Hey guys whats up my name is Dan I'm 18 and will be the proud owner of a second gen cummins this friday. What are some easy ways to get a lil more power out of these trucks besides the basics of straight pipin it and a different air filter? And do these trucks have a silencer ring like the newer models do. Any tricks or tips would really help me out alot  

what year? auto?  

Dan,

Post up the year, auto or manual, and mileage so we can try to help you better.



Kris  

The truck is a 96 2500 4x4 single cab long bed with 195,000 and the guy put a brand new auto trans in it about two months ago.  

ok so you got a 12v cummins. id say get some gauges first that way when you turn the pump up on it youll be able to watch your egts  

how much hp and torque will i be able to gain off of that? i like the smoke but not all the time, i've got some ideas for the truck yall tell me what you think of them. #6 fuel plate, power performance elbow orifice three thousand spring and i'm still undecided on what injectors to run with this set up, The truck is bone stock i believe but this is what i plan on doing to it later on down the road  

i would upgrade to aleast a staight throught 4in exhuast and bigger fuel pump some guages and you need to let us know what converter he had installed when the trans was built if it is a stock one your need that replaced and a valve body upgrade also it want last long after its turned up like that  

I'll find out more on friday and i'll give yall a complete run down on the truck. but keep the ideas coming though i really appreciate everyones help!  

The '96 ran around 160 - 180hp, but I would start off with some gauges first and foremost.  Then you could add a set of 100hp injectors and a fuel plate.

I know the turbo on this model was rather small, so you could get away with an HX-35 and not worry about going over 40psi of boost, but to be safe I would look into head studs.  On a truck pushing 200,000 miles boost pressure is something you'll need to keep an eye on so you don't blow a head gasket.  I'd rather see you spend money on doing this right versus trying to repair it from spending foolishly.

You're really going to need some time to setup this truck properly from the beginning, so be preppared for a little bit of down time and alot of cash.

Most of the upgrades can be rather quickly installed, like getting the gauges mounted, but some of these will need some time so be patient.  Also, some of the upgrades can be done at once, like upgrading the turbo/exhaust and adding the temp sensor for the EGT gauge.  If you're going to upgrade the turbo to an HX-35, you might as well drill and tap the exhaust manifold for the EGT sensor after removing the old turbo and add the new 4 inch turbo back exhaust and new turbo all at once.  This way you don't get metal shavings from drilling and tapping the manifold into your new or existing turbo, plus you're swapping the turbo and exhaust out and you spend less time under your truck.

You can also save some money by getting injector tips instead of new injectors.  This could save you several hundred dollars alone and you can get the injectors checked out at the same time.

I would do the upgrades in this order:

- Gauges for EGT, boost, and tranny temp.
- Look into head studs as you might need them.
- Fuel plate and 100hp injector tips
- Remove turbo/exhaust, drill and tap for EGT sensor, and install new turbo/exhaust.  Also install boost sensor.
- Drill and tap tranny pan (or preferably replace with deeper pan that's been drilled and tapped) and install temp sensor.
- VB (valve body) upgrade on tranny.  Include this with the deeper pan or drilling/tapping original pan for temp sensor.

You ***might*** need to upgrade the TC (torque converter) once you do all this as well.  It's really going to depend on what was put in when the rebuilt tranny was installed.  A better TC will help put those new ponies down to the ground and keep them there.  If you really plan on running up the HP numbers, I would make the TC upgrade #2 on the list and bump everything else down on the list.



Kris  

I know its going to take time and money which is ok with me cause this truck is going to be around for a while the turbo upgrade is going to wiat but guages are deff on the top of the list cause i do a little haulin and crap like that. I think the ol' boy that had the truck put an after market exhaust on it so hopefully i wont have to fork out the dough for that but if i do it aint no big deal, but on the tranny this guy hauls equipment so i think he's got some stuff done to it but like i said the story about this truck will continue on saturday cause i'll be out puttin guages on hopefully after i pick it up. How do you all feel about Autometer phantomII series guages?  

Dude, as long as you've got gauges like Autometer, ISSPRO, etc., its personal preference.  The big thing is you need to really get those first.

Finding out what was done with the new tranny will help determine what steps you need to take next, especially if you're hauling stuff around.  The TC and VB are pretty much manditory .... there is no reason to spend a few hundred bucks now instead of a few thousand later due to screwing up your tranny.

Once that's done, let the modding begin !!



Kris  

I aint no stranger when it comes to haulin and watchin guages i been doin that since i was fifteen. But i'm deff going to ask the man what hes got done to the tranny, cause the first tiem i talked to him i was kinda blind-sided when he pulled into my buddy's shop to get his flat bed he seen me checkin out the truck and told me it was for sale and some other stuff but it just went in one ear and out the other lol  

Well good news for you is your truck already has an Hx-35. The Hy-35 was only used on automatic trucks from 01-02.  

Yeah, Kazairl is right .... staying up late isn't helping me and I read some bad info.  The HX-35 is on your '96.




I need more Starbucks.


Kris  

thats what i figured but i wasnt going to say anything lol i've got some guages comin for it so thats one thing i can check off the list. i just gotta get some stacks now, whats a good place to get cheap stacks?