Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Greetings....

[DSahd]

Greetings to all. I have been lurking around for some time and am a 1st time poster. I have had a '97, '03,'05 and now back to a '96 tcd. I purchased my latest last week and need to do a lot..... Firstly, she has no power. I struggle to get her down the road. At 2000 rpm, what power I had, is gone. It's dangerous as I can't attempt passing a vehicle doing 55 as there is not enough road. Having read some of the posts I have ordered a 3000 GsK, #10 plate from TST, made a 4" exhaust system and have still not decided on an airfilter. I need advise on gauges, (working mans budget), prevents me from all the fancies. Please help on where I am going and whether I am on the right track or not. Thanks in advance. One more thing, is the wandering steering... any suggestions? Any links to other how to do it sites???

Cheers Derek

 

[QWaller]

Firstly, if you could fill in signature. Otherwise let us know what you have looked into as far as fuel delivery. Sounds like that thing is starving. :{

 

[Signal73]

Yeah, maybe slipped timing, clogged fuel filter or prescreen, Bad Overflow valve or fuel shutoff solenoid not pulling up all the way. Those are some of the top offenders for no juice after 2K

 

[DieselNasty]

Welcome to the site. I am on the working man's budget and bought the Autometer Z-Series guages Trans Temp, 60psi boost, and 1600 egt guage with pillar mount. You can find these on many diesel websites, pick the one that you like.

 

[NHays]

My 2 cents

Ok, Welcome to the 12 valvers again. First things First. Change fuel filter and heater strainer, and then fuel pump. The fuel pump is on the side or block almost directly below the filter. Get a GOOD air filter and take the plastic horn piece from the airbox to fender-well out. then make a few large holes in the sides of the bottom piece of airbox. This will open intake up on a budget. Your exhaust for now could be straight piped with three inch, It will be cheap, but a little noisy and allow you to get a good idea of the performance before you dump alot of money in. For your acceleration problem I would start by checking boost pressure if you can, Check and see if the waistgate is stuck open a little. Your stock engine should produce between (+-)17-24 psi boost under full acceleration, if its low, check every clamp, and rubber coupler on intake side. A simple trick for acceleration is to turn the star wheel in the AFC housing forward a few turns and see what happens, this is for pre boost fueling, and might give you some idea of the condition of the fule system and bypass the a slight boost problem. Best and cheapest thing you can do now is... ..... Straight pipe existing exhaust, check boost and all fittings, airfillter and box, and fuel filter/strainer/and lift pump. Even if the lift pump is not bad, I would replace anyway, and keep the old one as spare, its a peace of mind thing, if you know what i mean. . With these simple and cheap mods you will get a sort of base line for the truck, and be able to better diagnose and pinpoint problems. Now, for the steering thing, ooh , I would go down to parts store and get a track bar for starters. this should fix most of the wobble for a while if your tie rod ends are not bad. But eventually you will need to put a Luke Link, or a 3rd gen kit to eliminate that problem. Also ball joints can be a major culprit. Oo. Hope this helps Edit: omit the straight pipe and exhaust work, I read again and you have solved that prob... . my bad.

 

[Dave M]

When I first got my stock 97 5 spd manual about 3 years ago it was a dog. It was my first diesel and I thought thats the way it was gonna be. Then I got my gages ..... and found my max boost was 7 psi when it should have been 25-30. Found a 3 inch rip in the passenger side boost hose where it comes out of the intercooler and rubbed against the inside fender.

My EGT's were 1250F and up. :--)

Gages are important! I got Dipricol Black 1600F EGT & 60 psi boost with a 3 gage pillar mount (fuel pressure is next) from Diesel Performance Parts for about $300. You see used ones on TDR classified all the time and EBay all the time.



Good luck and welcome to TDR and Nhays had some very good advice for you. The low fuel problem could also be leaking fuel return lines or a bad fuel overflow valve on the fuel return line at the fuel injection pump. The fuel overflow valve fixed a low power problem on a friends 95. I got it from Piers Diesel.



Dave

 

[DSahd]

Thanks for the speedy responses. You have all given me a lot to chew on. I will be spending the rest of the evening learning the termnology and applying it to research and hopefully executing most of your suggestions tomorrow. I'll report back on my findings. One thing I did notice was that after installing the 4"pipe,she seemed to have even less power. .

I have not figured out the signature as of yet.

I have a 1996 dually 4x4, extended cab. Stock except for the 4"exhaust.

 

[Dave M]

learning the termnology and applying it to research and hopefully executing most of your suggestions tomorrow. I'll report back on my findings. One thing I did notice was that after installing the 4"pipe,she seemed to have even less power. .

I have not figured out the signature as of yet.

I have a 1996 dually 4x4, extended cab. Stock except for the 4"exhaust.

Let me see if I can help... first the terminology... just ask on your thread if you want quick help... you also can go to top of the page and click on "Discussion Forum" and then "Main Forum Directory" and then "First Time Cummins Diesel Owners" and the first thread is titled "Sticky: Abbreviations, Acronyms and TDR lingo". The first 4 threads there start with "Sticky:... . " and should be helpful.



Other help can be found by going to top of page click on 'Discussion Forum" and then "Forum FAQ". You will find lots of help on getting around the site.



Now for your signature go to "Discussion Forum" again and "User Control Panel" and look on the left side under "Control Panel... "Edit Signature" and "Edit Truck Profile". Just type in what ever you want in the blank window and it will appear in your sig. I made my sig and truck profile the same . I don't know what the difference is.



Have fun,

Dave

 

[Matthug]

First thing, gauges! We need to know whats going on in that thing!

Here's what I bought, I'm on a tight budget myself and this seemed like a great deal for good gauges-

http://www.citydiesel.net/complete-high-performance-gauge-kit-p-219.html



You'll want the 60 PSI gauge not the 30... once you start BOMB'ing that gauge will get pegged quickly.



As for the power, well as said before first get gauges and see if there's boost leaking. In my 94' I had a bad wastegate actuator and was only getting 8 PSI, of course that was a WH1C not an Hx35. Anyway, a ruptured diaphram in the AFC would also cause low power.



This is a good site that helped me out quite a few times-

http://dodgeram.org/tech/dsl/maint/2nd_Gen-12v.htm

 

[DSahd]

Update...

While I am waiting for all my goodies to get in I decided to go ahead and check hoses and clamps etc. I found a tear in the passanger side boot where it rubs against the frame. Price at the dealership is $180 plus... . WOW. I phoned around and it seems to be the only place I can get one. While I wait for the boot tro arrive I wrapped it with duct tape to see what difference it would make and yeah. . it makes a difference alright.

I will be sure to keep you all posted on how things turn out as I get everything installed .

Cheers Derek

 

[Dave M]

While I am waiting for all my goodies to get in I decided to go ahead and check hoses and clamps etc. I found a tear in the passanger side boot where it rubs against the frame. Price at the dealership is $180 plus... . WOW. I phoned around and it seems to be the only place I can get one. While I wait for the boot tro arrive I wrapped it with duct tape to see what difference it would make and yeah. . it makes a difference alright.

I will be sure to keep you all posted on how things turn out as I get everything installed .

Cheers Derek

I got a whole set of new boots with SS clamps from www.Piersdiesel.com. Thats all the boots and clamps for the price of one from the dealer. I too found the price at dealer way too high. Piers boots worked great. My leak was exactly where yours was. Also you might check out the boost line from the intake to AFC and AFC to turbo wastegate.



Dave

 

[tgrfan2]

Sounds like my 95 when I got it. It would barely make 80mph. #6 plate did the trick but I would go with GSK and #10 if doing it now. I got my Dipricol gauges from TST back then too. Good luck.

 

[BTighe]

that seems like a good price on those gauges. cancel that order from the dealer. call piers. dealers are for emergencies only! welcome here

 

[BTighe]

bhaf would be a good start for intake.

 

[DSahd]

Since my last post, I have done the following... Replaced front rotors and pads, replaced carpet inside, installed new shocks, also installed a BHAF from Napa $61. 50. My 3K springs have just arrived and I am waiting for my #10 plate as well as pyro and boost guages.

I will post photos of the rotors as you will not beleive how bad they were. They had lips in them about 5mm deep. Today I will start stripping for the fuel plate and gov. springs. I found an almost brand new boot at the local scrap yard for $10. They threw in the other boot and arm as they figured they would not sell them. I am also going to attack the "loosness" of the front end, (rubbers,bushings, etc. ).

Thank you all for the input and directions. A friend of mine with an '02 is getting caught up with what I am doing. He too will become a member soon.

Cheers Derek

 

[Grizzly]

Welcome to TDR. As you have already found out, this is a good web site. Lot of good and helpful folks here. I would also change all fluids and belts, then get under the truck with a set of socket wrenches and look for loose bolts and a good general inspection. Sounds like the previous owner didn't give it any TLC.

 

[DSahd]

3K spring set.....

I have just installed the 3K spring set as per instructions, but have a question regarding the innermost spring. I removed the inner and middle spring then before the bottom seat there was another little spring. Therefore there were 4 springs in total. Is this right??? I reinstalled them without the little one. There has been no mention of it before.

Cheers Derek

 

[McLaughlin]

Unless you have obvious wear on the steering components, you might want to check the alignment toe in first. I'm not sure what the correct numbers are but from what I've read and I'm experiencing, if the toe in is not right the trucks will wander even if everything else is OK.

 

[DSahd]

Big Thank You.....

What can I say... ... ... . I thank you..... My truck thanks you... ... . I have just finished installing the 3KGS and the #10 TST plate and have a smile on my face from side to side. I would never have beleived that there could be such a dramatic difference. When I did the installation I changed all filters and prescreen which were disgusting. I took photos of all the work done and will post them for all to see. Once again Thank you for all the help and input.

Cheers Derek Oo.

 

[Signal73]

Nice! Really wakes it up huh? Lets see some Pics...