Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Help with performance....CTD first time owner

[CMartin]

Hi there, this is obviously my first post here and I am happy to become a member. I will purchase my first ever CTD next week and can not wait to make some power. It is a 1997 4X4 12v 5speed LWB extended cab. I am informed by friends that the 12valve has the potential to make much more power than the 24v thats one of the reasons I bought the 97. I will have many questions for most of you, as I know NOTHING about diesel's and I hope you guys will forgive my ignorance if I ask too many questions. I am a technician for gasoline cars though so I am confident I can do most of my own mods to the CTD.

I am shooting for about 350-400hp and was wondering if the stock drivetrain will hold up to that... . other than the stock clutch, I know that will not. What is the first thing I should do to the truck to make some extra power? I do not want to spend thousands upon thousands of dollars, so whatever makes the most power for the least amount would be good

Thanks and I look forward to making new friends here!

CHAD

 

[pwknapp]

Welcome to the TDR. Do some searches and you won't believe what you will learn. Just remember gauges first.

 

[Lsfarm]

Welcome

Hello Chad, welcome to the TDR.



The first thing to do is to go to the top of the page, click on 'User Control Panel' on the page that pops up, click on 'Edit Profile' and fill in where you are located and type in what you want to show in your signature. .



This helps those of us reading your posts to recommend others in your area, or vendors nearby or if you are lucky an active local chapter of the TDR.



As for adding power, the 12v engine doesn't necessarily make more power, it just has the best injection pump on it and therefore can be 'turned up' a bit more than the 24v injection pump. For the ultimate power, an injection pump off of a 12v put on a 24v engine makes some very impressive power, but it is an expensive job to do. To add the first hundred or so HP the 12v is a bit less expensive than a 24v, after that all HP costs a lot of cash.



For your truck, first read the 'sticky note' about the KDP and GET IT FIXED!! [sorry for yelling] it is an easy job to kill the KDP, but if it gets you before you get it, then it will be several thousand dollars to fix the damage.



Next some gauges, Boost and EGT minimum. Then bump the timing and slide the fuel plate and AFC housing forward these will give you some almost free horsepower. Then save up for a GSK kit, and probably a #10 fuel plate. these will really wake up your engine and give you many 'miles of smiles'. By then you will need a better clutch.



If you wish you can PM me and I can answer some additional questions. If you are in Michigan, Northern Indiana or Ohio come on up and drive a couple of turned up CTD's and get an idea what you want to do.



Hope this helps, Greg L.

 

[CMartin]

Thanks for the responses so far. I was not totally clear on what I wanted, which I would like to make the truck run in the low 12second range in the 1/4mile. What will be neccessary, and how much will it cost? Thanks

 

[Jim Fulmer]

CMartin, do a search on the TDR for BPine (Blair Pine) he lives over in San Jose and has allot of 12V knowledge and is close to you.



Jim

 

[Lsfarm]

Low 12 sec?

Hello again Chad, well 3-400 HP isn't going to get you into the 12's. 400 HP with a five speed will probably get you into the high 14's or at least low 15's. You give up about a second with a stick shift over an upgraded automatic. I may be optomistic with these numbers with a stick shift.



To get into the 12's, much less low 12's will require some of those thousands and thousands you said you didn't want to spend. !!



To actually get into the 12's with a 5 speed, will in my opinion require twin turbos, some good pump work and a very good clutch.



To have a fun hotrod truck that surprises a LOT of other vehicles, your first request of around 400HP will do the job.



But low 12's?? This will take a lot more HP and money. If you want a truck in the 12's, buy an automatic truck, get a good auto trans upgrade, [see my signature] buy twins, get a ported and O-ringed head and a turned up injection pump from Piers, and plan on spending a lot of time tweaking and tuning.



Greg L

 

[CMartin]

Ok so the truck I am buying is not the best choice for 12's... hmmmm. You know I did not really think about it, 400hp is good to get into the 12's for some vehicles, but I did not really look at the big picture of what I am using. Obviously the truck weighs a whole lot more than say a 69 DART, plus it is 4wheel drive, big tires and yes a 5speed. I guess going 12's is not going to happen with THIS truck, and frankly thats not my only intentions with it anyway. Here is the deal..... I have alloted myself $5k to spend on performance upgrades... . and was hoping that would get me some good hp/tq numbers. I DO want the truck to last a while before I start breaking stuff, so thats why I was think 3-400hp, as I do not know what the stock drivetrain can handle in power. I do NOT want to spend $5k upgrading the power output just to find out I am spending more to replace broken parts.

What is involved in going twins? Is there a readily available manifold to do this? I am going to do a link search adn try to research this more. Thanks

 

[Lsfarm]

Search Forums

Chad, get a pot of coffee, or a 12 pack and search on KDP, Fuel Plate, Timing, Twin Turbo's, O-rings, Fire Rings, Blown head gasket, Head Studs, EGT and guages.



Hope you are a speed reader !



Like Jim Fulmer suggested get in touch with some of your local guys and let them help speed your CTD education!!



Suggested items:



KDP fix

Guages

Timing

AFe air filter

4" exhaust

#10 fuel plate

3 or 4K GSK

Clutch



That ought to use up a lot of that $5K, but you will have a truck that is a blast to drive, and still give good mileage and service. Is diesel still over $2. 20 per gallon in the bay area?? I get into Oakland often [couple times a month], and am amazed at the pump prices.



Check out this site www.piersdiesel.com



Hope this helps, Greg L

 

[CMartin]

Greg, thanks a million for your help..... and yes I was just as piersdiesel



I was looking at their twin kit and that is within the budget. I will then have to spend a bit more for the clutch, but I think that is the route I am going to try and go. Says the kit is pretty complete with the exception of the exhaust. Also says that 50psi is max recommended boost on stock headgasket. I am confident I can remove the head myself and oring the block so that will help save me some money. I think diesel is right around $2. 12-$2. 16 right now where I am.

By the way, what kinda mileage can I expect..... in stock form, for a 97 12v? I know the newer 24v's get in upwards of 20 right? Thanks

 

[Lsfarm]

Fuel Mileage

Well you should see around 20 +/- a couple. Every truck is different. I rarely see 20, in fact have only seen 20 about 5 or 6 times and this is with seven different CTD's since '96.



Around town you should see with sedate driving probably about 16-17mpg, freeway only at 65mph, probably 20-21. But for me to stay at 65mph requires drugs, and their cost offsets the fuel mileage savings So I just say no to both the speed limit and drugs LOL.



My '98 12v and my '01 even on freeway-only tankfulls rarely see over 18, and only 15-16 around town, under ideal conditions both could make over 20 on the freeway. This is with several different drivers so it isn't only my heavy foot. To get some of the incredible mileage numbers you may read on the TDR takes slow speeds, gentle foot and lots of patience in traffic. I'm sure if I drove a tankfull at 55-60 mph I could see 22 or so, but I would require therapy afterwards.



Make sure you take care of the KDP first!!



PM me and send me your email and I'll send you a photo of the KDP as I found it on my '97 when I took the front cover off. It was poised to drop, actually hanging on the edge of the hole!! Talk about lucky and living well!!



Take care, Greg L

 

[JoshPeters]

My suggestions..... For starts... Get Guages..... Then... . get a good clutch... South Bend has a great name and reputation. I don't think anyone around has a bad thing to say about Peter and SBC. Without that your just spinning your clutch... . not your wheels. A 10 plate, a GSK, and a set of 370's from Piers is a good start. I'd drive that for a bit... . belive me, you'll be plenty supprised at the difference. Then find a good shop that can fire ring the head/block. I too am an Auto Tech. You aren't gonna want to spend the $2000 for the tools to fire ring your head. Once its fire ringed... start saving for twins. The 10 plate and 370's will give you EGT issues... . Once the twins are installed... . a 0 plate will get you another good chunk of power. Where you go from there... . Your wallet is the limit.



Josh



There is PLENTY of reading around here. That would be my first step. Or call Piers. He is ALWAYS willing to help.