GTSDave

Hi all,

I am brand new to the list. I am a member of moparts.com , and have been into Mopars since 1992 when I bought my 69 Dart GTS (383-4speed.) The restoration on the GTS is moving along slow but sure and should be completed this year.

I graduated from UTI here in Houston back in 1987, and then worked as a line / electrical mechanic at a Chevy dealer in Baton Rouge. I joined the Air Force and served 10 years as an electronic warfare back shop tech. When I left the Air Force I got into communications and worked with all brands of SONET equipment. Now days I work for a HVAC rep firm. I so application engineering and technical sales / support for variable frequency drives as well as anything else electrical that comes up. I am originally from Louisiana and go “Home” to Ville Platte, La. about once a month.

I always need to carry parts, or cars back and fourth from Louisiana to Houston. This is why I needed something bigger than my 95’ Dakota to haul cars and parts around. We have two kids, and usually travel in my wife’s Mustang GT, or if I need to move parts, we travel in both vehicles. Not a good situation.

Well this week I bought a 2001 Quad cab CTD. It is a short box, automatic with 55k on the clock. The truck is extra clean compared to the other 6 or 7 trucks I looked at. So far I have driven it for around 200 miles and love it!

I will be driving it unloaded 90% of the time, but will occasionally pull cars on a 16’ trailer on long hauls. I have hot-rodded gas engines since I was 16, but this is my first diesel.

From what I have read I need to add gauges and at least a trans shift kit. I can do from transmissions to paint myself, and I am quite capable of performing any work that might be needed, but I am not sure where to start. So here are my questions.

Which gauges do I need, and where is the best place to get them? Who makes the best shift kit for my transmission, and how do I identify which transmission I have? I am not sure of the maintenance history of the truck, so I want to check everything. What needs to be checked as far as filters and such? What should be my first power adder, and which one will help with fuel economy, when I can keep my foot out of it that is ;D. And last but not least what should I do first?

Thanks in advance,

-Dave

sherod

Dave, Welcome to the site. You will find a wealth of information here. Good folks too. By the way, I'm sending you mail.

Ed

midwestdually

Dave...welcome to the site...a few things....guages ..check the links/sponsors of this site..all are good with prices relatively similar..boost/egt/trans...your tranny will be a 47re auto...fuel filters and oil filters would be fleetguard, as i think that is what most guys recommend...get guages 1ST ...then add a fueling box...hope this helps

erics76

I'd add a fuel pressure gauge to the previous list. Lift pumps have a bad habit of dieing for no reason, and takeing the injection pump out in short order. Watching the fuel pressure will let you catch a dieing lift pump before it harms the inj. pump. After gauges, a fueling box would probably the next thing, followed by some tranny work because it won't like the box for long. After that, the sky is the limit. I'd change the fuel and oil filters just to be safe.

AlpineRAM

GTSDave: Questions about aftermarket transmissions sometimes strike a nerve on this site. (There are some tranny wars in the not too far back history)
My point of view is that you'll need gauges first. (Call this a preventive maintenance item), change all the fluds and filters (fuel filter, oil..)
Then go for a transmission and a power box in one step. I think that even though your truck might or might not stand a small box with the stock tranny you will wear it out unnecessary. Also the stock tranny has a hard time getting what you have now to the ground.
When choosing a tranny tell the vendor all you want to do to your truck.
Then you can go for some more air ( eg Scotty2, HX40 or KSB1, twins) more fuel (eg Edge Comp, Blue Chip, etc) bigger injectors (DonM's EDMs, Diesel Dynamics etc), exhaust.....

Just my 2c

AlpineRAM

(who is quite content with the truck in his sig ;D )

GTSDave

Thanks for the advise guys,

Does anyone sell a gauge package that has the most popular gauges? I think I would like the fuel, boost pressure, and exhaust temp first. I have seen prices on line, but no one seems to have a package deal set up. Or at least not one I have found.

-Dave

midwestdually

www.genosgarage.com ?? alot of times if you call places they might give you a better deal than what is posted online...

J BODY

Hi Dave! I also stumbled over hear from Moparts and I too have a 2001. First thing I would do without a doubt is to test the lift pump. There is a TSB outlining instructions on how to flow test this pump, but the psi test they used to use seems good enough to me. You'll find a schrader valve up by your injection pump where you can screw on a gauge. I like to see above 10 at an idle and never like to see it drop below 5 under load. As someone above mentioned, if you do not have the history for this truck, start making your own. Use Cummins, Fleetguard, or Mopar fuel/oil filters (yes the dealer ones cost more. I wouldn't know I get them around cost.). Change the trans fluid and check the band adjustment while you are in there. I bought an EZ Edge off of Ebay, and installed a set of X-Tream digital gauges (pyro, boost, trans temp). Just with that mod alone the truck does everything I ever wanted (oh and I do put a turnbuckle on my wastegate when I tow for more boost). I haven't touched the trans yet, but when it needs help I can do that work myself. Enjoy your truck!!! oil burners rule!!!

KATOOM

Welcome and congradulations on your truck. If you are new to diesels then you have many hours of reading ahead. ;D Start with the "links" on this site and try the dodgeram.org web site.

dcwm

Hey GTSDave,

Welcome to the sight....who says you have to pay a hudge tuition for education.....it's free here

One thing not mentioned yet is to get yourself a good service/shop manual. I got myself a Haynes manual, the price is right and as it turned out is a very good and complete manual.
I became a 2001 owner (see sig) last year and found that my lift pump was performing very poorly if at all and had it replaced under the Cummins 100,000 mile warranty, I'd look into that first thing If I were you.
I haven't done any modifications yet mostly due to the economics of raising kids and livestock but I can tell you that I have pulled our fifthwheel camper that weighs around 8000 lbs empty (probably 15000-20000 lbs gross when loaded for bear) all over the tri state area here and over the mountians to Myrtle Beach SC. totally stock and have no complaints at all. I just can't justify paying out the butt for a bunch of mods when the girl will perform so well stock. *My humble opinion*
I would also recommend changing trans fluid & band adjustment asap.

Enjoy your truck...it's a dandy!

GTSDave

Thanks Guys,

I have already spent way too much time reading the tech section and many many of the posts that are already up. I have a fuel pressure gauge in the tool box and will check the lift pump this weekend. The plan is for a tranny fluid change and band adjustment as soon as I pick up a service manual.

Thanks again guys.

-Dave

PHX_ATC

Keep reading, even if for days. Come out once in a while for beer and cookies.

Everybody's given good advice. Keep the fuel filter changed and clean. Have fun.

phox_mulder

[quote author=GTSDave link=board=4;threadid=23670;start=0#msg223156 date=1071360036]
Thanks for the advise guys,

Does anyone sell a gauge package that has the most popular gauges? I think I would like the fuel, boost pressure, and exhaust temp first. I have seen prices on line, but no one seems to have a package deal set up. Or at least not one I have found.

-Dave

[/quote]

How about Wildcat Diesel Performance
http://www.wildcatdiesel.com .
Owned and operated by a couple guys on this forum.
You'll see their banner in the rotation at the top of the page.

When I have the funds that's who I'll call.
They are very knowledgable and can answer any questions you have and won't sell you anything you don't need.

Or, if you don't want to deal with the border (Wildcat is in Canada) there is Forest City Diesel in Missouri or West Texas Turbo Diesel in Texas : .
http://www.westtexasturbodiesel.com

Both are sponsors, and run by members here, you'll see their banners in rotation up above as well.

Those are the ones that I remember off the top of my head.

Welcome to the site, great bunch of guys and gals here.

phox