Wow 15 and the head gasket failed, I wouldn't have thought that setting would have been stressful to the engine at all.

 

My timing had been retarded (to 6) for god only knows how many years, it was at 6 when I changed. The 50K miles on my truck before I got it were hard at best (rotors were already cracked when I got it)

I always thought that the 9 degree jump in timing could have done it, then again, maybe I got timed higher than I was told.

 

the destroked stuff is very nice but expensive, every thing dealing with the cummins is expensive. But i seen it as worth it for this project, i had my hands on a twinkie truck adaptor and didnt like it at all. It required lots of either engine or tranny tilt along with having to cut up the bellhousing wich is already a weak link in racing. I think it would all depend on what a persons goals are in thier project. For pricing: destroked.com

 

how reliable is the mechanic telling you this info?

could your truck possible have had stock timing, then your mechanic advanced it another 9 degrees?

this would kill your engine in a hurry...

 

Got it done at Hot Rod diesel near Galveston, was highly recommended mechanic from this site.

I've put up 35kmiles since the blow, and everything seems fine, sometimes scheisse happens.

 

After speaking with several guys, im now questioning my decision to go to 18* like i did, i thought it was still a little conserv. since ive read on here of guys running at 22*+. And if i run juice it will more than likely be no more than enough to help spool the turbo prob. in the teens to maybe a 30ish jet? Would love to here some from guys that know how much power is really gained with timming changes and or if times at the track or great effected, i know and expect this to be a big tuning challege and i have a lot of track time ahead of me, but it will be fun learning if i can just do it without hurting parts.

 

ccmckee took his truck to have it timed a while ago. Had it set to 14.5 or so. Him and I went to advance it to 15 and found out that it was set to 24 degrees advanced. We spend about 2 or 3 hours double checking this to make sure we weren't mistaken. Happily enough, that was on a stock gasket and bolts.

Moral of the story, shops screw up, and you might never no. I'd get a dial on there and see what it is really at.