Will the KDP be around in 03?

[46mech]

I'm just wondering, since the KDP seems to be affecting 12V and 24V engines, does anyone have inside scoop about whether Cummins has addressed this for the '03 engine? I thought I saw somewhere that the KDP had already been delt with by Cummins, but still hear of it happening.

 

[Cummins Corvette]

I am pretty sure that the 24 valves don't have that problem. The case was cast in a different way, without the open hole for the kdp to come out of.

 

[CToney]

What's a KDP?

I just a first Genner and would like to know what a KDP is and what it does?



Thanks



CR Toney

 

[46mech]

CToney,



The KDP, as we so fondly refer to it as, is the dowel pin that Cummins uses to align the gearcase on the front of the engine for assembly and installation. Apparently, there were a batch of engines that had the bores for these pins drilled slightly oversized and consequently the pins have worked their way out and fallen into the gears in the gearcase; usually destroying the gearcase. I'm not sure how prevelant it is in the first generation engines, but there has been a large number of the 12V engines from '94 to '98(???) and I've even read of a few 24V engines involved.

KDP = Killer Dowel Pin. Even though CAnderson stated that 24V engines didn't have the problem, I don't think that's totally true because there are some people reporting the same thing happening to the 24V's... ..... though it may be considerably less.

Cummins hasn't acknowledged that there was really a problem to speak of, so what would they benefit to change the process they were using. Luckily, TDR member, CPFF engineered a couple of jigs that could be used to prevent the pin from coming out... ... . this works if the pin hasn't worked it's way too far out. Hope that clears it for you, even though this is a layman's version.

 

[kchristopher]

Originally posted by 46mech

Cummins hasn't acknowledged that there was really a problem to speak of, so what would they benefit to change the process they were using.

They have acknowledged the problem in a way - They redesigned the hole so that it is stepped down to a smaller size on the cover side. The pin cannot come out now. This happened several years ago, but don't remember the year. I get the impression that very few 24v motors are having problems. Also, somebody reported talking to Cummins about the problem and discovering that the pin bailed on 4% of the engines built.



46mech - the reason you still hear of it happening is because it still is, but not to the newest models. Since it has been dealt with by Cummins, I don't see how it would be a problem in the 2003 models.

 

[46mech]

Thanks, kc.