More power from my Cummins???

[Newbob]

S, My '02, 28 foot Bluebird has a 5.9 Cummins. I was thinking about adding one of those "chip" tuner/programmer thingies-thingys? - (not sure which is proper slang - lol)  It is quite a dog and I spend most of my driving time with my foot to the floor - And it is unloaded! currently undergoing an interior build-out.

What are your recommendations for a little more power - a "chip"? - If so, which one?

Changing injectors or some other go-fast remedy??  - Maybe pull it with a Prius?

- Thanks in advance :-)

[TomC]

Which Allison transmission do you have? If it is the AT545, nothing will make it go faster. If it is the 2000 series, then you can go up to 300hp. If it is the 3000 series, the 5.9 won't be able to overpower it. I believe that around 250hp and 660lb/ft torque is realistically the highest you can go with the 5.9 liter. Tell us your transmission, and rear end ratio. Better-what rpm are you at at 65mph? With a 5.9 (or 6.7) should be geared at 2100rpm at 65mph.  Good Luck, TomC

[luvrbus]

I thought the hp increase on your year model had to be done through the Bosch rotary pump $$$ and injectors the PDM on the pump just controls the rpm,the common rail model is a different story

[dukegrad98]

I believe that around 250hp and 660lb/ft torque is realistically the highest you can go with the 5.9 liter.

How much do the coach engines differ from the pickup truck engines?  I'm guessing not that much, and I think those numbers are low as a result.

With H&S tuning, my Cummins ISB 6.7 (Dodge Ram pickup) dynos at 500hp and 1100lb-ft, at the rear wheels.  You do the math on what that means at the flywheel.  Heck, the engine is now available at 385hp/850lb-ft straight from the manufacturer.  The 6.7 is mostly just a bigger 5.9, which a lot of government-mandated crap attached.  I've got 57k miles and counting on mine, including a good bit of heavy towing.

Gearing and transmission durability are another question...

Cheers, John

[Newbob]

THanks Guys, Tom,

Duke - that's more along the lines of what I was wondering. I didn't think they were different. My experienced diesel friend at first didn't think mine could be "chipped" but he was comparing it to his a year older - then he said mine was electronically controlled and could prob be "chipped" - FWIW

Tom - I believe the gear ratio is 3.54 - The tag on the body says 3.54ns and the transmission (on the same plate "tag" says 3211104160  the "engine serial" space says 46072450

- Thanks again

[wg4t50]

With H&S tuning, my Cummins ISB 6.7 (Dodge Ram pickup) dynos at 500hp and 1100lb-ft, at the rear wheels. 
Cheers, John

Now that is a nice number only dreamed about in my world, having dyno'd many Cat, DDC & Cummins, hp at the drive wheels and at flywheel are miles apart.  Would take a fairly wild N14 to give 500 on the drive.  Your ISB 6.7 aint no N14 by a mile or two.  
Dave M

[luvrbus]

The common rail on the 5.9 hit the market in 2003 if yours has the injection pump it is probably electronic controlled with a PDM but it won't have the electronics like the common rail 5.9 250 hp would be pushing it with the Bosch rotary injection pump The 5.9 is a good little engine till you start trying to get more from it than the 360 CI can handle.I have seen these guys install the 4 inch stroke kits in those they run wicked for a few thousand miles then it is over with a big bang

[TomC]

Both the Cummins 6.7 ISB and the Ford 6.7 Powerstroke are available in commercial trucks. The Cummins ISB in Freightliner, Kenworth, Peterbilt, International at a maximum of 300hp and 660lb/ft torque. The Ford 6.7 Powerstroke V-8 is going to be the exclusive Diesel engine in the Ford F650/750 rated at 250hp and 660lb/ft torque. Granted you can push more fuel and air through to get more power, but take it from the big guys-there is a good reason these 6.7 liters are limited to 660lb/ft torque.
The 5.9 was 620lb/ft torque-if I remember right. Good Luck, TomC

[TomC]

Maximum power from 2002 5.9 with electronic rotary injection pump-245hp with 505lb/ft torque. Not much.

I would try to find a 6.7 liter out of a commercial truck with the Allison 2000 or 3000 transmission. You can turn the 6.7 up to 325hp and 800lb/ft torque. Good Luck, TomC

[Oonrahnjay]

Maximum power from 2002 5.9 with electronic rotary injection pump-245hp with 505lb/ft torque. Not much.

I would try to find a 6.7 liter out of a commercial truck with the Allison 2000 or 3000 transmission. You can turn the 6.7 up to 325hp and 800lb/ft torque. Good Luck, TomC   

    Is the 6.7 liter a six-cylinder?

[dukegrad98]

   Is the 6.7 liter a six-cylinder?

Yep, the Cummins 6.7 is a straight-six.  It's mostly fair to just think of it as a bigger 5.9 with common rail and a lot of emissions junk added.

The Ford 6.7 is a V8, and I don't know much about it.  Ford hasn't been able to settle on a good diesel since the 7.3.

Cheers, John

[wg4t50]

We own 2 F350 SRW, A 2011 & a 2013, have had great luck with the Fords where we had poor luck with the GM  line, did have good luck with the GM 6.2, the rest of it was poor.
Today our experience has been with 2-7.3, 2-6.0 1-6.4 .  The 1st 6.7 is the 2011 F350 SRW, THEN ADDED A 2013 identical .
We find the 6.7 very superior to any of the Navistar engines.  Ford has figured it out apparently, so the thought of buying another Navistar is not good even though I liked the 7.3 and had very little problems with the 6.0 or 6.4 engines.  The 6.7 is that much better, better fuel mileage, quieter and feels like 3 X the useable power.
I tell folks, do not test drive one until your able to buy it, it will give you a big case of "The Wants"
Do what feels correct.
Dave M

[TomC]

The Cummins 6.7 is a 6 cylinder with the same external dimensions as the 5.9. The only smog device on the 6.7 is cooled exhaust gas recirculation-in which all engines have this now-including my '84 Mercedes 300 turbo Diesel that has over 463,000 miles on it without overhaul. All other smog controls now are after the engine. This is why today's Diesels run so well with great fuel mileage. Good Luck, TomC

[dukegrad98]

The SCR and the DPF are both after the engine, that is true, but it's also splitting hairs in my book.  You might argue that EGR is "before" the engine, under that framework.  The bottom line is that all three mechanisms affect the new engines, and did not affect the old ones. 

Cheers, John

[wg4t50]

Forgot to add that we also run a 5.9 Cummins 190 hp and the 545 Allison, in a FL60, not a ball of fire but is dependable and does its job as crane truck.
Dave M