Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Valve Spring and Exhaust Brake Question

[surfbeetle]

In issue 54 there is an article discussing the install of a pac brake in a '94, I can't remember who was the author. At one point it was written to the effect that the automatics were not shipped with the "60psi valve springs like the manual trucks were. " I don't have the issue in front of me so I am paraphrasing.



My question: Is this true? If so, how do can you tell? I have a 95 5 speed Ca. truck and want to install the pac brake and it would be great if the 60psi springs were already on the truck. Thanks in advance.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Huh



From all my reading of the boards these years I've always believed ALL 12-valve trucks came with the weaker valve springs, auto or manual. I replaced the exhausts with 60-lbs springs on my '96 5-speed.



Vaughn

 

[surfbeetle]

That's what I have always believed for the last 12 years... but after reading issue 54, I had to ask. Is this the general consensus? Maybe I just exposed a mistake in the article.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

That would be my guess. . .

 

[Bob4x4]

All the Dodges have the lighter springs.



Bob

 

[Rams-n-Hogs]

My 96 manual had the lighter springs. When I installed my brake, I also installed the heavier springs.

 

[KingS]

yes untill 24v they all had the lighter springs in them

 

[McLaughlin]

That may be 2nd Gen PacBrakes for the Dodges come setup up for an engine with 30lb valve springs. To get the full benefit of the pac brake you end up installing a bolt/screw in one of the holes in the butterfly valve.

 

[LFowler]

how hard is the springs to replace

 

[WDaniels]

LFowler,

They are not hard but can be tricky. The best way to hold the valves up are to get the cylinder at TDC and replace the injector with an air tool and use air pressure to keep the valves in place. There are other ways but thats the one I know.

 

[Bob V]

LFowler,

They are not hard but can be tricky. The best way to hold the valves up are to get the cylinder at TDC and replace the injector with an air tool and use air pressure to keep the valves in place. There are other ways but thats the one I know.

Just TDC is fine, you do NOT need air to hold up the valve, it will only drop about 1/4", if that much.

 

[LFowler]

o cool thanks

 

[Bart]

That TDC is only for the #1 cylinder. You'll have to move the engine around to get #2 thru #6 on its TDC before removing the valve spring keepers or the valve will drop into the combustion chamber. Then you have major problems. You can reference the firing order to know which valve to do next. When I did mine, I didn't use compressed air, just TDC for each cylinder. The valve will only drop about a 1/4" that way.

I just wanted to clarify that point for you.

 

[Bob V]

That TDC is only for the #1 cylinder. You'll have to move the engine around to get #2 thru #6 on its TDC before removing the valve spring keepers or the valve will drop into the combustion chamber. Then you have major problems. You can reference the firing order to know which valve to do next. When I did mine, I didn't use compressed air, just TDC for each cylinder. The valve will only drop about a 1/4" that way.

I just wanted to clarify that point for you.

Actually you can do 1 and 6, , 5 and 2, and 3 and 4, at the same time. These are the companion cyl of each other and are at TDC at the same time.

Bob V