New here and to diesels

[bdub]

I`m 62 and retired. My vehicle is a `86 Ford 1 ton van with a 12 valve cummins. I plan on using it as a tow vehicle for a small, but heavy enclosed car trailer. It will need more power to pull the hills to my satisfaction. So, I joined this forum to have a place to turn to when I need advice. Thanks for being here. Here`s a couple of pics.

[RCCUMMINS89]

Welcome, and nice looking van.

[Tacoclaw]

That is clean, nice job!

[ellis93]

Like! And welcome!

[RumbleFish]

Interesting. So just how does a ctd fit in one of those? And welcome!

[thrashingcows]

Interesting. So just how does a ctd fit in one of those? And welcome!

I was going to ask the same thing...and did you build it?

[bdub]

I bought it this way, but it didn`t run very well. The conversion was done maybe ten years ago or so. This is my first diesel and I was a little shy about working on it, so I had a local diesel guy work on it. He did several things to it including "turning it up". After getting the bill, I decided to get over my shyness and go ahead and own this thing.

When pulling the trailer, it really accelerates well and has plenty of power below 50 mph, but doesn`t do well at turnpike speeds......slows going up hills.

I`m in the process of installing pyro, boost, trans temp gauge so I can get some kind of idea what`s going on.

Thanks for the welcome. I`m hoping to get good advice here.

[RumbleFish]

What trans and rear gear are you running?

[bdub]

I think the trans and rear are original. C6 trans, don`t know gear ratio.

[ellis93]

Given its a ford there should be a tag on the diff cover attached by a bolt. If you can,take a pic of the tag and we'll be able to tell you the ratio.
The c6 is a good trans but it shouldn't be making the truck loose steam up a hill even with 3:08 rears (ford thing). After all most of you non intercooled dodges were all 307 geared trucks and its final drive gear in the 727 is 1:1 just like the c6.

I say your running out of fuel.....starving the pump/motor.

[bdub]

I took a pic of that tag on the rear end, but all I can tell is it was red. I took a couple of extra pics to give some sort of reference as to how the 12v sits in the van.

[ellis93]

Yeah that's a no go on the tag.....to get the ratio you'll have to pop the cover off and turn the ring gear. It should be stamped on it.

[bdub]

This old van has very tall tires, 225/85r16. I thought it would throw off my speedo, but recently found out it`s off a full 10%. So, I was trying to pull those hills at almost 85 mph! No wonder it was slowing down.

After the gauge install, I took a test drive without the trailer. It held the speed perfectly up hills without wavering. EGTs never above 850*, when I matted the pedal, max boost was 17 lbs. So there doesn`t seem to be any huge issues.

I`ll take another test drive with trailer in the next few days. Thanks for the input.

[ellis93]

With those numbers I'd say it could stand a turn on the fuel fuel screw.....least with it pulling itself. Hooking a trailer on it may have other results.