No smoke

[jaycan77]

I just installed a brand new crate motor, 4" exhaust and modified the air box. My question is that i am not getting any black smoke at all even under hard acceleration. Is this bad? Do i need to turn up the pump or could the timing be off? please help.

[hraney]

Ummmm.... no black smoke is a good thing really in terms of efficiency. Black smoke does not necessarily equal power. It is just unburnt fuel. I have seen the videos of the Cummins powered Dodges pouring black smoke. I think its cool.... on someone else's truck. Think about it, you are pouring fuel into the cylinders that can't be burnt completely, so you get a lot of soot clogging up turbos, wastegates etc plus you are probably washing down the rings pretty good and contaminating your oil.
I like a little power as much as the next guy, but this engine was not designed to power a dragster. The only reason the Cummins stays together at all under that abuse is because it was NOT designed for a pickup. The 5.9 Cummins was designed for a lot heavier vehicle (on and off road, transport and equipment) and was basically stuffed into a light duty truck (yes, a 1 ton is still a light duty truck). That is why Dodge has had issues w/ front ends and transmissions to hold up to that motor.
Sorry, didn't mean to rant. But try to make a hot rod out of a 6.5 and I am afraid you will be disappointed. The 6.5 is already way ahead of the 5.7 that I started out w/ in a 78 Chevy, and we put 275,000 on that engine. Fuel mileage went from ~27 when new to ~22 when we decided to overhaul it.

[jaycan77]

but am I getting all the power I should be?

[sixnickel]

What Year Truck????

[jaycan77]

1993 K3500 with a brand new engine(not rebuilt) 4" turbo back exhaust and air box mods.

[surreysinner]

Keep in mind the motor is only 190hp stock so it wont be giving you any "put you back in ur seat " power.

My truck wouldnt even spin rocks in the gravel with 31" tires and i have 3" exaust no cat.

[Shlep]

You're kidding .... right?

I have absolutely no problem with spinning the tires on my dually, gravel, dry pavement, it makes no difference.