'Ol Blue

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Thought I'd send an update on 'Ol Blue, my 89 D250 Cummins. It WAS pretty hot. The other day I thought it blew the head gasket(see post on blown head gasket). I pulled the head and took it to a reputable shop who told me it was cracked. I then called Cummins and they acknowledged that they had cracking problems with the pre 91 heads. So for 651. 00 I bought a recon head. Atleast I think it is a Recon. Can anyone tell me how to tell new from Recon. I know it should have some #'s stamped on it. I also had to buy injectors(65. 00 each) cause mine had 9mm holes in the head and 9mm injectors. The newer(91 1/2-98) have 7mm holes in the head and 7mm injectors. I also bought a complete head gasket set($120), are they marked recon on them anywhere?? I am really pleased with the parts. The head and the injectors look like new. If they are recon Cummins does a really fine job on them. They sold me a standard head gasket. I thought a resurfaced head needed special injector washers and a thicker head gasket. The service guy said bolt it on and roll the engine over; if it does not lock up then you are fine. I can't belive he told me that. I need more info before I put the head on to ensure I have the right parts. So now 1301. 72 poorer, I will start cleaning the top of the block tomorrow and paint the head.

thanks for any help you can give.

later
Don


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1989 D 250 Ice blue met. 5 spd 3. 54, 140,000, Banks stage III powerpack straight exhaust, pump adjustments, still looking for more power ON HOLD DUE TO BLOWN HEAD GASKET!!
1999 3500 4x4 Chassis cab Emerald green ISB 5 spd 4. 10 K&N Filter straight exhaust 9 ft flatbed WARN fenderflares,Let the BOBMing begin!!! 275hp injectors installed, boost and pyro gages, awaiting results of those who have purchased the VA box.

 

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Big Don,According to 93 Dodge shop manual,the cylinder head,if it has been resurfaced,on the right side rear corner a"dimension"(amount of metal). The maximum amount allowed is one millimeter. Hope this helps, Good Luck. Rick Comenzo 93D350,K+N,modifications in the works.

 

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Another way to see if the head is new or old, look on the intake side it is I think, on the edge, it will have a month date on it, mine said 01/00, and I have to assume this is Jan of this year. I looked at the receipt for mine, and mine is the same way, went from the 9mm part number to the 7mm part number, but I paid $81 per injector!

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Bill Red 90 4x4 5 spd, 4. 10s, banks stinger, K&N, Racor remote filter

 

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Mine is stamped 10/99 not 12/99 like I said before. I was wondering if this is a manufacture date or a reman date???? Anyone know. I could not find and marks on it where it was stamped. Cummins told me they did not offer a new or reman head with the 9mm holes anymore cause they know they crack. I thought your truck had the 7mm injectors from the factory. Have seen so many posts can't even remember what year yours is. i am afraid mine will not run like it did wirth the smaller injectors. Later I'll probably have to have a set built.

later
Don


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1989 D 250 Ice blue met. 5 spd 3. 54, 140,000, Banks stage III powerpack straight exhaust, pump adjustments, still looking for more power ON HOLD DUE TO BLOWN HEAD GASKET!!
1999 3500 4x4 Chassis cab Emerald green ISB 5 spd 4. 10 K&N Filter straight exhaust 9 ft flatbed WARN fenderflares,Let the BOBMing begin!!! 275hp injectors installed, boost and pyro gages, awaiting results of those who have purchased the VA box.

 

[Archive]

Man I am so stupid, your name is red 90, DUH!!! So what year is..... Why don't I just shut up. Been feelin like **** ever since I had to shell out all the dough for the truck. To be perfectly honest I am really disappointed in Cummins. I have always heard and preached about it myself that Cummins is THE BEST. Then mine goes to hell at 140,000. The Cummins guys say with the new head I'll see 300,000. I doubt it, I'd say the injector pump will go next, but that will be my fault cause it will probably get turned up more after the new head has some miles on it.

later
Don

 

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The valves on my original head and the replacement were 0. 050-0. 055 down from the gasket surface. See if yours are too. The head is probably new because it has 7mm injector holes and the date sounds like the mfg dates on the later heads I have seen. Also, later heads have two cutouts at the intake edge--a front one to clear the overflow valve on the P7100 and one farther back for the VE. They also have two 1/8" pipe plugs--the front one for the AFC on the VE, rear one for AFC on the P7100.

I will look into special injectors with a friend at Bosch to see what can be made up for you with the small holes and the small threads.

Don't get bummed out, just think of it as giving your Ram some attention. Like taking the dog for a walk (yeah, I know, walks don't cost $1300). #ad


Joe

 

[Archive]

Thanks for the info guys,

An update and a few more questions:

Painted the head today and scraped/sanded the top of the block. took a while to get all the gasket material off. Used a vacuum cleaner and a razor blade. Then block sanded to ensure it was clean. Everything is true. Had to pull the intercooler and clean out the antifreeze. Somehow when the coolant blew out of the overflow jug it was sucked in thru the intake pipe. Ruined my K&N filter then it went thru the turbo and blew it into the intercooler!! Yikes!! Got all that put back together tonight. They will be singing without me in the morning. The ox is in the ditch. Gonna clean the bolt holes in the block tomorrow and install the head, then set valves and install the injectors lines etc. Hope to fire up before dark. My 89 manual says head torque is 93 ftlbs. nothing about torque and angle??!! I saw earlier in a post about torquing all bolts to 120 ftlbs. ??? Can you guys give advice?? Do you forsee any pitfalls I may run into??

thanks again to a great group of people. By the way if anyone would like to make a donation to the Get 'Ol Blue back on the road foundation let me know and i can give you the address. $50. 00 donations receive afree strand of faux pearls. We take any amounts. $1. 00 donations receive a "Cheap *******" window decal.

later
Don


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1989 D 250 Ice blue met. 5 spd 3. 54, 140,000, Banks stage III powerpack straight exhaust, pump adjustments, still looking for more power ON HOLD DUE TO BLOWN HEAD GASKET!!
1999 3500 4x4 Chassis cab Emerald green ISB 5 spd 4. 10 K&N Filter straight exhaust 9 ft flatbed WARN fenderflares,Let the BOBMing begin!!! 275hp injectors installed, boost and pyro gages, awaiting results of those who have purchased the VA box.

 

[Archive]

I can't tell you about the torque specs on your year, but the manual may be correct. My head bolts have 12. 9 and T<+90 stamped into the heads, meaning they are torqued +90 deg. more, and are grade 12. 9 which is better than grade 8. By th way, the threads in the block are recessed about 1/4 or 3/8" down, meaning the top threads are drilled out at the factory. This is probably to ensure that if a thread starts to pull it won't keep the gasket from sealing.

 

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Hey Joe (name of a song isn't it?!)what year is your truck? I didn't look to see what marks were on my bolt heads. Makes me wonder if the 89-90 were different.

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Bill Red 90 4x4 5 spd, 4. 10s, banks stinger, K&N, Racor remote filter

 

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Mine is a 97 and I hope there is no hp penalty for posting here #ad


I should be able to let you know in a couple days if I can get hybrid injectors for a good price (maybe 215s with early style holders so your injection lines will work).

Joe

 

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Resurrected 'Ol Blue this afternoon. Yep, that had to sing without me this mornin. Worked all day from 6 am to 5:30. Started without bleeding fuel system, but missed bad. After I cracked each injector line it smoothed out. It smoked some and smelled of oil. I figure it was the oil in the valve pockets of the new head causeing the smoke. It finally went away. The initial test drive was not very impressive, although I really did not lean on it. I drove around for a while and it finally woke up and started runnin like it used too. At first no black smoke and slow accel. After @ 40 miles it figured it was warm enough to get on it. And then I realized why I'd spent all the time and money. I can't keep from smilin when I step on the go pedal. I love my truck. I hate I had to spend the money but it's still in great shape. I may be interested in the new injectors, but first I'd like to check my mileage and see where I am at. I really do not want to compromise my mileage. I have heard stories of injectors givin @20 hp on the older trucks at the expense of poor mileage and lots of smoke. Thanks to all for the info. I'll keep you posted on the new head. Is there any kind of break in procedures for this??

later
Don

 

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I'd bet that the only break in will be a valve lash check, but they are like sewing machines, not too often they need a lash adjustment. Red will have to wait till Mardi Gras is over! (and all the parts are in).

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Bill Red 90 4x4 5 spd, 4. 10s, banks stinger, K&N, Racor remote filter

 

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Well that was quite the endevor to get ol' Blue on the road. After hearing all this I am getting more worried by the day, but she keeps runnin. All the info you have here is very helpful and I printed it to file for when the time comes. Later this month I hope to get a compression test done and injectors inspected. Lets hope for the best.
Sorry but I think that all I would get is the "Cheep *******" decal!! #ad


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Jason's Lil' Mack - 89 D250LE 2WD 5Spd 3. 55 Reg Cab. K&N,"tweaked pump", 3. 5" Exst straight,E&M Custom seats. Bosch H4, PIAA 80W/80W HdLites. Bosch 100W Driving. Bosch 55W Fogs.
215,000 miles (350,000 Kms)

 

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Guys,

got to drive 'Ol Blue to work today. I still think something is not quiet right with the fuel system. It starts fine and runs great but it seems to shake some at idle and if I go back and listen to the tail pipe it is not a smooth tone like it used to be. It sounds kinda nervous almost like a very very slight miss. The engine shakes some at idle and worse just off idle. It does smooth out completely about 1800-2000 rpm's. Any suggestions?? Is there maybe still some air in the system. It doesn't smoke and it runs great. I need to find out what is causing this. Please help. I plan on retorquing the head and adjust valves later this week.

thanks
Don


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1989 D 250 Ice blue met. 5 spd 3. 54, 140,000, Banks stage III powerpack straight exhaust, pump adjustments, still looking for more power ON HOLD DUE TO BLOWN HEAD GASKET!!
1999 3500 4x4 Chassis cab Emerald green ISB 5 spd 4. 10 K&N Filter straight exhaust 9 ft flatbed WARN fenderflares,Let the BOBMing begin!!! 275hp injectors installed, boost and pyro gages, awaiting results of those who have purchased the VA box.

 

[Archive]

Hey Don, is there a song named that two? #ad

Does the miss seem worse hot or cold? Other than the normal morning blues if the engine seems too miss more hot than cold I would recheck the valves right away.


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Piers

 

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Really would not say it is a miss, but the exhaust does not have a constant tone. The engine does shake a little. Fired up this morning and the shake is almost gone at idle. Like I said at 2000 rpm's it completely disappears. After it is hot you don't see it!! I'll do more research and let you know. Please keep thinkin of solutions.

later
Don


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1989 D 250 Ice blue met. 5 spd 3. 54, 140,000, Banks stage III powerpack straight exhaust, pump adjustments, still looking for more power ON HOLD DUE TO BLOWN HEAD GASKET!!
1999 3500 4x4 Chassis cab Emerald green ISB 5 spd 4. 10 K&N Filter straight exhaust 9 ft flatbed WARN fenderflares,Let the BOBMing begin!!! 275hp injectors installed, boost and pyro gages, awaiting results of those who have purchased the VA box.

 

[Archive]

If the valve adjustments are OK, and no valve spring is broken, I would begin to suspect a bad injector.

If you post what part number of injector you got, I can find out how "big" they are. You can get some custom made at a Bosch shop with 7 mm tips and the early 12 mm threads that are "bigger" in terms of flow. I checked my source and was told the price range would be $400-500.

 

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Gonna retorque the head to 93ftlbs. and reset the valves intake . 010" and exhaust . 020" tonight probably restorque exhaust manifold bolts to 32ftlbs. Can you guys verify these #'s. My specs are coming from the 1989 edition of the chrysler shop manual. I have a 2 book set. I for chassis and one for engine(cummins). The injector part#'s are written down at home. They appear to be recon. Look like new, but the holders are pitted and then have been repainted. Do you really think I could have a bad injector. What else could cause this problem?? Hope to fix it soon.

later
Don