Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) timing

[hsmith]

Patience please! Avid reader, but first time user.

'96 3500 5 speed with some mods. #11 moveable and stock springs tweaked with Piers help. Really like my truck, ordered with colors and accessories. Tow a heavy fifth wheel, 14k before wife's gotta-haves. Pulls good but have to watch the egt's.

I'm a self employed gas mechanic, but not too set in my ways to try to understand the diesel engine.

Want a little more than I have now. I have a timing tool ordered from Snap On. Thinking of going with maybe 15. 5. On a everyday driver, is this adjustment on the timing going to meet my desires? This truck is no slouch as it is. I can pull most times in 4th over at 22k and exceed the freeway limit. Have to keep an eye on the egt's.

 

[Jim Fulmer]

15. 5 is a good number to use on a stock headgasket, you will like it.



Jim

 

[hsmith]

Thanks Jim. Need to correct one statement of mine. Only the turbo can turn 22k. I meant to say 2200 rpm's!!!

Originally posted by hsmith

Patience please! Avid reader, but first time user.

'96 3500 5 speed with some mods. #11 moveable and stock springs tweaked with Piers help. Really like my truck, ordered with colors and accessories. Tow a heavy fifth wheel, 14k before wife's gotta-haves. Pulls good but have to watch the egt's.

I'm a self employed gas mechanic, but not too set in my ways to try to understand the diesel engine.

Want a little more than I have now. I have a timing tool ordered from Snap On. Thinking of going with maybe 15. 5. On a everyday driver, is this adjustment on the timing going to meet my desires? This truck is no slouch as it is. I can pull most times in 4th over at 22k and exceed the freeway limit. Have to keep an eye on the egt's.

 

[Bob Horrell]

I have a tractor business and tow heavy on a daily basis. I have my timing set at 16. This brings about several changes: the engine runs stronger, the EGTs drop some, and the engine temp. increases some but not a problem for me. I have a Horton fan which provides a little better cooling so I am not sure of the effects of the increase in engine temp. with the stock fan. Maybe someone can chime in on their experiences with a stock fan.

 

[hsmith]

A little of the subject, but have you shelled any GV's?



Also, do you have any trouble remembering to go to direct before activating the exhaust brake?



I used the lower {unused} terminal on the Eaton switch to power a relay breaking the ground for the brake. Eliminates any chance of brakeing in OD.

Originally posted by Bob Horrell

I have a tractor business and tow heavy on a daily basis. I have my timing set at 16. This brings about several changes: the engine runs stronger, the EGTs drop some, and the engine temp. increases some but not a problem for me. I have a Horton fan which provides a little better cooling so I am not sure of the effects of the increase in engine temp. with the stock fan. Maybe someone can chime in on their experiences with a stock fan.

:{ :{

 

[markdixon]

I had the #11 plate in for almost a year with the timing set at 15. 5 deg. Called TST and Piers both recomended 15. 5 deg of timing I never had any trouble with it. I just moved up to a#10 wow talk about egts. Im going to try 16. 5 next. Here are the Snap On tool part # you will need a bar over tool #YA9565A and the timing tool #SP500 You will enjoy the lower egt.

 

[Got Smoke?]

Very first BOMB I did to my truck was to have the timing set @ 16*. That alone earned me a 1. 5mpg GAIN at the pump!



Didn't really notice anything else, truck still seemed to drive the same, and I didn't have guages at the time yet.

 

[JGK]

During Christmas break a friend and I bumped his timing on his '98 auto up to just over 15. 5*. A few weeks ago we moved it again to about 16. 1 or 16. 2. He has noticed nearly 100* drop in EGTs.



I intend to move mine up about a 1/2 degree up from its current setting of 15. 7 in the next weekend or two.



-Jay

 

[The patriot]

15-16 is about the general rule for your app. You might want to get a 16cm2 turbo housing. That should help the EGT's too.

I cant wait till I get a new cluch so I can put in the #11.

Eric

 

[Bob Horrell]

Yes, I tore up a GV unit. I stripped all the teeth off the sprague gear, a very unusual failure. I was running a McCleod dual disc clutch at the time and they don't have a spring loaded center section so all the pounding gets passed on to the drivetrain. We think that is what tore out the teeth. I have since gone to a Southbend Clutch with a monster center section. I also installed an optional cooler on my GV and now it is the coolest running part of my drivetrain. Hopefully I won't have any more failures.

I use it to tow heavy so I don't have to use my 5th gear. I just checked my 5th gear when I swapped clutches and it is still factory tight. I staked the nut real good and put the cover back on.