Hope this is ok to put here.

 

I wanted to put the history and semi build up of my truck so far for both record and might be able to help others some how. 

 

So, I have been a dodge fan for years, partly because my father works at a dodge dealership and because the only non dodge product we have ever had in the family was a mid 2000s Subaru Legacy. My first time driving anything was when I was like 3-6 years old, my father let me steer his Jeep Grand Wagoneer down the road. We actually still have that jeep but it has fallen into disrepair because of reasons. I personally have had a 1999 Jeep Cherokee (on loan from the parents), 2001 Dodge Ram 1500 (was my first vehicle I could call my own, sold a few years ago), 2001 Dodge Ram 2500 (nearly my dream truck, needed to be a sport to be my 100% dream truck), currently also own a 2019 Ram 2500 (needed because I chose to start sled pulling with the 2001 Cummins and I needed a second vehicle). Also have a 2016 Yamaha Stryker for a motorcycle.

 

So this was the morning after it was dropped off to me in 2015:

 

I actually bought the truck off of a classmate of mine so that was a fun surprise.   

 

And so began my foray into the world of diesels.

 

Unfortunately, previous owner didn't take good care of the truck. No power steering fluid, and it was really low on oil, like half of the required amount drained out my first oil change, and the steering was really all over the place. Also, the exhaust was cut off right at the end of the cab, and the mounting rod that attaches to the tranny had broken off allowing the exhaust to just rattle against the tranny crossmember. So I swapped it to a set of MBRP cool duals.              Out with the old

 

 

In with the new.

 

Few months later gave the truck a bath. 

 

 

 

Also after, digging through my photos, I don't take a lot of photos of the projects I've done. Or I cant find them. 

First big issue was that when I went and got new tires for the truck, the place that was doing the alignment broke my nv5600. Unfortunately, said place is a regional chain in the northeast and gave me $500 as compensation after the company that rebuilt the tranny said that they had seen this kind of failure quite often. they forced the shifter into a place it wasn't supposed to be and separated the circular thing from the actual shift rails. Top right corner is where it was disconnected.

      

 

So i used this time to get a fresh rebuilt tranny, rebuilt driveshafts, a Valair dual disk clutch and new shift tower.

Sorry for dissapearing for the past few weeks, getting settled into the new job, vacation, and surgury has taken a lot of time and energy out of me.

 

Finally got the rest of my upgrades installed that i got from @dieselautopower. Then 2 weeks later got my first sled pull of the year squared away. Gave it a proper stress test by not putting it in the right gear and carrying 3500 rpm down the track .. Whoops... Sounded good and strong though..

 

While doing the install on the valve springs i found that not 1, not 2, but 5 exhaust valve seals were borked... Either the tension ring was popped off or the top part of the viton was torn off. Gonna have to look closer as to why later..

 

Also considering getting a 12cm^2 housing.. the daily drive with the 14 is a bit rough.. seems to keep cool with the pulls though so we'll see.

 

Got rid of my 2019 finally, got a used 2016 Challenger SXT instead.. Also traded my 99 ram 1500 for it.. we'll see how this one fares.

@dieselautopower, how much for a 12cm^2 gated t3 68mm turbine housing? I looked at the site but didn’t see any, they out of stock? 
 

Also I’m only getting 25 psi max. I know you said it was more efficient but does that sound right?

Are you able to adjust (shorten ) the wastegate?  Are running bigger injectors than the +50HP in your signature?  25psi will be more efficient, but you may need more for sled pulling

 

Here is the link https://www.dieselautopower.com/s300-t3-turbine-housing-76-68-wastegated-hx40-12cm-12cmt3hx40wg68

Gotta update my sig.. no, I’m running the 7x011 SACs popped at 320 you guys set up for me..

 

don’t know yet on the waste gate..

 

fighting smoke right now as well but with 5 of 12 exhaust valve seals not sealing properly (one each cylinders 1-4, both on cylinder 5 I think), not sure how much is oil burning and how much is fuel..

If the valve guides are worn the the seals will fail rather quickly. This is due too much valve stem wobble.

@dieselautopower, can’t shorten the wastegate.. unless i cut down the threaded sleeve.. 

 

@Mopar1973Man, I’m assuming that’s what’s happened.. hope it’s not bad enough that the valve stems are getting torn up.. not sure which is harder, probably the valve stems..

Like my head 18/24 valve guides were worn out and the valves seals were all torn up and laying in the head when I pulled it. Look back in my first post about blown head gasket. Some of the seal were up on the valve stems.

I would make sure you do not have a boost leak, also check under the 5 bolt plate and make sure the wastegate puck is covering the exhaust ports and has not broken off.

Been dealing with BS with the dealer and my challenger for the past 3 weeks.. They keep telling me its gonna be done that day, but they dont know that i know, that all of my parts are back ordered.. havent been able to look at things yet because the sled pulling truck is being my daily right now.. plus got covid again plus working OT at work.. need to decide what im gonna do, take the car back until parts come in or wait out the next 2-3+ weeks until parts come.. Logic says take the car back..

 

I think when i modified the mount of the canister i shortened the rod too much unintentionally and i think the pucks might be just off their resting points.. I think im just gonna pull the housing off and see how things are lining up.. Idk, cant get it to spool below 2000-2200 rpm, there's just nothing there. Kind of why I want the 12cm housing.. should help pull the RPMs down into a usable range.. I'll check the current one first to rule out any issue there first.

Took the turbo apart this past Sunday to check on the wastegate pucks.. they were off just enough to rattle when poked with a screw driver.. 2-3 turns shortened up the rod enough to seat them..  also had a small leak at the manifold gasket.. spools a lot better now.. starts building boost at 1800-2000 rpm now.. 

 

No boost leaks either..

 

figure I’d share my most recent pull too

 

Glad it it working better for you.

Had my 2nd best pull ever this year, 323.xx ft... then they changed the sled on me. The repull was 171.xx... Overall, this year I got 2nd place. Learned some stuff. And where my limitations/short comings are.. Mostly, I have the power now, but I need to get the power to the ground better.. and a new clutch.. mine just about gave up the ghost on my last pull of the season. I'll get the video up soon.

 

Congratulations.  

 

If you need replacement frictions or a whole new clutch give us a shout.   We stock the billet flywheel versions too.

Trying to decide what to do next for a clutch.. was thinking kennys triple sintered diaphragm clutch or a valair street triple which i think is ceramic.. Can you explain the billet flywheel? Or is that the SFI rated stuff?

 

Need something that can hold up to sled pulling and that can drive on the street. Not towing anything more than a landscape trailer to move someone to their new house, and that is infrequent at best.

Valair Triple disk is a very nice clutch.  Kennys makes good clutches too.  Both should be SFI rated. 

 

There is a dual disk billet Valair clutch and also a sintered iron,  but those will both  be clunky to shift compared to the  triple.

@Mopar1973Man, do you still use OBDlink for some gauges? Just curious..

I wish... I fried my OBDLink LX series on a bad firmware update. I've not replaced it yet but plan on it soon. 

Speaking of gauges... Isspro will have EV3 gauges that are programmable for color and alerts in March or so.    Also the Quadzilla Pressure sensor works as a lower cost replacement for Isspro pressure sensors up to 100psi.

Only a few years after auto meter.. unless isspro is significantly cheaper.. Auto meter elite series have done that for a while now, with.. but 250-300 a gauge is a lot.. sorry if that comes across overly salty.. ive been drooling over the autometers for a while now.. a full dash with those in it would be just *chef kiss* lol.

 

Good to know on the rest though..

Not salty to me at all.  Isspro is late to the game on brining products to market.

 

Isspro had better certifications and is an OE gauge manufacturer for freightliner, marine and aeronautics, they have been ahead regarding quality for years.   Autometer did not have those certifications until a few years ago.

 

Auto meter is faster to market and far  better at marketing. Their price is quite inflated compared to the quality.  Heavy Marketing adds to consumer costs.

 

The EV3 will only be about $25 more than the EV2 and they will be a sealed gauge ( suitable for marine).  Their App is free and can be downloaded now.

 

We sell and stock both brands.