Hi, I just bought a new first gen a couple days ago. The previous owner (he bought it new) got the pump turned up by a diesel mechanic to get better performance towing. I don't plan to do any heavy towing - just a 2 axle travel trailer and a small boat. When I'm under any sort of small load, going up a hill or accelerating on the highway, and I shift up for the first second or two I get a fair amount of black smoke. I'm no expert but I have read up on the VE pump quite a bit and I'm just curious to see how I could remedy this. I feel like the extra fuel and power is hard on the Getrag because I just upshifted and am at a relatively low RPM (don't have a tach yet). Sometimes I feel a very light, high frequency vibration as well, is that the 'Rag rattling in a bad way? I'd like to turn down some of the preboosr fuel I think, or I guess get quicker boost pressure to combust all that unburnt fuel. I'm hoping to tune the pump to maximize fuel mileage and then on the off occasion I'm towing something heavy just driving like a grandma. Also, any other tips on maximizing fuel economy? I went from a Ford Taurus (24 MPG) and I just can't believe it's possible to achieve that in one of these rigs, but I would love it. I will not use it to its potential really, I just bought one because I have grown a passion for them and will one day fully utilize it, for now my dad's 6.7 will do all the heavy lifting.

Truck is 2wd with 3.54 gears.

Thanks, Tom

 

Since I am on my phone, I cannot post the links easily for you...

Go to the top of the 1st Gen forum and look for AFC Adjustment. Do that.

Things to help also are a 12cm wastegated housing and a 3200 rpm spring. The spring helps with getting the engine revving higher so the Getrag doesn't give its low rpm growl. The 12cm helps the turbo spool sooner thus less smoke.

 

getting it to spool up faster would be far better , you can dial some of the smoke out but if the turbo will spool faster & put more air in with the fuel th eblack smoke will not be a problem & you can keep the power

 

I backed off my smoke screw one turn after turning up my pump it helps. BUT I like having that black smoke for tailgaters just lug it for a sec or two then pin it they back off almost every time .

How old are you man n you got a pic of that truck yet?

 

Try backing the starwheel out some.

 

Or that.

 

Hi, I will pull back my smoke screw one turn and see if that helps, if not I'll order a 366 spring and do the starwheel and that all in one go. I just turned 18 by the way. My dad had a 96 dodge and I loved that truck. When he sold it I was heartbroken haha. He got an '07.5 and I decided I was determined to get my hands on a 2nd gen 12 valve. By perusing the internet I stumbled upon 1st gen trucks and fell in love. I have been looking for the better part of a year but only now did a deal I could afford come along my way.

I am relatively new to driving a stick and very new to driving a Getrag. Is it ok to cruise around in first or second at idle speed? When I do that in this truck it makes a weird noise that I think might be the tranny. Am I correct in assuming that? Any other tips on driving with a 'rag would be appreciated.

I am uploading pictures now, pending approval. It's in great shape and I pretty much stole it for $3000.

 

No transmission likes to be "lugged"; some complain about it louder --- the Getrag being one of them.

It seems like I already read that you over-filled the Getrag, right ??

Try to keep the RPMs higher for each gear; in other words, wind it up in each gear before shifting to the next.



When you are doing the pump modifications, note and write down each adjustment, how many turns or portions of a turn, in or out, up or down, so you can back-track if things go the wrong way.

Also, ONLY make one adjustment at a time, then test.

If you adjust several things at once, there is no way to tell what did what.

 

Thanks for the reply. I bought 5 quarts of Mobil 1 and am ready to change the oil, just waiting for a day where I get a chance to do it. I also got a 5 gallon jug of synthetic oil to do an oil change. Still gotta get rad fluid.


Edit: The guy put synthetic in it since the day he drove it off the lot. I'm not upgrading there.

 

Really my dad has a 96 5 speed and I hate it mine has way more power and the gearing sucks.

 

Turn the smoke screw up so it just hits the tamper cap. I like to keep the tamper cap on the pump. Turn the star wheel up as far as you can. You will not have issue with spooling time, it will probably increase.



The gear looking thing in the star wheel.


As for the Getrag it's a really good transmission, just watch the low RPM pulling and how fast you change gears. It will let you know when it doesn't like either.

 

I back the screw out in the tamper cap all the way as well so the piston rises as far as possible .

 

Well at the time that my dad owned the '96 I had no experience with first gens. I will back the starwheel out some. Should I invest in a smaller exhaust housing? How much do they run?

Also completely off topic, but, what is monitored that would make the CEL go off? I noticed as I was driving home from work the other day that as I was going up a somewhat steep hill that the CEL kept lighting up then going off in no particular pattern, except that it was only when I was on the throttle up the hill. I will troubleshoot tomorrow, anything to point me in the right direction would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

I should mention that the previous owner had PCM issues and could never get it reflashed or anything so he wired the grids to a manual button and same with the AC compressor. He just dealt with not having cruise control. It could be that the thing has always been going off but thats doubtful, I just noticed it after putting somethin like 50 miles on it.

Edit: I'm young and relatively new with this stuff, I should have checked the voltage gauge, I just checked oil pressure(which was fine).

 

I am assuming that "CEL" is Chinese for CHECK ENGINE LIGHT.

That's sure a new one on me ; there is a back-yard full of various 1st Gen. trucks out here and I had no idea they even had such a light.