Just a little more power

[lschleif]

I am looking for a little more power for towing (who isn’t). My gcvw is 20k and on 6% or better grades 4th gear won’t quite pull the load. I was thinking maybe water/methanol but a performance shop (who sells Snow) said it won’t do what I want it to do. My EGTs are OK but with 275’s I figure they would be too high. He suggested 4. 11 gears but that a road I would like to avoid. Short of a turbo and injectors the only other thing I believe I can tolerate is water/methanol or propane (another road I don’t want to go down). Is there another solution I have not considered? Does water/methanol add any power or just cooling? Thanks for the info.

lschleif

 

[HBarlow]

The ideal solution and the solution that will save you thousands of dollars, as much as $10k - $12k . . . is to leave it alone, slow down, and downshift on the grades.

Before you do anything you'll have to have a super heavy duty performance rebuild done on your MOPAR slushbox. That will cost you $5k to $7k to have it done completely and right by a professional builder. I paid $6400 for a full DTT back in 2007. Then you'll need a complete set of gauges.

The 4. 10 gears would be a smart and logical change to make since you want to tow your trailer up steep grades in overdrive.

Then you can start with the performance upgrades. A set of new larger injectors and a new carefully matched turbo will be a preliminary and mild step. You'll probably need a new performance rebuilt VP-44 soon, fuel filter assembly, and modified air intake and exhaust system.

Well, maybe $15k will do it.

 

[lschleif]

Sorry, I see my signature is a bit incomplete and needed updating. I may well just leave it where it is at, powerwise. I'm thinking that if I just didn't have to wind it up in 3rd up some of those hills the truck would be happier - until I twist an input shaft or the like. A newer truck may be in my future but not for a couple of years or so. And now I got this one fixed up the way I want it. It is approaching 200K so we will see what happens.
Thanks,
Larry

 

[HBarlow]

Ahh, I see. It has a five speed manual. The old NV-4500 was all Dodge had prior to late 2000 and it doesn't offer the best choices for towing.

Conversion to a manual six speed would provide a huge improvement for a modest amount of money. With your current 3. 54 gears the early G-56 used in late '05 and '06 model year Dodge Rams with the lower first and shorter overdrive would be a good choice. Threads have been written in TDR about the change.

I once owned an '01 HO/six speed. It was a great truck for trailer towing. The correct gear for speed and grade was always available.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Get a set of Bosch 275 injectors, you will get better mileage and pulling power.

 

[rluft]

I have 275's and don't have problems with temps, but I don't hold my foot to the floor either. Add to that a fueling box of some type and you will be happy I think.

 

[Slow Six]

From my past experiences I would advise living with what you have. I've done power upgrades in the past and the biggest gains were in the vendor's pockets. The power increases on my 03 resulted in expensive repairs. Lesson learned I went back to stock and got along just fine even with GCVWs exceeding 25000 plus. You say you are looking at upgrading your truck. Save your money for that. I am very happy with my 2012, especially in the towing department.

 

[lschleif]

Thanks for all the input. I will probably leave it alone for now. When/if it becomes time to change injectors I plan to go to 275's. I can always turn the box off if it is too hot.
Larry

 

[Gonzo 1066]

I went down that road with my 2001. Wound up with a torched #6 piston because I did not do the exhaust and intake first. A Pyrometer should be your first addition, that way you can have some sort of baseline to go by.

 

[HBarlow]

RV275 injectors are fun but not a magic performance boost. I had them installed in my '01 and they served me well for many miles and years towing but the truth is you can't truly use all the power they generate when towing because of excessively high egrs. My truck could peg the pyro by simply flooring the accelerator. The owner typically has to back out of the throttle some when loaded and pulling a grade to avoid melting a piston. Without additional mods beginning with a bigger turbo the injectors can destroy engines.

Few power upgrades can be added with out corresponding parts changes and all cost money. It is easy to spend thousands for extreme power and give up driveability or reliability.

 

[GAmes]

I had the same complaint. With a gross wt of 18k and over there were hills that 4th gear was too high and 3rd gear was too slow. Besides that, I was replacing my NV4500 once or twice a year. I solved that with my G56. Now I have the gearing I needed between the 3rd and 4th gears of the NV4500, plus a much heavier duty transmission. All the power in the world, or water meth, won't make up for the deficiencies of the NV4500 for heavy towing.

 

[JDC]

Instead of looking for more power what about adding a two speed unit behind your transmission to give you a couple more options in gearing? I am pretty sure Gear Vendors makes a unit for your 5 speed that will give you four more gearing options to choose from. Just a thought.

 

[HBarlow]

Aftermarket two speeds are more expensive and more trouble to install than converting to a six speed transmission. I haven't heard them mentioned in a long time but a few years ago aftermarket two speeds were a little short on torque handling capability to survive between a Cummins engine and a heavy trailer.

 

[JDC]

That is interesting, HBarlow. I have a friend who owns his own diesel repair shop and has three trucks with the Gear Vendor's overdrive units in them. He has always pulled some heavy loads of trucks and farm equipment with those trucks not to mention the fact that those trucks are all heavily modified for additional power. He swears by them. you are right that they are not cheap but they sure seem to hold up well to his use and offer a couple different gearing options for various grades and loading scenarios.

 

[GAmes]

If you want info on the gear venders for towing heavy contact member hsmith. He recently removed the one he had on his '96. I am sure he would be willing to tell you the good and bad of the two speed unit.

 

[lschleif]

A while back I looked into a Gear Venders unit, even called them up. My problem was they don't want you using an exhaust brake with one. That is beyond a doubt the best addition I have done to this truck. I doubt if I could live without it. Looking into a G56 - seems to be between $2500 and $3000. Since I have 4wd I would also have to have the transfer case too. This is starting to look like big bucks. I guess I don't have to be in that big of a hurry. Just hate winding it up in 3rd though. Thanks for weighing in. The real benefit of TDR is learning from others experiences.
Larry

 

[RonD]

Just my 2 cents, a 13 year old 200,000 mile truck doesn't require any upgrades, I would save your money and get a newer one when you can, I pulled a 24' tag along back in 88-90 with a 165 hp Ferd Diesel, non turbo, your much better off than that, adding power will lead to parts failing one after another, it's just not worth the money.

 

[GAmes]

Just my 2 cents, a 13 year old 200,000 mile truck doesn't require any upgrades,... ... .

LOL, I'm continually doing a little of this and and a little of that to upgrade mine. 200,000 is nothing on these trucks. There isn't much do it yourself stuff you can accomplish on the newer trucks. If fuel and go is all you do, then going newer every now and then is fine. I like the self satisfaction of keeping a good truck like new.