Alright guys, here's the story. 340k on the clock. In the shop for a head gasket replacement (slow leak, jacket to outside). The guys said the cylinder walls look great for 340k, no problems seen. My situation has changed and will be needing to pull a cattle trailer occasionally now. Will be in the neighborhood of 12,000 lbs or a little more. The last time I pulled around that I felt like I needed to stick a leg out and help peddle it. This truck is a virgin truck for the most part. Original injectors (will send them off to be rebuilt regardless now), original turbo, original injection pump. None of it's been off the truck or jacked with other than the fuel to air adjusted a little. Break off screw original. I'm wanting to turn a little fuel to it, but not to the detriment of the driveability or longevity ( which sounds odd when talking about a truck with 340k on it lol). The last clutch I put in should hold 400 hp or so I think. What do you think?
I'm thinking about 350 hp or so, if it will work with stock injectors and conform to my driveability standards and not put too much extra stress on the truck. It needs to last a little while longer, as I just drove an 07 the other day with 89k on it, but mine rides just as good and holds the road better, and won't cost 28k.
What does the DTR brain trust say? Any tips other than to plant my corn early?

 

I say get some gauges and play! Lots of room to grow from stock and still be just as reliable, just can't over do it. Simple stuff like 3k rpm governor kit, boost elbow and fuel plate of your choice can almost double your power output for fairly cheap.

 

O-ring the head while you have it off if you may want to get a little more radical in the future. Gauges are a must once you start dorking with the fuel, will keep you from possibly nuking a piston top in exuberance at the overabundance of torque you can generate. Your clutch may not like any increase in power so be prepared to upgrade that at some point. Timing, gauges, better injectors and maybe a better air filter setup will get you alot of oomph for the buck.

 

I heard from the mechanic. They had sent the head off to plane and the machinist said it needed a valve job, that they were getting sloppy and springs were weak. Given a valve job, will this lead to an overhaul with the new springs working against possible worn rings? Should I be concerned with this new development?

 

Nope, you will be fine.

 

Thank you, pat. That's a relief.

The mechanic is a young guy. Idk if he's up on the timing thing. I went by and talked to them today. He had intended to set it to stock, as that is the way he knows how to do it and that the shop time involved wouldnt be worth setting the timing up for no more than I would gain? He said he would research it, and I all but insisted that's what I wanted done, set to 15-15.5. So we'll see.

What would you guys do for gauges, and mounts. Is the pillar mount the way to go, or had anyone tried the steering column mount for the pyro only?

 

You know, at 340K and never being touched, if you could swing it, a place like Scheid could go over your pump and re-pin it to 15-15.5 degrees so your mechanic could set it to stock ( pin time it ) like he is comfortable......... depending on how long it takes him doing it, the price differential might not be as bad as you think, and then in the future, all you would ever have to do is pin time it........ just a thought.

 

Ok, I stopped back by the shop today to check on things. The young fella that's been assigned my truck was, again, squirrelly acting when I mentioned the timing. He had said he would research it, so I asked him if he had, and if he thought he could do it. Today, he said, well, I don't think it would be worth the time to do it; we don't really do that here; he didn't know how to do it...So I asked him, wth?, which is it?? Don't know how, etc, WHICH??? So he's acting odd, even not knowing him he's acting odd. lol So, FINALLY, he said that the owner of the shop is not keen on turning the juice to the trucks, he wants to set them up like stock, so there is no liability. So, I said, so somebody don't melt one down by not watching the pyro, then come back bitching in two weeks? Yeah, he said. So now we're getting somewhere, finally. lol I told him if he had something to say, then just spit it out. Only way we'll be on the same page is to quick pussyfooting around. I asked him about gauges, and he says HE has his on the pillar. I asked him, if he had one? Yeah, I park out back, you can look at mine. Takes me out there, there's two, one you can stick your head in the exhaust tip, lol, and his. A coal black fresh nice paint job, 01 sport with TWINS. The sandbaggin little sob!!! 700 hp he says. I'd say he knows how! Anyhow, we get down to talking trucks then, and I feel so much better about where I took it. He knows now what I want (and I'm confident he actually understands what I want) So he says he can make it happen. Such a good day, for not picking it up. I'm very much relieved and highly anticipating getting her home.

 

Went by and drove it yesterday. He got her woke up a little bit, hits 70 quite a bit quicker than it did. We'll know for sure when we get it hooked to something. He was mounting the pyro ga. and trying to wrap things up. Should pick it up today sometime.

After a little recovery period, I've gotta do something with these brakes.