Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Upgrades for next summer trip

[JacobsonD]

This is several questions all rolled into one post. Bear with me...



My wife and I are planning our honeymoon for next summer. We want to tow our 25' travel trailer from Southern California up to Banff in Canada. We spent this past summer on the road with the camper, and we had a break down. I want to avoid that scenario, and I also have a long wish list of upgrades to make the driving more enjoyable. I want to make it a project over the course of many winter weekends to get ready for the summer.



With that as background, here are my thoughts. Being a relatively new owner, I'd like some prudent advice. By the way, this vehicle is awesome. I drove the 855 ci Cummins powered farm tractors and semi's on my dad's farm as a kid. I love diesels and I love my current truck.



I want to do something about the NV4500. I'm starting to hear noises from the drivetrain. I hear a sort of wump wump wump noise at speeds under 20 mph. Is it a bearing? It's louder when towing and when starting from a stop up an incline. I worry about the life of this transmission. So I'm contemplating swapping for a rebuilt NV5600. I'm also considering getting the NV4500 rebuilt and adding in a GV overdrive in place of the Mitchell underdrive. I'd love to have lower rpms when empty at highway speeds, and the NV5600 won't do that from what I've found about its gear ratios. This is the major wish list. Cost will play a huge factor, unfortunately.



Clutch:

South Bend 13" in the near future?



Engine:

I'd like a little more power and torque, but it tows pretty well as is. From what I can discern from the previous owner's logs, he never had the injectors out. Should I look at getting the current ones rebuilt/balance/cleaned etc. , or would there be a better set of injectors for towing/daily driving? I like getting good mileage while commuting to work... and I like power while towing. Can I get both?



Is there anyway to know how close the fuel pump is to its end of life?



Gauges:

I have boost and pyro. I want to add transmission temp and fuel pressure.



Exhaust:

I want to upgrade to a four inch exhaust. Any recommendations on the best value here?



Cab:

I want to quiet the cab. Our ears ring after a long day of riding in this pickup. I've looked at a previous thread about sound insulating.



Any other things I should be looking at? I look at this as investment in another 100K to 200K miles of good driving.

 

[DWeiler]

Can't help you with your ride,but bring your wallet--Banff is beautiful God's country but really expensive. Summer peak season so might want to book some campsites ahead. If your around here in the first week of July you could make the short drive to Calgary and check out the Stampede(10days). If you have any problem with your ride up here i can hook you up with a good diesel performance place that has done some of the work on my ride i can not do myself. Goodluck on your trip. DW

 

[JHastings]

JacobsenD,

Not sure about all of your questions, but I might be able to chime in on a few things here.



Engine: If you want a good increase in power for towing, the #10 plate from TST seems to be popular b/c it defuels up top to keep egt's down. On the other hand I don't have a 215 pump as you do so that might be a little much so a #11 or #12 might be better. Nonetheless, I would definitely do a 3K GSK kit. This will make you 3-4 shift a lot easier if you stay with the 4500.



As far as injectors, 215's are pretty good from what I have heard fro other guys and I really like mine. DDP2's might be good for you situation, but then a clutch would probably then be a must.



Transmission: If I could swing the cost of doing a NV5600 swap, I would. I hate the 3-4 shift of the 4500 and I tow all the time. If I am not mistaken, the 5600 has a 0. 73:1 overdrive gear compared to our 0. 75:1 overdrive in our 4500's. Not much of a difference, but the 6 speed will give you a very slight lower rpm. Some will disagree with me on doing the swap b/c NV5600's are no longer made and parts are expensive. I'd do it though b/c the G56 conversion from the 3rd gens isn't easy yet. Of course, if you do decide to do a transmission swap, get a 13" clutch that will match the power you are going to throw at it.



Gauges: Fuel pressure would be cool, wish I had one, but I don't think a transmission temp is really necessary on our manuals. More of a auto thing I think... but I may be wrong.



Exhaust: RIP at Source automotive as well as some other shops like Power by Poole have some budget 4" systems. Just shop around, there are lots of them.



Cab: I don't know how to deaden sound without lifting up the carpet and laying down dyna-mat. Just make sure you put a muffler on your new 4" system.



Good luck and hope this helps a bit.

Others that know far more than me will chime in.



Jamie

 

[RStankevitz]

i did a 4 inch exhaust by Hog and with no muffler at all it is quiter in the cab then old exhaust with the converter etc but outside is a different story:-laf. Hog's system came with a mild muffler sounds good not very loud but i had to try it with a straight pipe.

 

[SRehberg]

Just a note of caution if you don't know it already, but the use of an exhaust brake is a no-no with the Gear Vendor's unit engaged. It's simple enough to go direct geared if a brake is installed.

 

[JacobsonD]

Thanks for all the input.

I've always wanted to attend the Calgary Stampede. I grew up in ND and heard much about it, but I never got to go.

Yes, the 3-4 shift is a bummer in the NV4500. The Mitchell under drive helps with that. I like the idea of the GV overdrive, but it's more cost, weight, and added friction in the drive train. Maybe there'll be a good G56 conversion kit in the near future. I'm concerned about the NV5600 and parts.

It sounds like I have more homework to do as far as injectors and exhaust are concerned.