Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Not quite what I was expecting

[BJMarshall]

OK. A little background. I've had one or more of just about every Cummins engine available in a Dodge and have had opportunity to tinker with them all. I've had a Smarty on my 2nd gens and 3rd gens with aftermarket injectors and turbo upgrades. I've put different plates in P pumped 2nd gens, and I put injectors,turbo upgrades, and fuel pins in my first gens. The truck I am currently working on is the first 215 hp 12 valve truck I have owned for any length of time.

I decided to make me a #100 plate this morning. I had been studying it for quite some time. I honestly had no friggin idea how much difference this was going to make. The truck has absolutely no upgrades other than a K&N drop in air filter. It still has the stock exhaust with the cat. I spent more time drinking coffee and explaining to my neighbor what I was doing than I did working on the truck. It took less than an hour from start to finish.

It was a little cool so I let the truck warm up while I had a sandwich and then I took it for a spin. What I expected and what happened are two totally different things. I was expecting something like the happened when I first turned the fuel screw on the 1st gen, or maybe a Smarty on level 3. What I got was a tire frying beast. I eased out of the driveway and babied it up to 3rd gear. I'm not sure how fast I was going, but it was about 1300rpms in 3rd when I nailed it.

The tach went right up to 3000 and the truck kicked sideways on dry pavement. Tire smoke and exhaust smoke blacked out the road behind me. I initially thought I had broken something. What a ride. This is way cool. I do not believe I was sufficiently warned about what was going to happen. It is all you guys' fault. Within a few minutes I had smoked my clutch there was a strange smell coming from the exhaust (catalyst I assume). 5" exhaust and new clutch are on the way. Will have it in by next weekend.

 

[CSchafer]

Man I hate to have problems like that :-laf

 

[pwerwagn]

Its a way more fun experience than doing the "stepping stone" upgrade. Going straight to 350hp from like 180, instead of doing a 12, then an 11, then a 10 and finally working up the nerve for a 0!!

This way is tons more fun.

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

TDR monitors please remove this thread.





Before it causes a rash of tire squealing, smoke belching, diesel roaring, throttle punch, pocket book depleting, dumb neighbor questions, and ear-to-ear grinning :-laf

 

[tp0d]

Hey... . I`ve got a #100 also but cant fry tire... damn small injectors and 180 pump. . arrgh... Spring is coming, new inj's and turbo looks like the next one for me. .



Anyone have some 215 inj's they want to part with?



tnx



-j

 

[BJMarshall]

I can't tell you how big the smile was on my face. I didn't have a clutch problem when I drove it this morning, but that's only because the road was wet. Now it just breaks the tires loose at any speed in any gear.

It is a little smokey down low. I'm going to work on the afc to try to clear it up some. I don't have anything on it right now to keep the wastegate from opening so 25psi is about all I'm seeing. What's the appropriate way to do this on this truck? There is a tee in the line going to the afc and that's where the boost reference for the wastegate comes from. It looks like to me that if I do anything to bleed the pressure going to the wg actuator I am going to also bleed pressure on the afc. Is this right?

I can't wait to get the clutch in.

 

[DieselMinded]

Cool Just dont do Doughnuts , I busted my windshield , Tourqed the body I Guess



DM

 

[pwerwagn]

You can get a boost elbow, that goes in line right at the tee you mentioned. It goes between the tee and the WG reference line.

 

[WDaniels]

What is the difference between a #10 and a 100. Have never heard of a #100

WD

 

[MAleksandrowicz]

The 100 is a 10 plate that has the upper part of the plate ground flat like a 0 plate. Still giving you the mild low end fuel with heavy top end fuel.

 

[tp0d]

Where a #10 would look kinda like a C in profile, a #100 looks like a L (more curve tho... like a backwards J with no top)



-j

 

[Jim Fulmer]

To get the full effect add a set of 3K springs to it.



Jim

 

[BJMarshall]

As soon as I get a clutch in it I plan to do just that.

If I understand correctly, that will allow full fuel all the way to 3k right. Right now, it will rev to 3k on the highway unloaded. That only yields me less than 85 mph though. 4. 10 gears and 245 tires. It feels as if it starts to lose power before it gets to 3k. Around 2500 I think. Where it really shines is accelerating from 40-70. If I ease into it, I can keep the clutch from slipping. On ramps have become a lot of fun.

Clutch and exhaust should be here Thursday. I could probably finish it up Thursday night, but I'm going to take a look at the transmission while I have it out. No time like when it's already on the bench to give it a quick look.

 

[pwerwagn]

Around 2500 I think

According to my G-Tech, mine starts to fall off just before 2600. Pretty darn close to 2500.

 

[arthr31]

with the 3k springs you should defuel at about 3200 rpm. on my setup it's like 3500 rpms. it's a lot power and noise at that point.



do you have a 5-speed (manual trans)? if so, while you have the clutch out, secure the 5-gear nut in the transmission.



What kind of/ which clutch are you getting?



have fun!

 

[BJMarshall]

It's got about 190k miles on it now. 5th gear was done before I got the truck, but I'm not sure how it was done. I haven't had any trouble out of it except for a little noise in 5th gear. I'm going to tear it down while its out. The local shop where I buy parts keeps new fully splined mainshafts in stock and I have good luck with them in the past. If it is questionable I will go ahead and change it. While I don't mind pulling the transmission, I don't necessarily enjoy it.

I'm keeping the clutch a surprise until I get it in and test it. Count on a full report once I get a few miles on it. I will say I have put in several from SBC and have had great success with them. This one is not from SBC. I may have made a mistake by stepping out into the unknown, but I feel like I would never know for sure if I didn't try. If I messed up I promise I will admit it.

 

[RALLER]

[ I am runing a 100 plate with a boost fooler in a 97 duley with lots of B&D stuf on the transmission pulling a 35ft RAGEN. I run with and pass the big boys at will. Very seldom with foot pedal on the floor. This tuck runs like a striped *** ape. I watch exg temp close when boost gets over 25. Its like driving a hot rod car. If trafic dosent slow me down i can stay in overdrive, no problem.

 

[BJMarshall]

New clutch and exhaust is here. Man that 5" exhaust looks huge. I would have gotten it all finished tonight, but when I pulled the transmission out, the input shaft was toast. The pilot bearing was MIA. There was nothing there but some gray goo. The input had some bad wear on it.

Hopefully, the local shop will have one in stock and I can get it back together tomorrow evening. The rest of the transmission looked great with no discernible wear. I wish I would have known this ahead of time. I would've put a 1. 375 shaft in it.

The clutch looks great. It is a 13" clutch. I can't wait to try it out.

 

[Forrest Nearing]

why do you think everyone freaks out over 215 trucks?



wait till you get the clutch in there and you can put a set of injectors in it

 

[BJMarshall]

Until I got this one I had no idea. I hate to say that I'll leave it alone after this 'cause I know I won't. This will have to do for a little while though.

Too bad I'm not closer to Alvin. I could watch you wrench while I drink. :-laf