Okay, here's where I'm at. Trucks should be in the signature line. If they aren't, I'll update this as soon as this is posted.

Talking about obviously the 1989 here.

My goals for this truck are to make a little bit of power (I am so new to these mechanically injected trucks that I don't even know what to expect), and to be a nice daily driver, and an occasional tow rig (no more weight than a wakeboard boat, but I live in a hilly area of CA).

For the pump, the plans so far to do a Denny T fuel pin, 3200 gov, spring, and to turn the fuel screw in. Right now, I have rotated the fuel pin and screwed the star wheel down 1-1/2 turns. I have the governor spring coming to me right now and I plan on installing that when it gets here, so that the truck is a little more drivable for me.

I am going to do an air intake, guages, and 4" exhaust. After that, slowly make the truck nice.

My concerns are with the truck being non-intercooled mainly. Being in a hilly area and having to tackle a couple of grades to and from work, I am a little worried about the egts. With what I have done so far, and with the addition of the 3200 spring, I am not too worried, yet (but should I be?). After I get guages, then I will play with the fuel screw, but not until then.

What are your guys' opinions on what I have said so far. I don't need the truck to be any kind of race truck, but I would like it to be a little impressive for what it is. I really don't want to deal with having to install an intercooler or anything, unless I am told that it would be a really good idea.

One of my big problems is that it seems to be easier, and cheaper to start playing with the pump then it is to put the necessary gauges in. I would like to have a tach, pyro, boost, and trans temp and double stack one of those two-gauge pillar pods on top of one another.

Does anyone know where I can get all of these gauges and whatever is needed to make them work for a decent price? When I priced them out one time I was well over $300. I think it was from Geno's Garage.

What are your opinions on what I should do to the pump/motor to make the truck a nice driver and still keep it pretty safe and sane? For example, stock 2006 power levels of 325/610 would be perfectly fine with me, if its possible (again, I don't even know what to expect).

If I can get to this power, is there a way to do it with pretty minimal smoke? I have always been into diesel performance, but I like it done efficiently and I hate blowing black crap all over the vehicles behind me.

With these goals, does it seem like I'll have to worry about the egts getting too high to be safe for the motor? Even while towing a wakeboard boat?

Other plans would be a lift, tires, paint, interior, etc...

I know this may seem kind of all over the place, but if any of you have any questions, I'll get them answered so I can get the best advice possible for what I would like to do.

Other than all of that, please help me out and set me straight if need be.

 

Well I'm not a big IP tuner...like my stuff pretty much stock. But from what I've read you really can't beat the stock fuel pin for nice clean efficient power. I would leave it alone at the rotated deep side like you have it. The 3200 spring is a no brainer...you can't go wrong with it.

The EGT's will get high if you want 325/610 out of the motor with no IC. But going to at least a 3" intake pipe, and the 4" exhaust will help keep temps down for a while. You could always consider meth injection to help keep the EGT's lower with no IC.

Gauges...well they are a costly investment, but a necessary evil. Just order them up and get them in place. You won't regret it. As for cheap gauges...well you can search E-bay, craigslist and the classifieds on the cummins forums. But you would probably be getting a bunch of mis-matched gauges. I prefer them all to be the same, and match.

Head up to the stuck threads at the top of the forum. Start reading through "The Sticky" Tons of great info on there on maintenance, upgrades and performance.

 

Okay, I can understand all of that.

For all that I know, after the governor spring is installed in the truck, I may feel like I do not need any more than that. I hear people talking a lot of good things on just doing that. It's hard to imagine just a spring giving all if the benefits that people say they do, so I am a little skeptical. At least for the reason that I don't know anything about tuning an injection pump, anyway. But with the amount of people telling what it does, you can't not do it.

I can see why the gauges would be expensive after thinking about it a little bit. I might as well just go ahead and get good quality matching stuff. Especially considering the cost of the motor. It's not really like it's not worth it.

Appreciate the reply. Any other opinions?

 

Perhaps scrounge around for the parts to convert yours to intercooled eventualy.
Rad support and intercooler.
When you get around to doing your bodywork later on you can put those parts on then.

16cm turbo exhaust housing might help also?

 

Good advice. I had totally glossed over the exhaust housing. I think the 16m housing would be a good upgrade. Shouldn't generate too much excess heat in the EGT department. And will help the motor spool up a bit quicker, and give you a few extra pounds of boost.

I'm not too familiar with the early 727's, and if they have a decent converter in them or not? But upgrading to a good quality converter that is built to handle the power you'd like to generate can be a real benefit....although not a cheap, or easy modification.