How do I know if my rig has the dowel pin? I took it to a local shop and the mechanic said my rig has one. Can I check through the VIN #?

 

All the trucks have the pin but some come with an updated cover that will not allow the pin to back out. Without removing the cover there is no way to tell if you have the updated cover or not. Not a hard job, just another pain in the bottomside.

 

They all have dowel pins. The difference is that in the later years, the case is updated and modified so that the dowel pin cant work its way out and case major damage.

Being that your truck is a 99 - chances are pretty good that you have the old case and therefore you have to pull the timing cover off and tab the pin.



Youll need a tab, a longer bolt, some red Loctite (#262), a new crank seal and either a timing cover gasket or some RTV. These guys sell a good kit: http://www.tstproducts.com/index.asp...ROD&ProdID=189 Im sure one or all our sponsors carry the same type of kit.

There is a how-to guide here: http://www.tstproducts.com/DowelPina.pdf and here: http://dodgeram.org/tech/dsl/Dowel_Pin/tab.htm

As well as some pointers here:
http://www.dieselpowermag.com/tech/d...kdp/index.html
http://www.hotroddiesel.ca/killer_dowel_pin.htm
http://www.dieselpowermag.com/tech/d.../photo_03.html
http://www.pdrdiesel.com/TechKDP.htm

 

Gotta love this site. Had a question and got an answer in less than an hour. Thanks guys.

 

No problem...if u have any other questions - ask away.

BTW, you dont need the 36 mm wrenches for the nut, a brass punch and hammer will get the fan off as well.

 

here is more tech as well..............

https://www.dieselbombers.com/showth...ller+Dowel+Pin

 

I just recently did mine, you can check this out for my findings. https://www.dieselbombers.com/showth...highlight=case

 

Or in this case I removed the fan and bearing hub in one unit to save the hassle, I pulled the radiator to steam clean it. (but I did pull the fan first, saw the rad. and figured I better do it and the blowby tube mod at the same time.)

 

I have seen an '02 with the old style case. Better check 'em all!

Dave

 

If you do some research, you'll find it's more than just the case. Yes, the old case allows the pin to travel outwards, since there is no shoulder, but in the 12 valve engines the weight and vibration of the injection pump is what also contributes to the KDP. You don't have that problem with the VP.

One last thing; I dare anyone to take a casing from a 12 valve truck and use it on a 24 valve truck with a VP, it just will not work. Therefore, the casings are different between the two applications ... for what it's worth, since I know I'm starting an argument ... right doctor?