Old School Engine Discussion - Small Cam Cummins Driveability

I was thinking the same thing!

 

I still have a few buttons laying around and springs.

 

With the right guy turning wrenches that motor would come to life. And with the right driver at the wheel it would live.

 

How can I determine the current button in the pump. Seriously considering a visit with a pump shop to have the pump and injectors checked out. Right now in the process of getting a gauge installed so I can see fuel rail pressure.

On finding the right wrench guy, so many of these old school guys have gone away. I have a line on a really good cummins guy that now works in the coal biz here in So. Illinois. He may be able to give us some hands on experience.

John

 

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Loading Grain by Hogleg posted Dec 24, 2016 at 5:35 AM

 

Nice truck, really nice. That gauge will give you a good idea of what's going on. I would think if that guy can not help you he would know someone who can.

 

More comments - We were told by our prior owner that the engine had been rebuilt by his prior owner (farmer friend) when the engine was in a 1973 Autocar. Shortly after the rebuild this engine and transmission came out of that doner truck. We got no info on how the rebuild was done, and I am almost sure that our prior owner did not know that info. It is what it is. Truth or Fairy tail, who knows for sure.

Anyway, my first step is to determine that I have good fuel pressure and that all of the injectors are flowing well. As I have read, it is not a good idea to just up the fuel pressure if you do not know for a fact that the injectors can use the additional fuel. If one or more of them were partially clogged the fuel pressure can cause cam problems.

Do I have this correct? I only know what Google-ing has told me in various articles/forums on small cam engines. Lots to learn.

Also - it runs with water temp around 160 degrees now in the winter. Should I be investigating a thermostat or perhaps a partial cover on the radiator to get the temp up. What should be the normal temp for this engine? I would expect around 190 would be more in line with other diesels I have owned - 7.3 and 6.0 powerstrokes.

John

 

Nice truck,really nice truck. That gauge will give you some insight as to what is going on with the pump. I'm no expert, but if you add fuel, you will have to adjust the timing to match. Something else I was thinking about is the throttle linkage. If it is not adjusted right you will not get full throttle. Have someone hold the pedal to the floor and check under the hood to see if there is any freeplay in the adjustment. I would think if that guy can't help you, he probably knows of someone who can. Sorry for the double post thought I lost the other one.

 

Just read that these SC engines need an overhead every 50K miles. And the guy doing it needs to know how to do it properly on a SC engine. All the more importance to find that guy...

John

 

What?!?! Or not. Bout the only thing those engines need every 50k is a bath.
It's important to know as much about the beginnings of this engine as you can. a lot can be learned from the numbers on the ID plate. There were a lot of improvements made to that very same engine assembly over the years. So depending upon your block ID etc. you may only be good for a certain number of hp. Usually with the improvements came a small bit of hp, but as many old timers learned the hard and expensive way, bumping the power output without those improvements, would grenade the engine in short order. As I recall, but my brain is getting old, there was a block webbing improvement at one point to aid with keeping the block more rigid as power increases were introduced. Sometime later, but I'm not sure if it came with the regular cam or not, piston coolers were installed.