2nd Generation Dodge Reliability / Performance

Have a couple random questions about my truck: 1. On start up, the puff of smoke is getting thicker and bluer. It also has a slight oil smell to it. Idling for a bit also starts getting an oily hint to it as well. I'm assuming that this is either turbo or valve seals. I don't think its valve seals because those are only 4 years old from when I rebuilt the head.. Turbo is the factory hx35 with 213k on it so id think its getting time to rebuild. 2. While sled pulling, in my Quad's datalogs I have found that the canbus fuel is dropping off a bit then back up to 4095. I don't have back downs, and throttle stayed at 100%. The green vertical bars are can…

So I just found out that the local supplier here in Oregon (SeQuential), that supplies fuel to the Shell station I usually go to, has a cetane rating of 55.3 for their B100. They cut it with regular #2 diesel to make it B20. The cetane rating should then be about 50 for the B20. All the research that I've done states that B20 should be right about there. My question is, what timing would be the best for this 50 cetane fuel? I normally drive at 60-65 and my rpms are ~1550-1675. Should I be around 16* cruise timing for max fuel economy with this fuel or is that too low/high?

Hi all, I was wondering if we could start a good fuel additive thread, something that covers 2 stroke in depth as well as other conventional, off the shelf stuff. Also, what adding cetane does, and how sulfur factors in and parts per million and emulsifiers an all. I bring this up because I was part of a recent thread on another forum where a guy was asking for opinions on Howe's Diesel Treat. I commented that I would just stick with 2 stroke unless you are somewhere really cold, then I would add PS white bottle too, in the appropriate amount of course. Anyway someone chimed in claiming that 2 stroke is mostly just kerosene, and that he had the MSDS to prove it. Same…

Has anyone run a Torque converter lockup controller like the BD TorqLoc or the done the torque converter lockup mod? If so how did you like it? when did it work best? The reason for asking is I have built my trans with a SunCoast stage 3 kit and when I'm driving around town or say under 50mph i leave the Overdrive off and everything feels good. But when I'm getting on the highway to go over 50 I turn the overdrive on and it feels like I will hit the overdrive gear at about 45 and my EGT's climb while the boost falls off. Im just trying to figure out if the torque converter I bought isn't doing what it should or if the trans is having an issue holding the gears or if mayb…

Hi Guys.. truck is a 1999 nv4500 4x4 3/4 ton. Virgin i just bought off original owner with 169k miles. Stock injectors. Only mods are gauges and a FASS pump. Added Quad ADR today with iquad for android. I HAVE NOT TAPPED THE PUMP YET and had planned to run on lvl 3 for now... Got correct truck profile selected and quad app is reading all engine parameters.. went for test drive..... Valet mode (lvl 1) works.. half power limp mode lol. Turned it up to lvl 3 which should be timing and max Can bus fueling and truck is weak. I am actually having a hard time telling if it is more powerful than level 0 (stock) ?? Definitely does not fe…

Hello again all, Howdy folks been awhile since i logged in but just got back from our first trip to our favorite campsite on the lake. This was the first time going to this site with this camper (This site is the farthest and has the most hill's and curve's). So i'll put the info up on my setup: Truck: 2001 Dodge 3500 ex.cab LB Dually 4x4 5.9 HO Cummins 24valve 6 speed 3:54 gear's Upgrade's: Motor wise BHAF, Aftermarket intake horn, Fass 150gph Fuel pump, Bank's Big head wastegate, of course EGT, Fuel pressure, Boost gauge's. Tranny wise South Bend 3250 Dual disk clutch, South Bend Upgraded Slave/Master cly. Hitch: Reese fifth Wheel Rail's with Ree…

Last fall I “upgraded” the stock hx35 on my truck to a Calibrated Power Stealth 64 Hx35. This turbo is the same basic frame as a stock hx35 so I can still use my Jacobs exhaust brake. Calibrated power makes their own 11 blade billet compressor, compressor cover. They also make their own turbine wheel which is larger to match the larger compressor wheel, and use a 9cm turbine housing. I think this tight turbine housing is what is causing my issues. I have been battling egt problems with the truck since I put the turbo on. I’ve upgraded injectors after finding posts discussing the effects of too small of an injector with out enough fuel causing high egts. I have updated the…

Hey guys just curious of everyone's cold morning routines I know everyone's cold morning may mean something different to everyone else. Well I'm in North Carolina and at about 45* out I may start the truck let it idle for about one minute and get rolling.. Is that bad? At what temperature out is it bad to let the truck just idle to warmup? And at what temperature should I let the truck idle for a few more minutes before I roll on to work? I have been really considering the high idle switch but I need the previous questions answered first and also what if you have a programmer such as the quadzilla or EJWA? Will the high idle switch still plug and play and work as it shoul…

Ram 2500 2wd I really don’t do a lot of towing atm Right now I have dap 100hp injectors my quadzilla is on it’s way back with v2 update and I got a buddy that’s local that has a new hx40 on the shelf that he said he could swap exhaust housings on for me for $500 my question is do I need to go with head studs

So I'm back.. started the 2 stroke oil. P1689 hasn't been giving me any trouble for a while. Today while driving to work someone came to a complete stop in the middle of the road so to keep moving I stepped on it to pass and go around them. As soon as i stepped on it I had nothing. It was acting like the p1689 problems i was having but 10x worse. On my lunch break a minute ago I drive to go pick up cigarettes and it's doing it some more but very minor by comparison. On my way back to work I was barely able to make it up this slight hill and i had little to no power and was blowing blue (oil?) smoke the entire way. Now to fill in some details, I may have don…

Need opinions on different turbos in the s300 frame for my truck should I go with 62 63 64, 65 68 71, 12 non gated 12 gated or 14 t3 divided gated need the turbo to tow and be street able but still have power but not be tagged or hotter then crap any opinions would be appreciated I'm thinking 64 68 12 personally in the bw sxe billet line or should I step up to T4 so many choices

I've decided to start a thread specifically for detailing the path to restoring the truck back to proper, full functioning condition. I replaced the radiator with a fully aluminum one that's welded and brazed. Ebay special, $225 shipped. Actually looks to be quite nice. Even has a proper threaded bung for the petcock. I also started work on the rear axle. All four bearings show pitting and damage. I found that both seals have been replaced before and the surfaces are both shot. They had been replaced with speedi sleeves and they were both worn. Drivers s…

Well I got a good deal on a used almost new smarty - so I bought it to see for 1+ month - as I will get (most) my money back.Interesting stuff. I have it stacked with my powerpuck and using level 8. Its pretty aggressive down low with the torque management and the fueling. Overall I would say I like it better than my EDGE or QUAD for responsiveness and DD - just not for the features (no display, no adjustment on the fly).I cant imagine what it would be like with a fueling box like TST. .Any1 wanna lend me one for a month !!! HAHAwowza

After much back and forth arguing i decided to do a full build, my new job assignment more or less requires a truck that is 4wd capable, reliable and gets great MPG.and as such my 99 is well suited minus the missing trans.The problem is the job is in Philly, which is nothing but traffic, mostly going home that is, i'll sit in traffic for the first hour of my drive, once i get out of the construction zone im all good and its highway speeds from there.After a failed attempt at a shift kit install, i sent the kit back to DTt with my VB, where they have been sitting for a few months.I decided to just get a built transmission, i decided on DTT since they already have the shift…

Time for new injectors. My engine load is down to around 2-3% and idle is at 900-950rpm. My plan is to go with 7x10s and some ARP headstuds but I worry if my truck will be undrivable if my Quad goes out like Mike's recently did. I know he said his didn't smoke too bad but I believe his turbo flows more air to clean it up. I have just a stock HX35 with a boost elbow. I don't want it smoking like a chimney if I have to drive it without the Quad. Thoughts?

Hey fellas what are you putting on these trucks for complete exhaust upgrades? Where is the best place to buy a complete kit? I dont want to pay the muffler shop $600 to do it when I can buy the kit and install and weld it myself. Also are results really noticeable? MPG's and Perf.? let me know, thanks

Another simple enhancement that don't cost a bunch of money is straight pipe the exhaust. Beware in some states it is illegal to be without a muffler. Now in some states a turbo is considered a muffling device. Some people think it just to loud. I will admit that without the muffler in place is it louder. I've been told that my truck can be heard up to a mile away. Now besides the noise and legal stuff. The bonus to straight piping the exhaust is that the engine can breathe easier. It will reduce the pyrometer temperature, increase horsepower and torque, and increase your fuel milage. Basically all you need to do is measure how long the full muffler assembly is and get …

Hi all, So I want to replace my trailer connector plug and clean up this wiring. Now just throwing on a new plug would be no big deal, but I want to figure all this out and clean it up. I know that whole bunch of wires thats hanging on the right was installed to run up to the bed for a gooseneck connector. Im planning to leave that as is because I may pull a gooseneck in the future, unless someone can suggest a better way of wiring that? What I don't know is, what is that short white wire up at the top thats capped off, and what should I do with it? What is the long black wire thats capped off? What is the lighter gauge wire with the red one …

After 340k miles about it is time for some new battery cables the old one are cracked, yellowing and corroded. After hunting around I found the best bang for the buck was buying parts and pieces from multiple suppliers and create my own cables. Now I'm waiting for the last of the one ought cable to get here to get two feet in but as it sits I have just under 160 dollars spent and this is what I got. A cable repair kit with crimping tool http://www.fostertruck.com/larryb-s-battery-cable-repair-kit-for-dodge-cummins-1994-2009.html 10' of 2 ought red motor lead cable with SAE stamped 25' of 1 ought motor lead cable black SAE stamped 25' of 1 ought m…

i filled my tank up the day my tranny crapped out. so it is sitting in the driveway with a full tank of fuel. it could be a couple of months before i get it back on the road. how long can the the fuel sit there before it degrades and is there something i can doto prolong its life? really dont have anything else to run it in.