wilderness

Well it's been a long five years without a CTD in my life but I'm a proud new owner of a 1996 2500 4x4 club cab long box. So now the fun begins! I bought it from the original owner who gave me a stack of paper work for everything he has done to the truck starting with the window sticker from the dealership and ending with the last oil change and front end rebuild (upper and lower ball joints)
So I need some input on the first things to do. I already took the silencer ring off but that's it so far. The engine has 200k on it and I've never seen cleaner oil in a truck. Valve covers are leaky but no other leaks. Transmission was replaced two years ago and is awesome. It's mighty slushy right now with a trailer behind it but empty it will scoot. I was thinking about plugging the waste gate but don't have gauges yet. I just need reminders of all the little odd and ins that I can do to the engine and get it up to speed. The exhaust is pretty rich at idle so I'm pretty sure I need to replace the fuel lines. I'm also planning on getting rid of the cat this week. I'll get some pics up as soon as I can. It sure feels good to be back!

wilderness

I also need reminders on how to bump my timing and changing and where to get gov springs. It's slowly coming back to me but I need lots of input.

patdaly

You haven't tabbed your KDP yet?

First thing!

wilderness

No I sure haven't. I know it has to be done asap. Last truck I had a diesel shop south of Atlanta take care of it. If I knew where it was located in the cover (by which bolt) I could do it. I'm considering taking this truck in and have him do that and put a 3k governor spring in. I had rather do it all myself this time though.

patdaly

Should be plenty of threads with pictures here, or TST products has a really good write-up with pics.

http://www.tstproducts.com/DowelPina.pdf

Don't be like me, have the stuff waiting on a good time to do it and get bit........

Fiftygrit

**** I thought this was about sex, cheers

wilderness

I bought the truck on Wednesday and haven't had a chance to fully inspect. I did look under it last night with a light and noticed the blow by tube was missing. The elbow was there but the hose was broken off. I also noticed the weep hole on the water pump was stained and it's a little low on water. Also noticed the worst thing was the driver side front axle seal was leaking. Ive never had to take apart the hub assembly on a Dodge before buy figure I should go ahead and change the ball joints while I'm at it. Also the fuel mileage is pretty bad. I need some inspection and upgrade tips.

wilderness

I am also planning on washing the engine today. I am going to use my smaller electric pressure washer instead of the higher psi gas. Anything I should cover or be careful of when washing?

wilderness

Well it was a great weekend to get as much as I could done on my new addition. It's nice having a clean slate to start with. Here's what I've done so far.

I replaced the valve cover gaskets. I replaced the water pump. I replaced the belt. I changed the fuel filter and cleaned the pre-filter and bowl. I replaced the fuel lines. And installed the Napa BHAF.

The fuel filter, hoses and BHAF made a huge difference! It woke up! Better fuel mileage and power.

Next weekend I plan on installing gushes, putting in 4k gsk, and adjusting the smoke screw. Im also going to add the flip up tow mirrors. It's a real solid truck and I actually look forward to driving again.

Any input is much appreciated.

joem

Wish I had the time to do all of that to my truck, my den is full of great parts I order while at lunch but zero time to install them with my 7am to 8pm shifts 6 days a week- last night I spent a hour trying to install the front crank seal- gave up after I destroyed the thing- $32 mistake. Going to try putting a new seal in the freezer first to shrink it a tad

wilderness

I wish I had a den full of parts! On your front seal, buy a short section of PVC pipe that is the same outside diameter of the seal and buy a cap for the other end of the PVC so you cab hit it with a dead blow. After you freeze the seal that pipe will help evenly tap it in place. If the pipe wall isn't exactly the same size as the seal thickness then try to find a flat washer to put over it before the pipe. If it's even the least bit crooked, you already know what happens. Let us know when you get it done.
I still have a ways to go before I get mine like I want it, but it's nice to feel the difference with each upgrade. I need to replace or reseal my power steering pump. I have to install gushes. Clean and reseal the injectors and build a heat shield for my BHAF. Then I'll. Start turning it up a notch. If I order the kdp kit from TST is it pretty easy to install myself? I am trying to find someone around Atlanta to bump my timing and may just have the tab the kdp. Then a #10 plate 3k gov spring, adjust the arm and smoke screw and methanol injection. Oh and 5" exhaust with muffler. My buddy just installed the bully dog, 5" exhaust and methanol on his 6 speed 24 valve and it will pull a skid steer up a steep grade in 5th gear under 1000 egt's! Very impressive. I realize I'll be a bit restricted with the auto tranny but plan on buying a good transmission later on. Fortunately the one I have now is in good shape and isn't Slippy.

wilderness

Another question I had, on my last '96 seems like I remember changing something in my injection pump that might be called the lift pump? All it was was a bolt on the side of the pump and a spring inside. Does anyone know what I'm talking about? What is it called? I'd like to replace it on this truck as I'm trying to take care of all if the maintenance stuff asap. Thanks. I realize I sound stupid but I just can't remember the names of all the different parts.

patdaly

Overflow valve, regulates pressure to the IP.

http://www.fostertruck.com/p7100-overflow-valve.html

They make an adjustable one now as well, doubt you need it though.

http://www.fostertruck.com/adjustabl...low-valve.html

wilderness

Latest update...
I installed a new overflow valve and adjusted my fuel plate and housing and the truck is running great. I just filled up the tank after the overflow install so I'm hoping my mileage will increase. When I first bought it I was getting 300-350 per tank! That was rough considering my last truck got 4-500. I can already tell the engine is running smoother. I'm waiting on my injector seal kit so I can stop the leaks. Next I'm ordering a fuel plate and gov springs. I am waiting on my gauges to show up and A pillar (so I'm not pushing it.) Just got my flip up tow mirrors and ordered the mounting plates for them and planning on ordering exhaust next. I'm planning on the 4"-5" with muffler. That should keep the egt's in check. I also ordered the TST kdp tab kit and front crank seal. Planning on bumping timing to 15.5* while I have the timing cover off. It's already running 150% better than when I first bought it. I think after the exhaust I'm going to start the tranny process. The stock transmission is doing great so far so I would like to get a Gorend while I have the time. The last '96 I had left me on the side of the road and so I rushed the process and ended up with the same tranny problem over and over. I plan on hanging on to this one so I want a lifetime transmission that can handle the horse power. I'm even considering buying a crate motor eventually that I can put on a stand and build the way I want so I can drop it in one day.
I know that's a lot of plan's but when you love these trucks as much as I do, you can't help but to constantly think "what's next."
Feel free to give some input on my plan's and if I should add to or change them.
One more thing, I've read about adjusting the smoke screw on several threads. When I took the AFC housing off yesterday, I couldn't locate it based off the description I've read. Does anyone have a pic of one so I can figure out where it is. Also the boot around my shut off solenoid fell apart when I removed the AFC housing. Should I replace the whole shut off or just the boot? Thanks

R Walter

Sounds like a lot of plans. I believe you can find just the boot now. Try Geno's.