I have a 97 Ram 2500 with the 12V. Cummins. It's a 5-speed manual. No mods (other than a K&N, which I bought on my way home from the Dodge dealer back in 97.) I average about 18 mpg right now and don't really have any big towing issues. I was looking for a way to increase fuel economy and get a little more oomph out of my baby. Unfortunately as I have discovered, it's not as easy as sticking a chip in a computer, like it is for my Powerstroke. Any ideas on how to both increase mpg and hp without decreasing bank account too much?

 

If you want better fuel econ. get you engine timeing set to 15and for more Power slide your stock fuel plate all the way to the front of the engine. The extra HP will be free. Should net you 40hp or so. I would sugest you get a set of guages. Pyro and boost will work fine. should run you about 300 bucks maybe less if you want to know where to get them from PM me and I can tell you. O yeah welcome to our site. Come to Chat tonight and we can tell you everything you want to know.<br>DM01

 

If you want gauges I have Boost and EGT for sale. I need a bigger Boost gauge so im gonna sell both and get autometer with black face and silver bezel. Send me a message if you interested. <br><br>SD03

 

Them 40psi guages are useless. you can wrap them with a stock turbo. Makes the guys go when it is past 40 when you know 40psi really ain't much maybe for that turbo but not to that engine :'( Girls like it also DM01

 

Hey! Thanks for the tips, Dodgeman. Now, please bear with me and my stupidity (reference the subject line..) How do I change my timing to 15? Is it a simple procedure or is it something I need to have a professional take care of? And sliding my fuel plate forward? Is there any place I can go to learn that procedure?<br>Thanks again!

 

One more thing...I've been reading about KDP nightmares all over this site. I haven't done a thing to my 97, except put about 85K miles on it. Do I need to worry about the KDP backing out? Who should I go to to have it looked at?

 

Whiff-
Look here. You'll start worrying. Do a search on KDP and you'll find many useful suggestions. My useful suggestion would be to use Harold's jig.

 

Snoop around here and you will find a bunch of good info and people.<br><br>http://www.tstproducts.com/

 

Cool! Thanks for all the help! This is a great site. Now, is there an easy way to slide my cam (fuel) plate forward? I have been looking on this site for instructions. I am assuming it's the same method as described at tstproducts. I am only somewhat mechanically inclined. Will this require special tools?

 

The hardest part of sliding the plate is getting that dang breakoff screw out. I've had some that were a piece of cake, and others that make me wanna pull my hair out. But yes, it's just like installing a plate, only you just slide the stock one forward. My 97 with the stock plate slid forward dynoed at 283 RWHP about 3 years ago.


Once you slide your plate forward, you will want to increase your boost pressure a little. Your 97 should have a hard line running from your turbo, and between the valve covers. When it gets between the valve covers, a rubber hose is attached and is run to the back of the AFC housing. YOu will need some type of adjustable restriction on that hose to adjust the boost pressure to around 36#. Anymore pressure than that and you're out of the turbo efficency range. TST sells a replacement boost elbow that replaces the hose barb on the AFC housing that the boost hose goes into. It is adjustable with a small allen screw tapped into it.


BTW, you do wanna take care of that KDP. The pictures on that website were taken of my truck after the pin fell out. That was not a good day. &gt; :'(
Here's a couple of more pictures
http://hotroddiesels.20megsfree.com/images/KDP1.jpg
http://hotroddiesels.20megsfree.com/images/KDP2.jpg
http://hotroddiesels.20megsfree.com/images/KDP3.jpg
http://hotroddiesels.20megsfree.com/images/KDP4.jpg
http://hotroddiesels.20megsfree.com/images/KDP5.jpg

 

[quote author=WHIFF link=board=16;threadid=15358;start=0#144316 date=1054424134]
Hey! Thanks for the tips, Dodgeman. Now, please bear with me and my stupidity (reference the subject line..) How do I change my timing to 15? Is it a simple procedure or is it something I need to have a professional take care of? And sliding my fuel plate forward? Is there any place I can go to learn that procedure?
Thanks again!
[/quote]

Timing is something I would definately leave up to a professional. The correct way to do timing on a 12 Valve is with a dial indicator on the #1 delievery valve. But definately find someone to bump your timing at 130,000 miles mine had slipped from factory (13.5* BTDC) down to 10 or 11* BTDC. I had mine set at 16* BTDC and I gained a SOLID 1.5mpg at the pump! ;D

As for sliding the factory plate its easy. I'm at home bored with nothing to do right now so I'll go snap ya a few pics.

I attached a pic of the AFC housing with a red arrow pointing to the tamper proof screw that you will have to cut a slot in to remove it. Once you get the AFC housing removed the cam plate it right underneath it. Just loosen the two screws and slide it forward (towards the radiator) for an extra 40-or so HP. ;D I highly recommend guages even with just a factory slide plate.

 

About the KDP I would be cautious about just doing the jig fix and not taking the cover off because mine kracked on the inside and there were no visible cracks on the outside.

 

Mark,<br>Did you crank your star wheel all the way when you slide the plate forward?<br>Smoke, baby smoke ;D ;D

 

Got_smoke's cam plate is in the stock posi. with the rack stop out ;D<br>DM01 I was there I saw it [undecided]

 

[quote author=dodgeman01 link=board=7;threadid=15358;start=0#144274 date=1054414926]<br>Them 40psi guages are useless. you can wrap them with a stock turbo. Makes the guys go when it is past 40 when you know 40psi really ain't much maybe for that turbo but not to that engine :'( Girls like it also DM01 <br>[/quote]<br><br><br>It's even cooler when you peg a 60psi guage ;D