2500 questions

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Destin Rogers - 10 Dec 2005 01:00 GMT

Got a 1997 2500. The rear of the valve cover on the Cummins engine is
"tucked under" a lip in the firewall. How easy is it to remove the valve
cover to adjust the valves?

Also, I've been told the rear axle is 4.11. How easy is it to change the
gearing to around 3.5 or so? How would I correct the speedometer? Thx.

Destin

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Tom Lawrence - 10 Dec 2005 02:32 GMT

> Got a 1997 2500. The rear of the valve cover on the Cummins engine is
> "tucked under" a lip in the firewall. How easy is it to remove the valve
> cover to adjust the valves?

Not hard at all. Actually, there's 6 valve covers. The plate cover comes
off with two bolts, then each valve cover comes off with a single bolt.
There's not a whole lot of room for the #6 cover, but there's enough to tip
it to the side (passenger) and and remove it.

> Also, I've been told the rear axle is 4.11. How easy is it to change the
> gearing to around 3.5 or so?

That Dana 70 axle is a little more difficult to work with, because of the
use of shims. If you haven't done a differential swap before, I'd leave it
to a shop. If you want to tackle it yourself, read through a post from
Steve Belt here - about 2/3's down the page, the message with the subject
'4.56 gear installation info':

http://dodgeram.org/tech/repair/axle/diffsetup.htm

> How would I correct the speedometer?

By changing the pinion gear of the sending unit on the tailpiece of the
transmission (I'm assuming you have a 2WD, because you were only asking
about a rear diff. swap. On a 4x4, the sending unit is on the transfer
case). Since a 3.55 gear was also standard equipment on your truck, your
Dodge parts counter should be able to look up the correct pinion gear for
you.

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