Where to start.. Well, its been quite a while since I've been on this site, I'm happy to see its going well!Just purchased another cummins after missing my 98 after selling it a year or so ago.This is a 91 d250 2wd automatic.#1 After driving it for a couple hundred miles with wandering steering the truck suddenly started shaking as if I had a flat tire. Well, I do not. I suspect its likely in the front end. I jacked up the wheels and there is a small amount of play in the bearings but not enought that I think this is the source of the shaking.#2 Excessive blowby. Is there anything I can do to keep from smoking out the cars beside me at a stoplight? Or is the motor just to worn out?#3 Is it a 3 speed or Overdrive tranny? I'm only getting 3 gears. Is there a simple check to see which trans I have, The truck will do 55 on the freeway 60 is ok but over that is working it a little.#4 NONE of the gauges work, no speedo, odo, charge, fuel level, nothing. Any suggestions on why everything would be out?#5 Windshield wipers are only working on high mode. (I suspect a combo switch, but let me know if I'm wrong)Until I get these things figured out I'm not going to worry about much else, there are a handfull of smaller questions I have for the truck.Thanks a ton! Paul

Wow! You got some work ahead of you...As for #1 check all the driver line but also deal with the bearings if there is play it time to change... Unless you got old school cone bearing you can repack. Which I think you got...#2 That will change with season, oil, temperature, etc... Mine is even know to blow a cloud out quite a distance on cold days. If you worried about it do a compression test to see if there is any problems. Don't both with a blow by test... Oh think of that double check vacuum hose it might produce this effect if the vacuum pump is left open.#3 I think you should have a 47RH trans... 727 is a 3 speed which I don't think came out in your year...#4 As fore the gauge this most likely why the trans might not work either. I know the PCM is behind the driver side battery and to controls the dash and every thing. You might check over the wiring make sure the connection are good and not corroded...#5 Ok there is another compurt behind the glove box for the ABS and other stuff if its unplugged the delay wipers might not work. Also it might be the multifunction switch is just wore out...

#1: Also check shocks.. I've experienced it where dead shocks will violently hammer at the steering, not unlike 'death-wobble' would..#2: no idea#3: My dad had a '92 1/2 ton and it was a 3speed auto. The 1Gen Cummins had a HD version of the A727. #4: Sounds like a definite connector issue, since nothing works.. Do you get any dash lights to trip when KOEO?

So, today I jacked it up and took the tires off. I ran out of time to go get them checked for balance. I did however discover that on the pass side the lug studs were worn like the lug nuts had come loose at one point and the wheel and wobbled around and ruined the inside threads. The lug nuts were not loose. I'm not a fan of this style wheel with this style of centering, I'm not sure on the wording of it but is there anything I can do to maybe run other wheels or ? Tomorrow I'm going to likely just have a couple newer tires mounted up on the current wheels. Hopefully this helps with the vibration etc. I also found no play in the idler arm etc but there was a bit of slop in the shaft from the steering wheel to the box, what is the best way to tighten that up? Is that a box issue or a shaft issue?Thanks a TON!

the steering shaft on these are know for being pretty loose, what most people do is install a borgeson steering shaft to tighten that part of the steering up.

you can take some of the slack out of the steering box with the adjuster bolt on the box.

you can take some of the slack out of the steering box with the adjuster bolt on the box.

... but do it in small amounts of adjustment at a time... Like 1/8 turns or 1/4 turns... If you get it too tight you might damage the box, gears or .