Thanks, yes I think it’s going to look pretty good when done. Hopefully I don’t get any expensive surprises when I finish it. Don’t know the history of the Dodge. I had the Cummins running on a stand for an hour and seemed good. Transmission I know nothing about. 3 speed auto in it🤞

 

I have a question for you KRB. My tappet cover looks like it’s 34 years old which it is. I was thinking I should replace it for I’m not sure how good it’s sealing. The motor is sitting on my work bench so it won’t get any easier. I’m guessing I would have to take the pump off to get at it. Any experience with that

 

Yes pulling the VE pump is the usual way to swap out that tappet cover gasket.
I like to rotate the engine over till the key away on the VE pump is facing up before pulling the pump. I feel it is less likely to drop into the timing case than it would be if it was facing down.
With the much bigger injection pump on the later P-pumped 12V I see no way to do it other than pull the pump.

 

I'll defer to Oliver's response. Been a while since I adjusted mine (after the new headgasket) but I did it in the truck with everything attached. I'd definitely replace it now, it will never be any easier. And if you don't - it's things like that that take the opportunity to prove Murphy's Law.

 

Removed the pump and pulled off the tappet cover which was soaked in oil so I’m thinking there was a problem there. Trying to decide if I should replace the shaft seal on the pump. It’s not leaking

 

Hi there thought I’d post an update on my truck with a question on my turbo. I want to upgrade the little turbo on the 89 Cummins to one that’s off a 91. This truck doesn’t have an inter cooler. I’m guessing there won’t be a problem it’s not much of an upgrade.

 

You will have to re clock the turbo to blow over the valve covers. You will also need to re engineer the way the crossover pipe attaches to the turbo outlet.
Then finally you will need a different air filter tube to deal with the bigger inlet of the '91 turbo
Depending on the size of the exhaust housing on that 91 turbo it might not be an upgrade as it might spool up very slowly. Look for the #s 18 or 21 cast into the housing.

Personally I would find a HX35 from a 96-02 and use that. Now that would be an upgrade worth all the work to make it fit.

 

The truck looks great. Is it just my eyes or are the two side mirrors at a different heights?
Are the post that adjustable?

 

That is sharp!

If it had steelies folks might think it was a NAPCO conversion.

 

Yes the mirrors are different on the truck. That’s so you can see the passenger mirror thru the windshield. If the HX35 wouldn’t be to much I will definitely go that way.

 

Find where people, or shops where owners dump the HX35's and upgrade to something bigger. Get a rebuild kit and you should be golden. With your skills a refurb would be easy.

 

I see it now. That makes sense.

 

Forgot I had this thread going. Well I have managed to get the Cummins back in the truck after we over hauled it. Have a new 4 inch exhaust attached to the HX 35 turbo. I need to break in the engine so my thought is to just park it now till spring so I can drive it when it’s warm out.

Since I had it out I made it look pretty

 

What about firing it up and letting it run in place? You can jack up the rear of the truck like Ferris Bueller and let it spin the tires too.
I would rev it up too, not just let it idle at 800 RPM for a long time.

You can put the transmission in N to circulate the ATF around. This would be a good test to check for leaks you could fix in the shop and be ready to hit the ground running in the spring.

 

Yes I only let it idle for the video. I was in it revving it up and down. Was making sure I had the right amount of ATF in it. Plus I had to go burn a few doughnuts in the yard. The 64 year old kid in me coming out. I’m not exactly sure how to break in a new motor but I’m thinking I need to get it hot and it won’t get that way in this cold weather.