Best mods for my Motorhome?

[PToombs]

I can't overstate how much help these folks here can give you. Just don't let Pete Toombs enter your motorhome in a tractor pull.

What did he do? Pee in the sink again.

Good point I should have said "Don't let Pete Toombs enter your motorhome "at" a tractor pull.

It's not my fault! They both were about the same size, (sink and john) and I had 3 beers in me!

[finn188]

Might have been said, but you really need as much specific info as you can get. Lots of differences between engines of different years.
Who manufactured the chasis?

I can't overstate how much help these folks here can give you. Just don't let Pete Toombs enter your motorhome in a tractor pull.

OK I finally got the #s off of the engine. It was under a layer of grease:

*CID-359/ 5.9L
*TDC 11degrees
*Valve lash cold- .01 intake, .02 exhaust
*Firing order- 153624
*Family- 403B
*CPL 1261
*Model B5.9 190
*Injector Part # 3919092
* Eng # 44680891
* Ref # P102936
* fuel rate @ adv. HP 89
* HP 190 @ 2500 RPM

Fel -EPA -CARB
Nox - 5.0 -5.0
PM - .25 -.20

[PToombs]

WOW! You got the big 190 horse one!

[finn188]

WOW! You got the big 190 horse one!

Im sensing a little sarcasm .... is it a good engine?

[peobryant]

WOW! You got the big 190 horse one!

Im sensing a little sarcasm .... is it a good engine?

Our truck engines were rated 160hp/400tq from the factory, so no sarcasm at all.

[finn188]

By good engine I mean what are the strong and weak points?

[Richie O]

By good engine I mean what are the strong and weak points?

There a fine engine. Its the same as ours just with a little more fuel to raise the power. Keep the egt's down and provide good maintanence it will last more then you want to drive it.

[peobryant]

By good engine I mean what are the strong and weak points?

Well, it is a Cummins...

Weak points will be airflow. That is one of the first things you should improve.

If you take care of this engine, it will last forever. How long have you had it?

[finn188]

By good engine I mean what are the strong and weak points?

Well, it is a Cummins...

Weak points will be airflow. That is one of the first things you should improve.

If you take care of this engine, it will last forever. How long have you had it?

I bought it from the original owner 2 weeks ago. I live in Las Vegas and drove to San Diego to get it. I changed the oil, checked all fluids, added some Lucas fuel treatment and drove it home. It runs like new, just a little slow as is. I would leave it stock but I will be towing a Jeep everywhere I go so thats why Im wanting to get a bit more out of it.

[peobryant]

By good engine I mean what are the strong and weak points?

Well, it is a Cummins...

Weak points will be airflow. That is one of the first things you should improve.

If you take care of this engine, it will last forever. How long have you had it?

I bought it from the original owner 2 weeks ago. I live in Las Vegas and drove to San Diego to get it. I changed the oil, checked all fluids, added some Lucas fuel treatment and drove it home. It runs like new, just a little slow as is. I would leave it stock but I will be towing a Jeep everywhere I go so thats why Im wanting to get a bit more out of it.

By all means, add some more fuel. But you will also need to add more air as well. You need gauges to get baseline numbers, and then the fueling mods can begin. It may be a slug now, but when you're done with it, it will be like a whole different, um, motorhome...

[ontos]

As I said above, with a little work it will go and pull as well as you need.
Change the fuel filter, it hasn't been run much.

Also if you have never driven a Diesel MH it takes a while to adjust to the power curve. Momentum is your friend, and when you get the gauges installed you can start to get used to driving it. Engine will have a top RPM that all the foot pressure won't increase
The Allison trans you have has a wide spread between 3rd and 4th better to have good RPM's up a hill in 3rd than to gradually die out in 4th. At least that is how mine works. You may have a different rear end ratio.

Remember you don't have as much backpressure brakeing as a gas rig going down a grade.

Take a few trips and enjoy travel in the slowlane.

[Richie O]

Thats a good point ontos. Most gasser guys get in a diesel and think it is a total dog. Intill you get the feel in the engine where the power is it will feel awful.

[PToombs]

No sarcasm intended! I just meant you have more ponies than we started with. Everybody pretty well covered it, more air flow in and out, maybe a 366 spring and a little fuel and it'll be a beast.

[sdstriper]

Remember you don't have as much backpressure brakeing as a gas rig going down a grade.

How is this when these engines have nearly twice the compression of the modern day gasoline engines? Compression braking alone should be better. I have never felt that my CTD has less compression braking while downshifing manually etc. Can someone expand on this one please?

[finn188]

I am stuck on "step 1" of my plan already!! I cant find a pyrometer with more than a 10' cable. I guess I could have my wife ride in back and watch the gauge and shout out the EGTs as we go but I dont think she would go for that..... So what can I do? is there a product out there that Im not able to find?