Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) starwheel turning?

[budctdca]

I have a 97 2500 4x4 auto, and I have been reading about turning the starwheel to increase the power. My question is which way to you turn it? Do you turn the wheel towards the passenger side or drivers? Is there any way to make sure it is in the stock position, then proceed from there? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[41jay]

You turn it tord the passenger side for more smoke and alittle more power, just count the clicks from the start of turn nobody should have turned it find out from who you bought the truck from! :-laf

 

[Nick2]

I guess it is the passenger side isnt it?, I always just thought of it as loosening the spring by adjusting the nut towards the grill... . pardon the rant. Dont get too carried away though or you'll have a smoke puking mess every time you hit the go peddle.



of course, I can think of worse things



Nick

 

[Cummins4Life]

I've had mine back and forth a few times and havent noticed much difference except for smoke. So done expect a lot.

 

[budctdca]

no smoke

i think the wheel has been turned, but i dont know how much or in which direction. but i want to turn it up to the optimal position, but i dont know how to get it there. please, i need help to get this right. Luke

 

[supeerman4422]

where is the starwheel located? i definately want my truck to make some smoke!!!

-Tom

 

[41jay]

go ahead

The star wheel is in the AFC housing It is under a 1 inch plug with an allen head socket in it. the AFC housing is located directly behind the fuel pump on the driver side of the motor. hint the fuel shut off silinoid is bolted on the side of the AFC housing LOOK under that big black tube that comes off the intercooler and gos up and back down into the top of youe engine.

have fun!!!!

 

[bmoeller]

#ad

 

[WaynesWorld]

budctdca,



As you can see by bmoeller's picture, & 41jay's instruction, the plug comes out & there it is, like magic.

Move that rascal towards the front of the motor.

Then, loosen the other 4 bolts / screws , to slid the afc housing forward for more. Oo.

When that doesn't satisfy you, remove the afc, & slide that plate. :--)

Now you can start looking for your next bombing item. :-laf



Have fun,

We will be waiting for your next request,



WAYNES WORLD

 

[blkdragon]

I have turned the star screw toward the passenger side almost all the way it will go. The only thing i noticed was accleration was slower. It puts out a lot of smoke at no to low boost but didn't notice a power increase, though my truck is basically stock. Acceration seemed to have taken the hit.

 

[WaynesWorld]

blkdragon,



Have you done any other mods to your truck?

You don't have anything listed in your signature.



It sounds likeyou are getting fuel now.

More fuel= more power. Oo.



Let us know so a better reply can go your way. Or pm me to discuss it.



WAYNES WORLD

 

[CGriffith]

Adjusting the star wheel on a stock truck won't give any more power to speak of. A loose starwheel/afc spring will just result in a slightly faster spool up and low end smoke. As long as the AFC is set right it only controls low boost fueling and moves out of the way as the engine builds boost. The plate controls fuel under boost as long as the afc spring isn't super tight, restricting arm travel. If you want a cheap bump in HP slide the stock plate forward and loosen the AFC a couple turns, but watch your EGTs on long pulls.

 

[WaynesWorld]

blkdragon,



Have you given any thought to sliding your plate & afc housing forward ?

Then you can turn back the star wheel to control the smoke.

It looks hard but is definitely easy.

When that works, you can either purchase a plate or grind your own. :--)

You are making the fuel & power after that.



WAYNES WORLD

 

[NMongeau]

I heard that sliding the plate forward could cause damage to the AFC internals? And that when changing the stock plate out you should be careful to set the guage tight so the new plate will be in the same location. If it won't do any harm then I guess I know the next mod for my truck.

 

[RBratby]

when going from a stock plate to a tst plate i put a line on both sides of the stock fuel plate. took the stock plate out and put the new plate in. its that easy. the new plate wont hurt your truck.

 

[WaynesWorld]

NMongeau,



The fuel plate is in the factory setting for emissions. :{

The guide plate is there for that reason. :{

Moving the plate will not harm anything as long as the arm hits the plate guide. See peirsdiesel.com [for example on the adjustment].

As RBratby said, putting it back in the stock location will not hurt it.



I ground my own plate & slid it & the afc housing, forward ALL the way.

Come for a ride in my truck some time. :--)



This is the place to learn from what we have done.

There are no bad questions either-thats how we learned. Oo. Oo.



Have a good day,



WAYNES WORLD

 

[mechanic]

Just read the posts on this forum and you will get to know the ones who know their stuff, then just listen to the adverage of what we tell you, and you should be pretty safe. Always beware of a radical statement untill you get enough information to verify the statement. No mater who makes it. Any of us may have a brain infarction at one time or another, and give out bogus statements.



I put a TST #6 plate in mine, and I could not be more satisified with the performance, except one thing, that being that my lockup converter could hold the additional torque when the throttle is snapped open at about 1750 RPM. Have to lean into it, not jump on it. My fuel millage is close to the same, but the torque is unbelivable when compared to the stock plate. A friend just bought a 96 ctd identical to my 94. When he brought it by for me check out before he bought it, I had him drive mine so he could get an idea of the potential of the truck he was buying. He and his son were blown away.

In short, the plate and straight exhaust and a set of gauges (my next project) are your most economical and safe power upgrades.

 

[41jay]

When your taking off the AFC housing what bit do you use to take off that knok off screw top left screw on the housing if your leaning over the driver side fender weil. I sorta striped out my star wheel allen head how do I fix it? got guages installed this weekend of the 5th in march still haven fun would like to learn about oil coolers for manual transmission so i could put a guage on my brand new rebult NV4500 and see how hot its getten. but for now all yall have fun and don't do any thing I wouldn't dooo

 

[WaynesWorld]

41jay,



To remove the afc housing, I used a torx bit. I tapped it in & put downward pressure as I turned it out. I have had ones that I tapped with a small chisel to start it on its way out.

The star wheel plugis a delicate plug. The housing is probably OK. The plug is easy to buy & replace. Make sure you use a washer that you saved from the original plug.

Its a fun toy to play with . Oo.

The truck will be more fun the more you do with it. :-laf Wait till you build 300-400 hp into that rascal.

Wait till we get you that new home ground plate in.

I stopped driving my vette to drive my truck!!!! :--)

Anytime you need anything, thats what we are here for. Just ask here or a pm.

Now go out & give some soot!!!



WAYNES WORLD

 

[Heepdriver]

Only your driving style can really hurt your truck! turn the star wheel all the way up, its just more fun that way. My truck got slower when i turned up my star wheel and what I found was that I had a bad lift pump. I was running out of fuel at the injection pump, it never died or anything but it only made as much power for as long as it had fuel. with the star wheel and then the plate slid forward it got slower. Great out of the hole but then just fell down. Your spring in your Injection pump pressure relief valve could be getin weak to. It is located at the top on the inside of the injection pump right at the front of the motor, has the return line running off of it. Clean the area and take the small bolt out of the end, carefully, there are a spring, a check ball, and sometimes some little shims under the spring inside the bolt. Strech the spring untill it just fits in an open ended 9/16 inch or 14 mm open ended wrench. Clean and reassemble. Hope this helps.