My mixed up truck

[rowland]

I am currently running an '89 truck with a '92 style head and 185 injectors. I just did the swap recently when I cracked the original head.



Since then I have not been real happy with the way the truck goes. With the original I had about a turn and a half on the power screw and the thing went good with decent EGTs and no smoke.



With the new setup I had to back the power screw off just to keep the smoke and temps under control and the thing is real sluggish and runs at close to a 1000 *F at speed on a hot day. (currently in NM, real hot here) I cranked the smoke screw till it smokes and that helps a little at lanch, but it still sucks. Max boost is now about 17 psi instead of closer to 27 psi.



So is it time to bite the bullet and get an intercooler? For you old school cummins drivers, what is the best/cheapest way to go about it?



If any of you have done this drill before I would appreciate hearing from you before I start learning things the hard way.



Thanks,



Isaac Rowland

 

[BushWakr - RIP]

rowland,



If you want nice clean power with less smoke/EGT's then PW is man to talk to. He really focuses on that style of performance, all you have to do is look at what he's getting from his truck to see that.

I don't think the heads 'flowed' any different between 89 and 93.

It's funny you should see that much temp difference.

When I put in the 180's I did see some higher temps, and more smoke. By working with the star-wheel, smoke screw and diaphram, I was able to reduce it alot. Afterward I stilll had marked improvement in power gain.

The intercooler is really needed in my opinion. No question!

If you can get a used 1st Gen IC and clean it out, test it, and install it you'll see better temps, probably less smoke, and some better response.

Of course the aftermarket ones are even better. They increased the cooling efficiency over stock IC's. They are tough to mount in the earlier trucks since the grill is not curved outward in the middle to help accomodate the IC.

My personal feeling is that the effort is worth it though.

I bet that the same settings you have now will actually be more liveable with an IC in the truck.



Regards, Bob.

 

[rowland]

injectors

Actually, I believe the difference in the heads in due to the fact that the '89 uses the 9mm injectors and the later model uses the 7mm. The old style flows alittle more. I hoped to offset this with the larger injectors and it sorta worked but not like I had hoped.



Also some of the difference I am seeing might be due to the fact that I drove from Alaska to New Mexico right after I had it done and the temps are a little warmer down here. (100+ *F) With no intercooler that will be a factor. I was hoping someone might have an idea of much this could affect me.



So as far as intercoolers go... has anybody tried a water jacket type or something other than the high dollar Banks unit?



thanks



Isaac Rowland

 

[roadhawg]

I've got a first gen intercooler in the classifieds for sale. I read a book by Corky Bell titled How to design and build a turbocharger system. It had a chapter on intercoolers that I read and reread, great stuff! Mostly he was concerned about how the air entered and exited the end tanks.

There are so many variables that everything you do is a comprimise.

The stock design isn't to bad it's just to small for a really BOMBED engine.

The 24V intercooler is probably the best comprimise for the first gen that will fit outside the radiator. Break out your tape measure and do some crawling and poking maybe pull the grille off and check clearances.

Happy bombing!

Eric

 

[BushWakr - RIP]

rowland,



You may be correct re: flowing better in ealier model but the only difference I'm aware of in terms of the 9mm vs 7mm nozzles is the larger/earlier ones had a tendency to crack (head) and thats why they went to the 7mm injectors. It meant more 'meat' around the injectors and less likely to crack.



But, learnin every day... .



BTW, the intercooler can reduce your charge air temps (air entering the intake manifold) 250*F + IF I remember the numbers right. Someone correct me if I'm off here. .



Bob.

 

[rowland]

intercooler

Just found a good deal on a Banks intercooler and ordered it today. Will see what affect that has on how it runs.



I also haven't advanced the timing yet. Anybody got any hints on that bottom nut? I have tried a large selection of shaved, bent, ground, and otherwise modified wrenches with no luck. I found it slightly frusterating.



Isaac

 

[Harlan]

Pull the power steer and vack pump from block. dont take any lines lose. you can move it strat back and get to the bottom pump bolt very well.

Harlan

 

[DieselBuzz]

Isaac,

I had replaced my motor this winter (I'm still paying) and about a month or two later I saw my boost drop and my EGTs go up. I thought my turbo was crapping the bed. It was that the ring clamp had worked it's way loose at the turbo. Maybe I didn't retighten it when I had it all assembled? I don't know. My suggestion it to double check your connections. It could be as simple as a leak. Reguardless as to why, I hope you solve it soon. Enjoy the new intercooler, seems like it will be worth it this summer!!

Art