Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Where's the BOOST????

[JVankuren1]

On my 96' 5spd. Which I believe is a factory 215 pump. When I have it to the floor in any gear I can't build more than 25lbs. of boost. I have the waste gate hose blocked off a #0 plate full forward, afc full forward, star wheel adjusted, stock turbo, Brute force Intake,4" open exhaust. EGT's in check. Exhaust is a haze of grey wide open @ full boost. 4th gear pulls hardest seems to have the right amount of load to build boost strong but then I run out of fuel and have to shift. Is this normal? I have a 35 psi gauge and I've read about guys that have the same and can bury the needle and slip a factory clutch, but I can't and my clutch is almost gone. She goes good, but with out ever driving another moded 12 valve I don't know if it is acting normal or if I'm not reaching my full potential. I relize my stock turbo is useless past 35psi but I can't even get it there. Do I need a GSK kit? Maybe I'm just running out of fuel berfore I have a chance to build more boost? Thanks, GUYS!

 

[bmoeller]

Your governor arm lever may be going under the plate?

Check a few things-

Fuel pressure. If low, replace fuel filter, clean the fuel pre-screen on the fuel heater, and may need to replace the overflow valve on the fuel injection pump.

Fritz's Dodge Ram Tech

Double check the plate and AFC housing being full forward. Even if the plate is full forward, but the housing is not, it won't fuel hard at all. Will feel little to no gain when the plate is slid ahead. Also make sure that the diaphram in the AFC isn't torn and is in fact getting boost. Pinched or cut boost line to AFC? If either, the lack of boost means no fuel.


My '97 still has the stock gov springs in it. NO problem building boost. Was pushing 45psi out of a PDR HX40, and the 'gate was set at 38#. Make 38# with the HTT 64 as well, but I backed off the initial setting to save the headgasket. NO EGT issues.

Your mods should've roasted the clutch and the EGTs should be insane!

 

[JVankuren1]

Thanks, I have checked the governor arm, its good. I have a feeling that the afc arm is not getting out of the way if i turn the star wheel full forward she smokes bad off idle and egt's are through the roof. if i turn the wheel back to far she can't even climb a hill. I'm gonna check the diaphragm. I know for sure the afc housing is full forward but I had my plate in the middle and moved it full forward and didn't notice any change. I just changed my fuel filter. With my setup and as little boost as I can achieve should I be seeing quite a bit of smoke out the pipe if I was getting the proper fuel?

 

[JVankuren1]

Problem solved. I wasn't aware the FSS had to be pulled up in order to check the Height of the arm, I was wondering why when I pulled the throttle lever the gov. arm wasn't coming over to the fuel plate! DUMB ***, I AM! But any way I cannot believe what a beast it is now. I noticed something else today though. When putting the afc housing on I was going to slide it back some but it wouldn't budge. so I screwed the fine adjustment screw in about 3/8" of an inch to move the afc foot forward so I could set the housing back some, it looks to me like some one ground the end of the afc foot off. it had me scratching my head I still don't see what is wrong the housing will only set full forward and that's it.

 

[surfbeetle]

The other thing you'll want to check is the intercooler clamps and connections. I have a TST #5 plate and could slip the stock clutch. Eventually had to get a new clutch.

 

[JVankuren1]

Well i have plenty of fuel now, but I still can't bury the needle on my 30 psi boost gauge, but it sure does get to 25psi in a hurry! I'm gonna check all my hoses and iintercooler next. What is the best way to do this?

 

[surfbeetle]

Check few issues back, there's an article on a boost tester. Go to your hardware store and get pieces in the plumbing section to connect an air compressor with less than 20 psi to the system at the turbo intake to pressurize the intercooler etc and look for leaks.