Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) KDP this weekend

[Ram Medic]

I am going to tab my KDP this weekend and was wondering if there is anything else I should do since I will have the easy access? Tab and crank seal on the way from TST. Also, anyone in the Chattanooga, Cleveland area want to drop by and help or just shoot the bull let me know and I will buy the cold ones. Oo.

 

[MLee]

RAM MEDIC

While there you will want to check all the bolts holding things together. A lot of guys said that the bolts were not tight, 18 ft lbs is not very much torque. If you have time, clean each of them and re-lock tight them. There is one under a gear that you can not remove, this one they say back it out and lock tight it the best you can. ( a bent wrench can reach this one). Clean the crank good and install the seal dry. Using guide pins for the cover install helps a bunch. helps to center the seal. You will be amazed how simple the job is to do.

just my penny's worth.

Marv.

 

[Ram Medic]

This may be a stupid question but here goes, Which lock tite, red or blue?

 

[MLee]

do a search, for the number. blue is what i used. use a good one.

Marv.

 

[Harold_U]

Check your belt! Any cracks that go straight across and you need to change it soon. Good price at CarQuest. Mine came in 3 days.

Harold

 

[GRW]

Well I completed the kitinstall this week end.

I used the one that TST sells.

Worked great, simple fix for the problem.

The only problem I had was installing the new crank seal.

Slipped and tore the one that came in the kit.

Picked one up the next day and put it back togeather.

No leeks, and I feal better about having it out of the way.

I have owned the truck for a eight days.

I could not see letting it go and toasting the motor.



Gary

 

[b.ferrara]

kdp

Gary, just wondering how long it took you to do the tst tab fix?



thanks Bill

 

[Ram Medic]

KDP

Well, that is a loaded question. If the dowel pin had not fallen out and cracked my housing on the inside. I would have finished it in about three hours. I was ready to tab it 1 1/2 hours after I started. But..... Since my housing was cracked it took me about 24-30 hours (taking my time and going for parts included). Turned out to be a major job, but with the info available on this site and a little help from the tech line for Cummins South I was able to complete it without much trouble. Don't ask me how I know, but, when you put the vibration damper back on make sure the engine speed sensor is out of the way. It might save you about $60



Feel free to email me or pm me with any specific questions.

-- email address removed --



I know that seems like a looooonnnnggg time to make a repair, however, I am very methodical. Making the Dowel rods to hold the tappets was a pain in the a$$. Once I figured out the right way to make them it got a lot easier. Plus, I was working solo. A tool fetcher would have been nice

 

[GRW]

Bill,

To answer your question (just wondering how long it took you to do the tst tab fix?).

1st. I took my time, cleaned as I went. I did not want to rush it.

This was my first time working on a diesel.

2nd. I had lots of interuptions (working out side/family).

3rd. the directions were good, they only skipped a couple of things. I was trying to following them to the letter.

4th. I tore the crank seal trying to get it in and had to wait till the next day to get one.



With that said, if the crank seal would have went right in, I would say it would have been 3. 5 to 4 hours. (This was my first time).

Having to get the new seal and install it I would say it bumped it up to 5. That includes cleaning up the mess made trying to install the first and re-prepping for the new seal.



Now for the items not listed in the directions that would have reduced the time. (I DO NOT HAVE MY NOTES WITH ME AT WORK, I noted all the changes I would do different on the install on the original dirrection). Unbolt the battery wire that runs accross the radiator ( easy to see) there is also a wire loom that hooks in the bottom of the fan shroud. If you remove it at the beginning you will not have to worry about it. If you don't know it's there and follow the dirrections you will be fighting the fan shroud quite a while . Also the process for removing and reinstalling the fan shroud, fan, and oil filler tube. I did not get the method they listed to work well if at all. Taking them off was tight, but not that bad, but putting them back on, I changed the method/process of how things went back. Those items listed above take quite a bit of time to remove and install. Once you have done it a couple of times it will get faster. I also plan on passing my notes about the install back to TST. Then if they want they can incorporate the information. I have to say there kit was complete and simple. I also looked at what it would cost to make something similar. In my opion you would have a hard time making your own for what they charge for the kit. I plan on trying to talk my Dad into doing the same thing on his truck.

 

[b.ferrara]

kdp

Gary, thanks for the reply. When i did my first gen truck their were 4 of us, we met in Conn. and mine was last, so after doing 3

it only took about 45 mins to do mine. Although my signature states I have the tst done, I'm doing it now. The 2nd gen truck I

think is a little more work. Thanks again Bill

 

[Joe G.]

I did one for a friend with the TST kit. I have done others before the TST kit was produced so I had to figure it out myself.



I don't really see how it can cost more for the parts from Dodge than the TST kit. Pretty close in cost in any case. The tab is really easy to make. My instructions do include the battery cable and the little harness on the bottom of the fan shroud. I like to use the gear case cover gasket rather than the goop that comes with the TST kit. The seal is a PITA no matter what unless you have a shop press.



If you want a copy of my instructions e-mail me at -- email address removed --