I own a bone-stock '93 W250 Club Cab, now with ~265K miles on it. While it starts instantly, runs strong, and has no apparent issues, it is getting a bit long in the tooth. Unloaded, no issues. However, when I hitch up my ~7,000 lb. boat and trailer, and pull it throughout the fairly hilly Pacific Northwest (PNW), it struggles keeping up with freeway traffic sometimes. So, I'm contemplating tickleing it up a bit. And therein is the rub. When I research online reference materials, I find virtually no written "how to" articles on performance tuning of my vintage W250. I do find multiple Youtube videos, however. From multiple sources. All of which I have no personal knowledge of. So, how in the heck does one sort out the reliable, proven sources for tuning information and troubleshooting from some random Youtuber, trying to make a buck on his story of "Tuning a 1st Gen", or "My Favorite Turbo", or "Look what I did yesterday", etc?

The PNW is not exactly the hotbed of diesel tuning. Finding repair shops locally is a chore, as most won't monkey wiith "vintage" automobiles, much less diesel-powered old trucks. In addition, the number of 1st-Gen trucks running around here is few, far between, and dwindling. Heck even contrributions to this 1st Gen. Ram forum are decreasing. Unfortunately, I'm not in position to dump my mluch-loved '93 for a modern truck (no lottery winniings in my past/future). Any advice is much appreciated, althouth I'm not interested in some popularity poll.

Regards,

Pete

ps-how in heck do I incrrease the font size in my posting? I can barely read the silly thing-the font is just too small.

 

Have you checked the "Stickies" on this forum? There's tons of info there of the type you seek.

 

There is no standard recipe to tune a 1st gen. Different trucks react differently to the same mods.
I have 6 1st gen on the road I have tuned to my liking, NONE have the same recipe of mods. Sure they have some similar modifications that I find work well for the money. Most of them have a 2nd gen HX35 turbo, as I find that a nice upgrade and have spares in my shop to work with. They all but one have a complete 4 inch exhaust.

So me telling you to turn your fuel screw in two turns, swap in a THD fuel pin and add an HX35 turbo, might work great for me, but be too smokey, or run too hot on your truck while towing.

If you would like to call me and pay me for my time on the phone, I would gladly help you tune your truck one step at a time, depending on your likes and wants for your truck.

Best to start by adding a boost and pyro gauge, before tuning anything.

 

Good advice Oliver.
I used the stickies as a guide and had to fine tune to get my truck where it needed to be.

 

Thanks KRB.

If John would like to read up on engine mods, he is welcome to read up on the many thread on motor upgrades on this site.

I know I have gone into great detail on the mods I have done on my “Saving a ‘91.0 W-250” thread. Talking about mods I did, then road testing, followed by more mods, changes and why I did each modification and what it gave me. All it takes is time and effort. The info. Is out there.

 

Oliver's comment "Best to start by adding a boost and pyro gauge, before tuning anything".is what I'd do. Very likely jungpeter would find his trailer towing problem is associated with low boost. Possibly just tweaking the star wheel would remedy. (decrease spring tension under afc diaphram)

 

My guess is his ‘92/‘93 intercooler has a air leak in it. At this point almost all of them do 30 years later.

A boost gauge would give you a lot of base info. Along with letting you know what each mod does.