I ordered a 4k GSK from Piers Diesel last week and it is scheduled to be at my door this Friday. And, I am trying to decide whether to take it somewhere and have it installed or give it a try myself. But first I have a few questions:

Question #1
Should I leave out the small springs and just do a 3K install. (I do not have the 60 lb valve springs.)

Question #2
Here is a quote straight from the Piers website: "Using the Vernier calipers, measure the distance from the top of the governor stud to the top of the governor spring adjusting nut. Record this measurement for the reassembling."
What is the "governor stud" and the "governor spring adjusting nut"?

Question #3
When the instructions on the Piers website instructs to "bar" the engine over, should I do it using the ignition or manually? If so, how?

Any and all information you guys have would be greatly appreciated. I am still not confident I should attempt this. I put the #10 plate in my truck but I have never done the GSK. Is it that much more complicated than the plate? I have found a diesel shop that will install it for $88.50. Should I just pay the guy and let him do it? Thanks again.

 

For the $90, if you aren't comfortable installing it may be better to let them do it.

The measurements of the spring retainer depth to the nut and the center stud saved my bacon. I tried to just count the clicks of the nut on the spring retainer and was off by about 1/2 turn of the nut to get the proper depth on the stud. That tells you the pre-load on the spring and will vastly affect your governor springs reaction to RPM.

Barring the engine over can be done by the alternator method (NOT the ignition!!!!).

 

To bar the engine over just find a socket to fit onto 1 of the 4 bolts that bolt the harmonic balancer on and turn the engine over with the socket and ratchet.

Adam

 

I counted clicks and then when I installed went 2 clicks past stock. Drove it and it worked fine. Went in through the top and tightened it down a few more clicks, now she's awsome.

 

Had you ever done the GSK before? Is it really complicated? I believe from the directions on the Piers website I can do it but I just would like some first-timers to chime in here and tell me about their experiences.

 

i did it once...for 88.50, i would have let a shop do it.

 

I would go with the 4K even with stock springs. We did a set of 5k springs on a buddies truck and ran stock springs for a while. I thought the job was pretty straight forward, nothing difficult.

 

It is time consuming your first time. MAKE SURE you get good measurements. Mark the nut to stud location, so you can line them up again when tightening nut down. I went thru the side. Dont try to "bar" the engine over with ignition, with the plug open, if it starts up, It will shoot oil EVERYWHERE.
DO NOT TAKE OUT BIGGEST SPRING. It may or may not have shims on it. Just leave it there. you may have to use small picks to get the springs and shims out.
Its not terrible, just make sure you have enough time. The right tools. When frustrated, take 5 and come back in a better mood.
Hope that helps. GO for it.

 

for that price have them do it. I tried to do it on my 97 and thats why it had an aftermarket pump. I intsalled them and all went well but the engine didnt want to idle so i tried ajusting them and one of the nuts fell off while doing the oppsite side and boom busted Gov. it sucked and was a little over 1200k to fix 1200 > 88.50

 

NO I hadn't, took me abou 2 hours to do. I believe in doing my own work. So i'd say go for it, I'm only 17 and I did it.

 

It can be done. Remove the fuel shutoff solenoid and bracket for easier access to the side of the pump. Just take your time because you don't want to drop anything in there! A 1 second mistake can leave your trucked parked for a long time with lots of $$$ and frustration. Not trying to scare you, it's not that hard but take your time.

 

I talked to Meacham Evins at Cedar City Diesel in Lebanon, Tennessee and he told me he can install the GSK for the price listed above. Any of you ever heard of Cedar City Diesel? Meacham seems like a really nice guy on the phone and seems to really know his stuff. I believe I could do it but he is just about an hour down the road from me and I would much rather have someone experienced with Cummins engines tinkering with my truck than someone who does not (i.e., ME). So, have any of you had any experience with Meacham and Cedar City Diesel?

 

I had the 3K GSK installed this past Saturday and man it brought my truck to life. It was definitely worth it. Thanks guys for all the help.

 

its scary at first when your taking all the parts off and you wonder what your getting into. to bar the motor over use a 15mm socket on 1 of the 4 bolts on the balancer. it turns over fairly easy. i didnt measure anything, just make sure you have as tight as they were with the stock spings. i just turned 16 and it wasnt to bad to do. it took me about an hour and a half. when your getting stressed just take a smoke break and think about it. good luck