barngal6

Stock 98 12v 5speed. (well, FIPK2 Airfilter)

Pulling less than 10K, mild hills
in 4th gear I've reached max power, shift into 5th and it drops to 1500rpm or lower. I've read about the 5th gear nut and it freaks me out to be pulling at that low of rpm. Plus I lose power, so I'm shifting back into 4th. I don't think I'm trying to go that fast, but I definitely want more than my truck is delivering. Its pretty disappointing since before I got it I was reading
"it will pull hills like you don't even know anything is back there".

I don't have gauges yet, then I'd like a 10fuel plate and 3 GSK, but if I understand correctly, I should get a larger exhaust and be ready to replace my clutch and/or upgrade transmission. I'm not ready to spend that much right now. So is there anything I can do to get over this hump until I have more money to drop in it?

wannadiesel

Just do the 3k kit with no other changes. That will let it wind tighter in 4th but it does not add any fuel so it will not hurt the clutch or cause EGT to get too high.

And get a helper to check for full throttle travel at the pump. If the throttle lever is not hitting the high speed stop when the accelerator is floored, figure out why and fix/adjust as needed. Another thing to check is the line to the AFC on top of the pump. A boost leak in that line will cause a low power complaint because the pump will not deliver full fuel.

GAmes

If you have a 3.54 differential get used to going up hills in 4th. Your transmission will thank you for it. Like 1st, 2nd and 3rd, 5th gear is driven by the countershaft and large torque loads will cause premature failure. I trashed 2 before we figured out what I was doing wrong. One of them I drove from SLC to Ft. Worth with only 4th gear. Now I never push over 20 lbs of boost in fifth and shift into 4th while climbing hills when my rpm falls to 1800. Mileage is best if I just lazy up the hill at 2000 rpm in 4th (50 mph). I always got a kick out of those claims "you won't even know it's back there" . Unless you are unconscience you will know that even a 2200 pound bass boat is behind you, even after you get your GSK and fuel plate. FWIW an aquaintance of mine who built his 12 valve to over 800 HP on #2 diesel only did enough dyno runs and experiments to determine that a 4 inch exhaust isn't needed until you exceed 400 HP. A #10 plate will put you at about 300 with the stock injectors and turbo. I recommend you get the gauges before any modification so that you will have a baseline on the stock engine.

stock03

haha, no kidding. I heard so many claims of towing thousands of pounds and "It's like you're not towing anything" and "You'll get 25mpg towing". Those claims were wrong.

Yes you WILL feel the weight of a small trailer, and you're mileage WILL drop when towing.

barngal6

I do have a 4.10, so I know that my mpg is the worst, and I don't try to hurry but I know my foot tends to be a little heavier than some others' are
I'm thinking gauges will probably cure that problem....

Thanks for the tips. I got 18mpg driving from Oklahoma to California, flat for the most part and cruising at 70+ (I do have the 215 - yeah!)

Now that its home I get about 12mpg, best ever was almost 14...
very little highway, been driving it work last month or so, but when towing its mostly flat. Anyways, thanks for all the tips and I hope I get to it soon...after that I guess I just need to learn to slow down and stay in 4th when necessary.

I want more power in the future, but I want to be ready to handle it--no expensive surprises I'm not prepared for. thanks again guys

WestTN

That situation is the reason Dodge finally made the 6 speed an option. Too big a ratio change from 4th to 5th in a 5 speed.

GAmes

Close. The ratios that have the biggest diffference in the 5 speed is between 3rd and 4th. 4th gear in a NV5600 fixed that. 4th in a 5 speed is 1:1 as is 5th in a 6 speed. The overdrive ratios, 5th in a 4500 and 6th in a 5600 are nearly the same.

bob4x4

The 215 pump runs better at a higher rpm than the others.A #10 plate in the stock position will be too hot to tow 10k up a grade at full power with out a turbo upgrade.The stock muffler should go away as well for a decrease in egts not neccessarily hp.At the power a #10 will put out the stock clutch is a goner.
Gaining a full gear on a steep grade will take a good bit of power and cooling to acomplish,get ready to spend some money if you want to go for it.Don't forget to add cooling for your rear diff and trans if you expect them to live under those conditions.

barngal6

Sounds like I'll stick with the 3GSK for now...and check the throttle travel and the other thing. thanks for those tips.

is there a lower fuel plate like a 6 or an 8 that will help more than stock but not stress everything so hard?

GAmes

I have an 11 that is not as agressive, but have never seen a diagram to grind one from the stock plate. With it full forward I dynoed 297/611 a few hundred thousand miles ago. I moved it back some because it still flowed enough fuel at lower rpms to bury my egt gauge.

barngal6

Games said "I moved it back some because it still flowed enough fuel at lower rpms to bury my egt gauge."

Gauges gauges gauges. Got the money set aside but not looking forward to installing them...
I've been told my exhaust is a 2.5, plus I have a catalytic converter and muffler (the pipe gets bigger at the exit end) so I should probably be monitoring my egts already...

rich

no cat only 4.5 up . its a resinator for drone noise

C Schomer

If I were modding a 12v 215hp again I'd start with the 3k kit to help the bottom end. You can adjust the starwheel and zero air screw for earlier fueling, The 11 plate is supposed to be the max for the 215 drivetrain and I liked my 11 a lot. The stock turbo is a bottleneck and the cats plug on the 94-98.5s. Mark at tst products can tell you exactly what to do and still be safe. Craig

GAmes

Your stock exhaust is 3". Far be it from me to suggest violating federal law by removing the cat, but they do fall off sometimes NAPA sells a Walker muffler with 3" in & out and any muffler shop can sell you a pipe to fill the gap.