i have a 96 dodge 3500 with 5.9 cummins 12v, with 185hp p7100 injection pump, automatic tranny. my father in law has a 98 3500 also with 12v and 185hp injection pump and auto tranny. mine has 245000 miles on it and his comes in at 210000. mine has 4 wheel drive and his is 2 wheel drive. mine has 4.10 gears and his 3.73gears. mine is 11000gvwr and his is 10500gvwr, both are bone stock. now, my question is why does his seem like it has so much more horsepower. it has better takeoff from stopped and also better rolling takeoff. is there a difference in the engine components that im not aware of or could it possibly be i havent had the valve lash adjusted yet, because he had his done last year. could that make that much of a difference? yall tell me what you think and maybe i can fix it.

 

i believe the 98 autos and manuals where the 215hp pump and the 4x4 makes yours heavier and that maybe y he can pull on u, side you plate forward and put some gov springs in and you will take him np, the valve adj. is only done every 100k, i did mine at 150k for the first time and they werent that far off and it doesent really make a dif.

 

96 auto is rated at 180bhp@2500rpm
98 auto is rated at 180bhp@2500rpm
Both are rated at 420 ft lbs Tq.

His will not have 3.73 rear and should be 3.55,unless they are changed to aftermarket and even then I do not think a 3.73 rear is available for a Dana 80.

Powerwise and performance wise they should run about the same.There is a difference in curb weight though with yours being a 4x4 and his a 2x4.The reason could be related to milage,services and trans conditions due to milage.Could be tire size diameter also making one accelerate faster.Also could be a boost leak or wastegate thats partially hung open thats limiting performance.

To many variables to even think about why without both trucks having been serviced the same,having the same tires and other variables.

 

i dont really know if valves have ever been adjusted, ive only had it since october 09. the tires are the same size on both trucks. and both have had replaced transmissions. but about sliding the plate forward. do i really need guages right away. what about turning the pump up, or is that the same thing as the plate adjustment. and do i need the spring kit. and how do i do it all

 

turning the pump up is sliding or changing the plate, there are tons of threads on here dealing with all the details of tweeking the pumps, way more than i feel like typing, search around on here and you will get it.

 

but what about guages, do i really have to have them immedietly. i dont race and the only thing i pull is a 14' trailer and a mower and maybe a truck about the size of a samuri now and then

 

YES, you need at the least a EGT gauge before you go playin w/ the pump

 

Yes ... put gauges ... get boost egt and trans .. at minimum egt ... but i would suggest all three for an auto for longevity and truck safety ... and imo .. i would slide the plate ff and afc ff ... tune the star wheel and get a BHAF and you should have no problem pulling on him ... but dont do these things till you get gauges ... like stated ... at minimum egt ... plus if you plan on going for more power just know these stock trans are not a hp happy trans your going to have to start building it ... a good vb and tc will last you a while
just my $.02

 

this is also due to the 4x2 vs the 4x4

 

x2 on above ... i ran stock for stock against a 4x2 and he pulled on me .... but more then he should have i dont really think he was stock ... but any ways ... the weight will get to ya ... and also ... dont the 4x4's have more hp loss to the rw then the 4x2 due to the power having to go through the transfer case or does it not make a difference other then weight when its in 2x