers, TST, and SunCoast for him, but I'm just not sure what's really going on. He has a pyro that runs under 1200 full load WOT, but no boost gauge. He has the BHAF and straight pipe. The trans was built by a guy who supposedly hopped it up and put in a better converter. He swears by his trans build, but has not installed a lockup switch or temp gauge. With his trailer and farm tractor, the truck will hit a local hill at 60 and crest it at 2.

 

[bmoeller]

Something is jacked up and/or your friend isn't too bright. Sounds like a lot of BS too me.

Did his truck come with the optional PTO drive?

 

[TRoss]

First of all, it isn't an early `94. Mine is an early `94, build date in October of 1993. That means, for instance, that it doesn't have a catalytic converter, because they didn't put those on until January of `94. His does not qualify as an early `94. I can't speak to what transmission is in his. Mine has the NV4500, just like the later second generation 12 valves. For whatever reason, though, it is listed in the owner's manual as the NV4500HD (oooh!) as I recall.



It seems there is a pretty significant population of people who don't read much quality information about their trucks (like the TDR magazine or this board) AND who have "special" trucks, perhaps they prefer the illusion allowed in their lack of quality information (I was gonna say ignorance, but I didn't . . . oops, I did). Whatever is going on, it sounds like he does have a unique lack of power, though I won't guess at what causes it. Might be worth asking if he knows what his timing is set at.

 

[BDaugherty]

Thanks for the replies so far. I really don't know much about the truck because I haven't looked at it for myself. However, I've been trying to decipher the backwoods gibberish to determine what is really going on. I could be wrong about the build date... . or it might not really be a early '94. If I said that the 1st gens had the 518 trans and the 2nd gens (starting in 94) had the 47RH and then RE, would I be correct?

 

[Joe G.]

Yeah, that's correct. The big difference between a 47RH and a 518 is that the 47RH has a lockup TC. The 47RE was first used in the '96 model.

 

[MA2LA]

well there was one add on OD unit i have seen that has a pan much like an automatic so that kinda makes some sence.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

well there was one add on OD unit i have seen that has a pan much like an automatic so that kinda makes some sence.

YUP - sounds like a Gear Venders O/D was added...



I added a US Gear O/D to the 727 3-speed in my early '91...

 

[GAmes]

For whatever reason, though, it is listed in the owner's manual as the NV4500HD (oooh!) as I recall.

That is because there is also a NV4500 light duty used in the 1500s.

 

[Extreme1]

First of all, it isn't an early `94. Mine is an early `94, build date in October of 1993. That means, for instance, that it doesn't have a catalytic converter, because they didn't put those on until January of `94. His does not qualify as an early `94. I can't speak to what transmission is in his. Mine has the NV4500...

Mine is also an early build, but not as early as TRoss's truck. Mine was born in December of '93 and has the 47RH.



The truck in question has an auto and the '94's & '95's had loose torque converters and little injector pumps and injectors. I put a #4 plate in my truck and a 'shift kit' (bear in mind this was in '97) and didn't notice any difference. After waiting a few years since the first mods were so ineffective, I installed a Goerend TC and HOLY $&!@!! I installed a set of 215 injectors a few days later and that was almost as big a gain as the TC.



Have your buddy install a lock up switch and see if that makes a big difference. If it does, he didn't get much of a convertor. Also, these trucks have a WH1C turbo, not an HX-35, but that won't affect anything, the exhaust housings are the same.



Edit:

I almost forgot! The auto '94's were set up to defuel really early too. Mine wouldn't rev past 2,100 RPM when loaded. Combine that with a loose TC and it wouldn't upshift while climbing a hill (on ramp!) pulling a light trailer. Tell your friend he needs a 3k governor spring kit (PDR). You could get a 4k but since it's an auto it will never rev past 2,700 or so until it's locked up.

 

[Missouri Mule]

I thought for more power the AFC housing was supposed to be pushed forward or is it moved backwards for more arm/rack travel?

 

[bmoeller]

The plate and AFC housing are to be moved forward for more power.

 

[BDaugherty]

I've been pushing him to get the 3K gov spring kit, but it's hard to convince him. It really sounds to me like a 727 with a bolt on OD... but wouldn't a 727 have the same shape pan as a 47RH? He "Claims" that the main large pan is shaped different. I'll talk to him with the sort of new found info and see what I can do. There are only 3 of us Cummins guys at work and I really don't want any of us getting showed up by powerstrokes.

 

[Extreme1]

A 47RH is essentially a 727 with an OD bolted to it but it doesn't have a seperate pan. Being a C&C 2WD it probably has a housing added to the back of it for a PTO, basically a T-case without the front axle output parts or even the place to put them in the casting. I'm not sure what those look like or if they have a pan. Or it could be a G/V OD. Any chance you could post a pic?

 

[BDaugherty]

I'll be back to work on Tues and he doesn't drive it every day, but I'll see about getting a pic and a build date next week sometime. The curiosity is sort of eating me up. I almost wish I could pull in in my shop, print out a bunch of tech articles, and tune the crap out of it myself. Note that I did say "almost".

 

[Joe G.]

Check the electrical connector that is above the throttle lever. If it's a 47RH the connector will have three wires.