Good evening oh Diesel gods! With any luck you will smile on me this evening and I can quit crying in my beer... :'(<br><br>After reading many of your posts here, I dropped in on a well reputed RV/Diesel tuning shop to get some pricing and advice. First thing the mech did (once he heard I was contemplating BOMBing) was get the last 3 digits off of the injector pump: 011. Based upon this number, he said that I had one of the early units that came off the production line, and that it had a manufacturing flaw (extra piece of metal that is prone to breaking off under pressure) and that he wouldn't touch the truck with any of the kits beyond an exhaust system update. He said that there wasn't anything you could do about it other than replace it ($1400+ for parts) or hope it blows before you hit 100K and get it replaced under warranty.<br><br>Can any of you guru's help me understand what's happening here, and what options I have for fixing it? Sorry if this question has been answered a millon times already - the search feature on this site didn't turn up anything usable...<br><br>Thanks in advance for your help!

 

I believe he is referring to the VP-44 inejction pump and the issue of them not being beburred properly. I had a 98.5 that had this problem. I had three pumps replaced. If yours is still running fine...it might be ok. Some of them did get deburred.
Do you have any stumbling or low power issues?
Also, what is your fuel pressure at?

Welcome to the site.

 

Thanks for the welcome! I almost feel like an old hand now - I know what a VP-44 is (thanks to Push_Rod in the chat room! ;-))<br><br>I am not noticing any stumbling (unless I don't know what stumbling is) or any noticeable low power - I was just starting to look into BOMBing the beast since I am almost to 100K. Also, I don't have any additional guages in 'her yet, so I am not sure what my fuel pressure is doing. Is an FP guage one of the standard items you add (in addition to EGT, Boost, tranny temp)? Thanks again for your replies...

 

[quote author=Railer link=board=4;threadid=9177;start=0#88156 date=1041660061]<br>I am not noticing any stumbling (unless I don't know what stumbling is) or any noticeable low power - I was just starting to look into BOMBing the beast since I am almost to 100K. Also, I don't have any additional guages in 'her yet, so I am not sure what my fuel pressure is doing. Is an FP guage one of the standard items you add (in addition to EGT, Boost, tranny temp)? Thanks again for your replies...<br>[/quote]<br><br>Fuel pressure gauge is definitely high on the list of first mods. If you're just starting out, you may want to check the following thread:<br><br>http://www.dodge-diesel.org/yabbse/i...;threadid=9086<br><br>As for the VP44 deburring problems, a few (very few) guys have had problems with the higher end fueling boxes (Edge Comp, TST PM series, Blue Chip FMS) that increase the duty cycle of the VP44 through hooking to the injection pump wire. It can knock the burr that Scotty spoke of, off and damage the pump. I've never seen anyone with a lower end box (EZ, VA, Torque Dog) have this problem, however the possibility always exists. I doubt you'll have problems either way, as there are far more people who haven't had problems that who have had problems, but its definitely a possibility and you will be gambling a bit.<br><br>So, I guess the question is: Do ya feel a little lucky? ;D<br><br>Rod

 

Push Rod comes through again! Thanks PR...

Do you think there is any truth to this mech's idea about early run VP-44's being more likely to have the burr than others? Given that I have the automatic tranny in mine, I didn't figure I'd be able to do much more than straight pipe (did this afternoon - sweet! After resonator) Scotty's II, and one of the mild chips before I'd be getting deep into tranny mods...

 

It was only the early run VP's that had the deburring problem. 98.5 and early 99 seem to be years affected. <br><br>Can you tell me what number the mech was reading? Was it the barcode stamped into the pump body? The 011 is new to me, and I haven't been able to find any info on it.<br><br>Rod

 

early 99's <br><br>my truck's in service date is jan 99....should I be worried about putting on a PM3 ........<br><br>maybe I should just go with an EZ and a set of dd2 injectors instead

 

In service, or date of manufacture? Date of manufacture of Jan 99 would put you mid-year model run, and you should be just fine.<br><br>Actually, I honestly believe you'll be just fine the other way too, but it is something that I warn my customers about.<br><br>Rod

 

Rod you made my day Mine is a February '99 build and I always thought that it was an early build. I had heard of this problem before and of course using it like I do, it is a real concern.

 

Dang Rod!<br><br>It sounds like I may be OK too, if only I knew how to find the date of manufacture! ;D ;D The 011 is supposedly the first 3 digits of the serial on the injector pump. He had 3 ranges of numbers written down: 011, 016(?), and 019(?). 011 (in his handwritten notes) was supposedly the early run, burred units, 016 had rebuilt units, 019 had correctly manufactured units. I am probably wrong (but close!) on the second two numbers though, and I don't know if he knew what I was talking about...<br><br>Rod, you keep that up I'll have to buy something from you! Thanks again for your help...

 

In an earlier post from CTD/359 the question was asked “Do you have any stumbling or low power issues?”. Well, I believe I am beginning to see this and would like to find out what it may be. <br><br>Here’s what’s happening: Between 1200 and 1800 rpm no matter where I have my foot on the accelerator, the rpm’s build up very slow and sluggish. When it hits 1800 rpm it’s Katie bar the door. Now I know this is the point where the turbo really kicks in and the engine performs like it always has past 1800, but it’s the period before 1800 that has gotten so sluggish in the past few weeks. This is most pronounced in 3rd gear and not quite as bad in 4th and 5th. It is also more noticeable after I have been running awhile then shut down and restart.<br><br>This starting to scare me because it seems to get a little worst each day and I am beginning to notice it when I first start out with a cold engine.<br><br>Anybody got any ideas ??? ??? ???