Hi, Im a new guy here, been looking at the forum for a little bit now. I bought a '97 2500 quad cab long bed laramie with a cummins and auto about a week ago now. The truck is so pitifally slow it is unbearable. It has 180,000 kilometers on it (112,000 miles). Its a really nice truck, and I love it so far, but it just plain doesnt have any go. By reading here I think I have an idea as to how to get some more power out of it. Im not looking to go crazy, but just good ample power (good enough to blow the doors off the new diesels ) I was thinking about the 350hp and 800tq range. I care alot more about the torque than the hp though. Id love 800. Heres what Im thinking, (in order) help or correct me when you think its needed.

1. Gagues-Pyro, trans, boost.
2. Exhaust-Straight pipe it for now.
3. Intake-I believe you call it a BHAF?! Cool name!
4. Pump-3k gsk
5. Fuel-#0 or grind my own plate

Thats all I was really thinking at the time. I know Im going to have to get a better convertor and up the pressure in the trans as well.

What should be max egt's on this motor? I have had Ford diesels in the past, and 1200 was usually the safe limit. What is the cummins?

Anything that I should do now to the tranny that I can? I briefly read something that said something was reccomended for a fix on the auto, but didnt find out.

Sorry for the long post, just trying to get a few things sorted out in my head. Thanks in advance for any help.

 

Welcome !!! You have been doing your homework. Looks Like your gunna get an A+. Glad to hear you like the truck. You will LOVE your truck after the mods. The #0 plate is debatable… lots of #10s and some #100s are popular. Have you thought about injectors? Even without them and the mods you are considering your tranny if its stock is gunna be squeelin for help. 1250° is max 1200 is certainly better (pre turbo).
BTW have you gone through and checked all fluids and filters ?

 

What he said (dusty rock) Your going to want injectors and maybe at the least a different turbo housing if not a different turbo. Good luck sounds like you have a good plan hope to see you on the 23rd of april in abbotsford for the BD dyno days

 

go with the #10 or #100 plate, just my 2 cents...

 

mstordahl,

Welcome to the CTD world!!

The course you have charted is good.
I would suggest that trans & converter be done soon. before the mods as you increase the power it will slip.

Once that is done, all the power will be available to be PUT TO THE GROUND.

You can always bump the timing, do your valves, move your plate till you get a couple of extra bucks saved. Maybe even grind your own plate ?????

All the power in that motor won't go anywhere if tha trans doesn't let it. IHO

Wayne

 

T hanks for the help so far guys! Great site. Ok, sounds like there is a ton I can do to this motor for more juice, but I need some tranny upgrades first. What is the best route? A whole replacement built tranny is $$$$ What do you think? Sounds like a good convertor and boost the pressure in the tranny will be enough? Or do I need more? So many questions! And does timing make that much of a difference really? I was also thinking something like plugging the wastegate as well.

So, am I on the right track?

Thanks again guys!

PS-Why injectors?

 

Youll just want some injectors to get you to the 350hp range.probably 370s.Alot of guys on here are getting by with a converter and valve body of shift kit.The whole tansmission is the best but it will cost alot.If you are going to tow any,you will have to choose your parts differently than just for hot rodding or the egt will drive you crazy trying to keep them down when you hit a hill

The best thing would be order the gauges ,valve body and converter first and get them installed.isspro evs are nice for the gauges.Its easy to kill the stock converter once you start cranking up the power anyway.then start in with a plate.

For towing and good driveability I would say close to what I have in my sig.

Timing around 16 degrees is a good setup and ,it does help with mileage and the truck will rev quicker and be alot more responsive and Im pretty sure it will lower egt some.

you can plug the hose for the wastegate with an empty 22shell,Will work fine just dont let the boost go past 35,or you can get an adjustable boost elbow for about 25 or 30 dollars.

If you arent towing ,you could grind a 10 or 100 plate,and set the governer lever to come in later so the transmission can build some pressure before the torque really comes in.Unless you are getting a fully built trans,the 100 or 10 would probably be a little easier on it than the 0.

Injectors :370s are the cheapest most power for the money .

You definately want the gsk,I like the 4gsk.

Turbo you probably will need at least a 14 or 16 exhaust housing and probably a larger turbo housing and wheel.Check out High tech turbo for those.
You may even want a 4 inch ehaust system to help out with the spool up and egt also.

The stuff in my sig should put you close to 300hp and the other stuff mentioned along with the 370s should get you in the upper 300s

 

Whats the main difference between the 3 and 4K gsk? I imagine its just to where the governor defuels at, but why the 4 over the 3? I see lots of guys have the 3, so is there any real advantage to the 4? And isnt 4000rpm a little much for this motor?! Do I need to do anything else if I do a 4k kit? Like valves or springs or anything? Thanks!

 

Also, I do tow some, and relatively heavy in mountainous places. Elevations are high too. I dont want egts to be a huge problem, so what is recommended for injectors then?

 

I would suggest the 215 injectors like I have and you will be good for towing and you may get by without any turbo upgrades as well.The 4gsk defuels later than the 3 is all.The 4 has an extra spring.Some say it runs better in the small pump motors like I have,I think you have the 175 or 180 pump.i dont have the heavier valve springs to rev all the way to 4 ,and I just dont rev it that high.But if you have the 4 you can always add the heavier valve springs later and if you ever want an exhaust brake you would need them as well. Pretty much what I have in my truck is the limit for towing and the stock transmission.
Any bigger injectors and youll be watching the egt gauge all the time and have to deal with the bigger turbo.

 

Thanks!! What are 251 injectors? The only dealer in my area for performance diesel stuff is BD. Like a 40hp injector? 60?

 

those are 215 injectors he's talking about,they are in 96-98 12v manual tranny trucks.if you tow heavy i would not go over the 215 inj. , egt 's get hard to control. just my .02 cents

 

Those injectors from that local dealer sound like 24v injectors,you cant use them .This is one of the most respected places for diesel performance and they sell to canada.They have evrything you need. http://www.piersdiesel.com/DodgeCanPrice.htm

 

mstordahl

If you are only from Kamloops, it would be a short trip to go see Piers for the engine and Bill K for the DTT tranny. I drove 16 hours straight to make the pilgrimage to both of their shops!

www.dieseltrans.com for Bill K.

Very good experience dealing with both of them. I had the center bolt break on my fuel filter housing, spewing fuel out everywhere. All it took was a couple of calls from Bill to help me find another one and who shows up the next morning with a good used one? Yup it was Piers! Turns out I didn't need it. It was alot of fun for me to hang around the DTT shop for a day and a half. Will probably make the trip down again in the next year or two. I told Bill I would not need the billet shafts because I was not going to race or make anymore power. Will be seeing Piers as well. My truck only has one turbo.

 

LOL Piers is Canadian and from the same home province as mstordahl !