New to making power

[redneckroot]

My truck- 1990 dodge, 727 auto. Right now my truck is stripped to the frame soon as it gets back from the sand blaster its going to gether. I want to be able to still tow my jeep around with it along with take it to the local pulls. I want to make as much power as possible but I am on a budget I also don't want to get to high in the EGT scale. So before i spend money that i don't need to what should i do first?
The tranny is getting built, but how much will the stock shafts take?
What injectors should I go with?
What turbo should I go with? ect..

[Richie O]

With my 89 with the stock injectors, a s300g turbo, Ford powerstroke intercooler, 4 inch stans exaust I can get 1500 degrees with not towing anything. So... Your stock sticks will give you plenty of fuel till you get into some serious turbo upgrades. The stock injectors on the non i/c trucks were more agressive then the 91.5 up trucks. First upgrades you need is pryo and boost gauge. Don't turn up power without pryo gauge. It is real easy to get it to hot.

[redneckroot]

I read about putting a 94- 97 stock dodge intercooler on it, which also means switching turbo's, but i'd rather not buy another turbo down the road, so which one do i go with? How much can the stock head gasket take before i have to worry about that? How much is it to stud it and put fire rings in?

yes i have a bad addiction starting, but i use to race limited late model dirt track cars so atleast this shouldn't get pilled and totaled in the first lap haha.

[Begle1]

The best thing to do is give us a budget to spend for you.

[redneckroot]

I'm going to say start out slow but probably end up at around 2 grand. for the initial start. If that means only throwing on a turbo and tweaking the pump then thats the way it is atleast until the old lady decides to look the other way for a minute when i stop at the bank. But like I said before right now the frame is at the sand blaster and I hope to start rebuilding the front/rear after work for the next week or so. So right now with the engine out I'm trying to find out if there is anything i should do with it that would be a ton easier then when its back in the truck. It ran really well and has 240,000 + miles on it should i take it in and see if i can afford to get it freshened up with rings and bearings? Or say its a cummins and just run it.

[Richie O]

Paint the oil pan, check the rear main seal, run it.

[PToombs]

Paint the oil pan, check the rear main seal, run it.

Rear cam plug too.

[Richie O]

Rear cam plug too. [/quote]



Pete , where is the cam plug? Is it like a freeze plug on back of engine?

[redneckroot]

Would this be a good turbo choice? will it bolt to my manifold? Can I even run this on my truck? http://dieselpowersource.com/product_in ... ucts_id=44

Would these be a good choice for gauges? http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Parts-Ac ... m245.l1318

[PToombs]

Cam plug is in the rear of the block, on the cam galley. Like a soft plug, little different. They are just a dish shape, like you pushed the center down with a finger. The new ones have an o-ring you put in, then the plug seals against that. Install with some loctite, then whack with a hammer.

[redneckroot]

Pete could you give me a link to where you got it?

[PToombs]

Only 2 places to get that puppy. Cummins or the Case dealer. The cam and soft plugs in our engines are metric. NAPA and such can't get them. Bastages.
If you had asked last nite, I could have gotton a part number for ya. How far are you from Monroe Tractor in Buffalo?

On edit, went on Case parts online and looked up the part # for ya, J900687. For a Cummins number, change the "J" to a "3". It's a 60mm welch plug. I think the buffalo store is open tomorrow, just call and give them that #. I know the part number is updated, they can give you the new number and if they have it.
If you have any more questions, let me know.

[redneckroot]

Thanks Pete. I'm about 50 miles south of buffalo in Arcade. So I could make the haul. I'm not ready yet to start playing with the motor, but I want to know what I should do before it goese back in. I just finally got my front end all rebuilt tonight and she's finally ready for paint. If my frame would ever show up I could start bolting parts back on it. My main problem with this truck is I don't know much other then what I can read online I've never been a diesel mechanic so getting power will be a challenge until I learn some things. If it was a gas truck I'd pull out my bag of tricks, but gas trucks don't have the rattle or the black smoke. I'm trying to find someone local that feels like drinking a few beers and tinkering on this thing so I can block out the sun.

[Richie O]

You are not the only one....

[redneckroot]

Haha Yeah my brother keeps telling me to just go buy a southern one that isn't rot boxed but i already own this one and the body to go on it so game on. How do you post pictures on here?