Timing in Texas

[Big John]

Anybody know somewhere I can get my timing changed on a 12 valve by someone that knows what they are doing? I have been looking and checking all my locate diesel shops and they do not give me a warm and fuzzy feeling about it.



The local Dodge dealer shop is a joke. I usually have to download procedures for them and then assist the mechanic to insure the job is done right. I know more about diesels and mechanical work than they do.



I live near Houston in Alvin, Texas. Help me if you can. I am in every part of the state at one time or another during the year.



Thanks... ... ... Big John

 

[k.vickers]

i have a mechanic here in abilene that has been working on dodge diesels forever. he left the dodge dealership after many years because he didn't like the way they treated people, and is the chief diesel mechanic in the busiest garage in this city. as a matter of fact, he along with the owner and the owner's son all drive dodges, and they count on johnny to take care of theirs. i would (and have) trust him with anything having to do with my cummins. if you think you might get into the abilene area, let me know and i'll hook you up.

 

[Don M]

Got a really good guy in Dallas.

If ya get up this way... . holler and Ill hook ya up.



Don~



'bout three hours labor but, he will adjust it as many times as it takes to get it right.

 

[Deezul1]

The Cummins shop in Waco. The mechanic said he can do it but doesnt have specs for anything but stock. I told him I would bring a sheet with all the specs on it and he said no problem, seemed quite knowledgable just didnt have the numbers.

 

[WBerry]

timing

how do you go about timing a cummins?is it done with the pump or like a gas engine?lightfoot

 

[Big John]

DonM, it has been a while since I read the procedure, but it is done with the pump by resetting the gear that drives the pump. It is fairly involved, but doable with the right tools. I think I have all the tools to do it but would like to see it done right one time before messing with it myself.



I am in Dallas quite often. I will check with you the next time I head that way to get info. Thanks for the replys everyone.



Big John

 

[Bill Stockard]

Big John,



Have you tried Cummins Southern Plains at

Houston, TX 77028

800-474-7421

713-675-7421?



They should have the necessary tools and the experience to do the job since they work on lots of B series engnes in many applications.



Bill

 

[sewman]

I called around the shops here & they acted alittle scared to do it

so I seen the directions on this site,bought the guage from Miller tools & did my own. I have done all my own work clutch,gov spring kit,new injectors just read the manual a couple of times & dig in.

Good Luck,Bob

 

[Shrimpy]

Big John, I share your "not so fuzzy feeling" when it comes to timing these things. I have a first gen. and when you mention spill port timing to someone, their response is as if I had asked the question in some Mongolian dialect. My uncle has a Cummins and Catapillar dealership, and his mechanics won't touch mine. They all work on big work boat engines (Big inline six's up to huge V-12's and 16's). Cummins in Houston will only put it back to whatever the CPL # calls for. Anybody else I have contacted did not know how to do Spill port for the first gens. The Mechanics who work at my uncle's place all say just use the timing pin and it will be close enough. I don't want close enough, I want 1. 35 to 1. 4!!!!!!



I have actually toyed with the Idea of opening a performance shop just for Diesels in our area. As far as I can tell there is NO ONE in the entire Houston Metro are doing anything for diesels. Hell, I could make a fortune off of just the TDR menbers on here doing transmission work and injector upgrades. (No price gouging just honest work that people want done).



Soap Box returned to proper place under my desk!!!!!

 

[gitchesum]

http://www.performancediesel.com



Check those guys out. I've heard of them, but I've never used them. Might be worth looking at.

It's a place on the southeast side of Houston.

 

[Shrimpy]

Hey Gitch, Thanks for the heads up. I called these folks about a year ago and was not impressed. They seemed to be more interested in what they could sell me, not what they could do for me. They have changed their web page so maybe they have a new understanding of what folks are looking for. I will give them a call this week or better yet try to stop by one day and talk to one of the mechanics.



Hopefully Big John will check back and see this. Thanks for your help !!!!



P. S. You guys still getting in alot of Mexican and South American crude ? I saw a news article this past week that said ExxonMobil was shipping back to the states it's first batch of Pre-Refined heavy Venezuelan (sp) crude. It is cheaper for them to pre-refine it down in Venezuela (remove sulphur and other bad stuff) then ship it up here to finish the process. Also I'm sure the enviro regs are not near as tight in Ven. than say the Gulf Coast. Take care.

 

[gitchesum]

That's about all we get now. Conoco also built a pre-refinery in Jose. Takes all the bottoms out of the heavy stuff before it gets here. Been getting it for about 8 months now. Nasty smalling stuff I might add.

 

[Big John]

Shrimpy, I am like you in thinking about opening a diesel preformance shop. I am looking into building a 50 by 100 metal building on my place to house my personal shop, trailer, extra vehicles, etc. I have been talking to a buddy of mine to try to get him to turn diesel. He is presently an airplane mechanic. If I could get someone that I could rely on to do some of the work, I would do it.

I have worked on diesels all my life and am not afraid to do anything to one. I just do not want to time mine without doing it right and that would mean buying a bunch of tools that I would not have any other use for.

I will check out this shop that G mentioned, but I think I have interacted with them before about some transfer case work. They did not impress me then.



Big John

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

If I get to the Tx Rally, look me up. I have the Sickly white 4x4 club cab with gray bumpers and the little 21' Airstream.

 

[Big John]

Joseph, I hope you can make it to Texas. I would like to see you again, and Sickly too. I will be driving a red over gray '96 4x4 xcab. I will look you up.



Big John

 

[Deezul1]

Joe

Hope you can make it, we all enjoyed your tech talk. Be great to see you again.