berok

I'm new here, so I'm sure this has been discused somewhere. I have a 96 2500 cummins turbo. We just started pulling a 5th wheel, we live in abilene tx. If anyone knows anything about going up Ranger Hill (between Abilene & Dallas on I 20) then you know it's a pretty good climb! I got up that hill going only about 45mph w/ the pedal to the floor..... pulling a 34 ft Jayco. IS THIS NORMAL?? Is there anything I can do? and if so where do I start?? On straight-a-ways I'm OK but any slight incline or upgrade it slows me down to about 60mph or 55mph HELP!!

marksmith

There is LOTS you can do to run up that hill at any speed you want.


First things first though. What are you driving. We need year and if its a manual or auto.


Welcome to the madness!!!!

Mark

berok

96 dodge 2500 cummins turbo w/ auto tranny (I think the tranny is a 518?)

97DodgeRam

You can get bigger injectors, delivery vavles, or a different fuel plate. I would go with a #10 plate and maybe a GSK. You'll need to get some gauges (boost and pyro) to moniter everything. You'll also need to beef up your tranny because it won't like the fuel plate too much (I know that from experience).

Abbynormal

Welcome Aboard ! I have a '96 too. It is a great truck but has the potential for a LOT more power. First you will learn the '96 "P-Pump" 12 valve is totally mechanically controlled. No computer chip alternatives, but there are still a lot of mods that can unleash the beast. It would be good for you to go ahead and fill out your signature with your current setup. The stock automatic only puts out about 185hp and ~400 lb torque. The stick shift around 215 hp. You will want to beef up your tranny pretty early, the stock auto can only handle about an additional 60hp. A better torque convertor and valve body can bring the tranny capacity a lot higher. You will then need EGT and boost guages before you start playing with adding more fuel. Generally I would reccomend upgrading the exhaust system and intake also before adding more fuel. After that, you can change the "load stop" or "torque" plates in the injector pump. Change the governor springs ("GSK") to allow higher revs. Change injectors and delivery valves to higher fuel capacity, bump your timing up turbo upgrades and on and on..... These engines can easily put out 400 ~ 500 hp with over 1000 lb of torque.
Here are some good supplier websites...
of course the pro shop here at DTR
www.atsdiesel.com/ATSWebsite/ATSU.asp
www.piersdiesel.com/DodgeProducts.htm
http://www.tstproducts.com/index.asp...PROD&ProdID=31
www.bd-power.com/ram/index.php
www.haisleymachine.com/
www.sourceautomotive.biz/sa_dodgemenu.htm

ATS shows a lot of what can be done to the 12v p pump. Also BD's site has a lot of tech manuals.

good luck and have fun !

texaspower19

ranger hill can be a bit tricky some times, expecaly when u got a 40ft flat bed with 25 round bales.

berok

First, thanks for the reply! My tranny is giving me some probs as we speak... So, it sounds like I need to worry about that first. But, I do plan on having it done. So, what exactly do I let the shop know, that is going to rebuild my trans? Do I just tell the to rebuild it w/ HD gears? or what? any tips on that? And second, can most of these upgrades be done by myself? I mean, I know it takes a little mechanical knowledge and common sense..... I am an airplane mech.

boughtadodge

Don't just take it to any shop get in touch with DTT, Suncoast, Goreand, or Ats and get a tranny that is built for the power it will be money well spent.

TxDiesel007

Hello and welcome to DTR

im another of the 1996 crowd, I however have a manual transmission, and the larger 215 pump, your truck has the smaller 180 pump due to it having the auto transmission.. In answer to your question, yes you can do much more to the truck, Its stock i take it, Ive driven them stock lately and i wonder how in the world could i drive one now? LOL but anyways.. Here is what you would wanna do to get some more power out of your truck, this is a reccomended setup that will suffice for your towing purposes..

Governers spring kit available in either 3K or 4K rpm ranges, this cheap lil kit will boraden your narrow powerband, and yes it will make the truck fun to drive.. I would suggest getting a 4K kit, you do not need to get the valve springs unless you are gonna rev super high up in the RPM range.

Fuel plate A number 10 will serve your purposes just fine for towing that RV however, where you position in the pump it will act like the next hotter plate. Full forward on the fuel plate, and properly adjusted governer arm and you will feel about a 30 horse increase.


Airflow it is a good common practice to improve your airflow anytime that you add fuel to the mix, this will not only give you a marginal HP increase, but it will also cool your Exhaust gas temperatures. A BHAF (big honkin air filter) is usually the way to go, or you can find aftermarkets such as AFE, scotty II and so on and so forth, either ways u cannot go wrong..


Injector pump timing. AHH yes.. I just did this little wonderful mod to my truck and although i lost some lower end, but i gained a heck of a top end, truck came alive after 2K rpms, and i gained about 2 mpg, I run about 16.5 degrees of timing, but your truck will need some more due to the smaller pump.

Injectors Well you cannot add more fuel without injectors and/or delivery valves. Injectors, the most commonly used ones are marine 370 injectors, you can expect a 50-70 rwhp increase just by putting these guys in and you will feel a difference, You can go as mild as a 215HP injector from a manual 1996 truck, 300 horse or 370 horse, For your towing application im thinking you dont want too much smoke and you dont want to extremely hotrod your truck, so the 300 horse injectors will be less smokey, and they will also more affordable and tolerable on the smoke side... and still give ur HP a nice boost.

Delivery valves (optional) easy to install and can make your truck smoke like a freight train, i would say that these are optional cause they help you alot on the lower end, but they do smoke. your 180 pump has smaller DV's where as the manual truck has the 181 DV,s from experience they smoke ALOT too if i lug it...

Turbo Turbo is the air source for your engine, for your towing you can run probably a hybrid HX35/40, or an HX40 and it will tow your RV easily, heck without large injectors, and DV's your stocker will be good for a mild increase, im runnin about 350-375 rwhp in my truck at the moment and im at the limits of my stock 35 with a 14cm exhaust housing (that isnt stock mind you) just to give you an idea. There is an array of reading up on this site about alot of this...

I hope that this helps you, and yes ranger hill is a tricky one... and yes you will need to consider rebuiling your trans as well or gettin a performance one, that one you have will not like you so much after a few of these mods...

Best of luck!

Rick

Rrloren

I had my trans rebuilt @ the local shop and he put in a HD torque convertor and HD clutches with a Transco shift kit. Pulling 10000 lbs over the mountains burned up the TC. Rebuild was done the same way with a Guorand triple disc and haven't had any problems. Oh , you should also have a tranny temp gauge installed. I wouldn't pull heavy again without one.
Welcome to the site. A lot of very knowledgeable and helpful guys here.

Txwelder

I would recomend that you get gauges before you do anything. I did them first and then made my 100 plate and BHAF. The exhaust can be done by just purchasing a piece of replacement pipe from a muffler shop and installing it in the place of your stock resonator and muffler. The GSK, AFC springs, injectors and timing were all done in that order in one weeks time. After doing the engine mods I installed the Valve Body Kit and have had no problems with the tranny. The turbo I have is stock and the waste gate has an adjustment valve on it but is currently plugged and has been for a while. I towed a total truck and trailer weight of 16,500 lbs from Yuma, Arizona to Dallas, Georgia and got an average of 12 mpg with no tranny slipage and only had to tap the brakes once to kill the cruise because EGT's were getting too high. I have maybe spent a total of about $1500 for everything I have done. You can do allot for a little on these 12 valve trucks. TxDiesel007 is right about the 3k GSK, that thing wakes the truck up so much. You can find so much info on this sight and wouldnt recomend any other. Good luck and dont hesitate to PM or post forum questions for tech info.


Oh yeah, KILL THAT KDP!

Txwelder

high country

holy cow guys, he's new and nobody yet mentioned the KDP.......search it out, good piece of mind.
I would say get the tranny adderssed by one of the above mentioned shops, or at least get your parts from them and your builder can put it together, the tranny has a bad reputation and it can be a very good one with the help of thoses shops.
guages are a must if you are gonna tow and mess with the fueling, not to try and scare you but you need to know how hot she is running.
the first things I would do is bump timing, a fuel plate and a gsk. 370's are too much for a tow rig with a stock turbo. just the plate, spring kit and a timing bump will put a big smile on your face, and it won't cost you much at all.

robert chilton

I believe that his 180HP pump already has the 181DVs so they should be plenty for his truck. I think that timing on the 180HP pump also goes by the 215 pump rules and only the 160 & 175HP pump get the extra 2 degrees of timing. I have never tried the 300 injectors but I have seen many people say they haze as bad as the 370s. I would do the 215 injectors or an aftermarket set if I planned on towing alot. Other than that I think ya'll got him on the right track.

STACKED

welcome, i cant tell you much about your 12 valve but the skys the limit on those things. www.cumminsdatabase.com can help you with the mechanical part the rest you can learn from these guys on here. i know ranger hill and it can be BI*** pulling any thing, its just right up the road from me.

berok

Thanx for all the help guys!!!! I'm researching as we speak, just keep the good info coming!!!!!!