Hi Guys. Still don't have MY Cummins, but a buddy just picked up a 96 4x4 12V with an auto and I'm bugging him to install gauges. Multiple questions:

1.) What boost range does he need? Engine is stock, probably won't do any really radical bombing. What sort of boost does a stock or near stock 12V develop? Is a 30 psi boost gauge adequate?

2.) He has a PACbrake installed. Does anybody know if PAC has a pyro fitting already on their housings? I'm pushing him to get a pyro ASAP and he might go post-turbo until he can come visit me and have a drilling party for his manifold...

3.) Is there any preference between 1/8 npt and 1/4 npt for pyro T/C fittings if drilling the manifold or perhaps the elbow?

4.) He's looking at the Westach dual pyro/boost gauge, and figures he'll match it with a dual temp gauge. One reading will be trans temp, and he's already ordered the Mass Diesel line kit for the trans sender. Does anybody know if there is a convenient place to mount an engine oil temp sender if he decides to go that way? - like maybe a pre-tapped hole near the oil filter? I can't walk out and look at his truck myself - it's in the next state.

The benefit of your experience would be appreciated!

Jim

 

This got moved (oops, figured pyros and boost gauges were engine related...) so I'll ask again - can anybody help me out?

Jim

 

Mopar Jim, I'm sure your CTD will come into your life when it's the right one - good luck in your search. As to gauge questions, I'd recommend getting a higher than 30 psi boost gauge. I decided on a 40 psi ISSPro gauge and glad I did as it has and will hit 32+ pretty easy with the mods I have so far and I'm not done yet. I might eventually need to get a 60 psi gauge. As many have said before, once you start down the slippery slope of BOMBing it gets very addictive and you generally want more power as time goes on. Thus a 30 psi gauge will be "outgrown" fairly quickly once any mods are done to increase power.

I would also highly recommend pre-turbo over post-turbo. Many opinions have been expressed on this with most generally agreeing on pre position due to the more accurate "real-time" EGT readings you get from this pyro location. I've yet to hear or read of anyone having a broken or melted T/C and it getting blown into the turbo and beyond - this is the reason most often given for not installing it pre-turbo.

As to preference between 1/8 or 1/4 NPT fittings I don't think it makes any real difference unless you have one size thread tap and not the other. I installed my T/C in my stock manifold using the 1/4 NPT fitting that came with the ISSPro pyro gauge I bought and had no problem doing so at all. With the turbo being so easy to remove as it is I also recommend doing that so ALL metal chips that fall into the manifold can be cleaned out using a telescoping magnet and going after them through the exhaust port. I found some that wound up some ways in towards the engine from where I drilled and tapped the hole and doubt that I would have caught these by just fishing around for them through the T/C hole, which means these would have been blown into the turbo - not a good thing .

I don't think any turbo mount exhaust brakes have a bung for T/C installation so even if you decide to install post-turbo you'll have to drill and tap there too.

Since I only have EGT and boost gauges I'll leave the answer of engine oil temp tap location to others who have done this.

Keep in mind these are my opinions and what I've done with my truck and you know what they say about opinions.

Anyway, those are my $.02 worth. Hope this helps some.

Steve

 

Thanks, Steve!

Agree completely on pre-turbo, but was looking at options. He's going to be towing a trailer from Oregon down to SoCal where I am and I've been on him to have a pyro installed before towing, so was exploring the options.

Roger that on removing the turbo for the drilling - it seems like a sensible approach, especially for somebody who spent years worrying about contamination in things like space shuttle main engine turbopumps. You wouldn't believe the amount of machining chips that come out of an SSME powerhead (the manifold assembly that the turbopumps, combustion chamber, and nozzle bolt to) when they are towed around awhile behind a tractor on a metal-wheeled handling dolly! That dolly ride worked better than a shaker table...

Anybody know if there are any convenient tap-ins for an engine oil temp sensor?

Jim