Need opinions from some 12V guys! Im new to this
 

I have a 1997 12V 4x4 4:10 gears 1 ton transfer case and 1 ton running gear.. It was my grandfathers and was passed it down to me. He had it special ordered from the factory. As of today (5/27/11) I just turned 48,000 original miles.. crazy huh lol? I absolutely love the truck and do some farm work with it but the truck doesnt have the power i want especially when hauling hay or cows or just in general. Im not "hot roding" it bt i want power to be there when i want it. I have the boost and exhaust temp gauges but have installed them yet and cold air intake is coming soon. Need some suggestions... fuel plate #'s, what kind of injectors, turning starwheel?, anything i can have done to fuel pump and etc. I would appreciate some feed back.. thanks guys!

first did you check your kdp. you wouldnt want to put money in that almost brand new motor and have it self destruct! :w2:

I understand what the kdp is but how would i go about checking it and signs of possible failure? like i said im new to diesels but im eager to learn..

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Also heard of people takin the kdp out?? whats up with that?

You need the alignment pin in place. Is the truck an auto or stick? Optimum HP on a 12 valve that tows heavy is right around 300-350 in my opinion. This can be acheived with gov springs, #10 plate, intake, 4" exhaust, slide the AFC housing all the way forward and adjust your star wheel about 15 clicks from all the way back. You may have to play with that a bit more once you try it out. Elevation and temperature can affect how it performs. Anything more and you'll be unhappy towing, it just doesn't do any good to have all that power and not be able to use it. You'll want to start saving for a clutch if it's 5 speed and if you have more to spend, a good towing turbo. Let's not forget an exhaust brake, a must if towing heavy in any kind of hills or mountains.:c:

Its an auto but im aware that eventually ill have to put a stronger trans in her but its not my everyday driver.. I dont haul that often.. maybe once every couple months if that. Just mainly lookin for some power and roll some coal if i want to. any good websites yall know of that shows detail and pics on adjusting the starwheel and AFC housing? Im a newbie when it comes to diesels but i like doing everything myself. i know how to shave the fuel plate to a #10 just waitin to get my ducks in a row so everything will be right. What about tweeking the fuel pump?? and bigger injectors?? thanks for the help and input guys!!!

You can find all that info here if you search for it, and remove the front cover and tab the kdp or peen around it and loctite the gear housing bolts, you can find write ups on that also. :c:

And in my honest opinion... Dont touch the motor performance wise till the trans is fixed with it being a heavyish hauler. These auto's are just simply WEAK in stock form. Keep in mind from the sounds of what your wanting a good valvebody and a good single disk convertor will do everthing you need it to do.

As far as injectors go, I would reccomend a set of 5x.012's. They will be a good match for daily driving and towing with a stock turbo.

X2 on that one, get your performance parts together but don't mess with that motor until you get the tranny ready, and when the tranny is ready get a temp gauge on it. Then playing with the pump and smoke is fun.

x3,get a good billet torque convertor to,for ocasinal towing power a cold air intake,a 5in exhuast,3k gsk kit,boost elbow & ya should make decent power with stock fuel plate slide up a lil bit if ya want more smoke you can just take the fuel plate out but keep an eye on your egts