i just picked up a 1994 1 ton dodge 2wd. its a 12 valve cummins with an automatic. i am going to put a summit 4" turbo back exhaust on. i want to get the BD fuel stop plate on the pump. i was wondering if my truck with the auto tranny could handle the BD diesel 1040179 (200hp/550 ft.lbs). i am planning on using the truck to tow my goose neck trailer and i want all the power i can get. but i do not want to be working on the truck. any experience with the BD plates? i am new to cummins engines. thanks Ralph

From what I understand the stock auto will last about 100,000 miles between rebuilds. Add more power and that number goes down. If you check around all the big time power cummins have manuals. ... For reference my '95 made it 125,000 miles before the PO put $3200 into the tranny.

That said - do it! Can't get enough power. But add some gauges so you don't smoke things out in the first week (Pyro and trans temp at a minimum).

What he said.

You can count on rebuilding the trany right now if you are going to add any power.
Dave Goerend builts a hell of a trany for those trucks.
If you can you better just plan on about $3000.00 to replace it.
Get gauges like mentioned above. EGT, Trans temp is a must and the sender needs to be in the line going ot the cooler (hot line) not in the pan.
Boost gauge is nice as well.
Do a bit of searching and you will find you can just grind your stock plate to either a 100 plate or a #10 plate for free, adjust the star wheel and and grind the AFC arm, advance the timing to approx 16-18deg get some 370 sticks 4" exhaust and intake (not K&N) and your good to go. Probably really really close to 500 rwhp right there and really cheep as well.

HOWEVER, your trans is going to melt out if you add more than 40-60hp in mods.

Good luck.

dan

http://www.dieseltruckresource.com/dev/index.php
http://www.thedieselgarage.com/forums/index.php
for your reading pleasure.

thanks for all the advice, i might just stick with the exhaust for now. it's an easy install and pretty cheap. i really don't want to get all the guages and stuff anyway. it's an old truck so i am not trying to dump too much money into it. i cut a bunch of holes in my airbox and bought a new filter.(thats my high flow intake) it has about 140,000 hard miles on it. i am sure it's not the orig tranny. i am just hoping that they put a good brand back into it.


why does everyone hate K&N. i want know someone that has had a problem first hand.

there are several people who have had k&n elements disentgrate and end up inside their engine. Also several flows tests have shown that they do not flow as well or filter as well as other elements. Why get a filter that doesn't work? That's why people don't like them in the diesel world. I can find specific examples if you want but search and you'll find them yourself

-ben

i don't have any K&N filters, but i will believe it when i see it in person. the internet has so many bias opinions, it's hard for me to believe some things.

The K&N just flat out comes apart and gets sucked into the motor. BAD! Hit any of the diesel web sites and they will all have thread after thread of K&N pics.

And besides you can add a BHAF (Big Honkin' Air Filter) for $50 that will out flow and out clean any K&N around.

the truck had a K&N in it, but it looked like it was as old as the truck. :shaking: my local autoparts store was the easiest. i think i got a purilater or hastings, it is a paper element and a 1/2" thick foam filter. it was like $27 someone took the silencer out of the turbo before i got the truck. i am hoping to find one eventually. it's a little too loud.

If it's the same fuel plate that is in my 98 12v, why not grind your own and save some money?

If your going to tow anything at all you better get a trans temp gauge and a EGT gauge at min.


dan

i really don't think i would need an egt gauge. the vehicle was made for towing, and it has been for 12 years without a problem. it's all stock except for a 4" exhaust.

When you add fuel and change things from stock your EGT's will be high ,better to be safe than have a melt down.

do mod's with no gauges and you'll pay in the end!

i really don't think i would need an egt gauge. the vehicle was made for towing, and it has been for 12 years without a problem. it's all stock except for a 4" exhaust.


An excellent plan for an engine meltdown! Get an EGT and a trans temp gauge minimum! ANY modification to the engine will result in a change in EGT's. Don't you want to know whats going on so you don't melt it down? Even a dead stock engine can have excessively high EGT's if you load it heavily and dont' back out of the throttle on a long climb.

Just because the truck was meant to tow doesn't mean it's idiot proof. The more information you have, the better the decisions you can make to be sure your truck will last.