Hey yall, I've been stalking the forums for a little over a year and yall are truly the gods of dodge. I've got some issues that came up and figured yall could help.
Truck is a 96 Ram 1500 4x4 5.9 Auto
A few days ago I tore apart the motor, replaced parts and slapped it back together.
Parts changed: Plenum repair kit (hughes), fuel injector o-rings, timing chain and gear set (mopar preformance double roller), added timing chain tensioner from the v6 magnum, spark plugs (plugs were new but switched to a 3923 plug), exhaust manafold gasket (driver side only, since it blew out), new distributor cap and rotor, and all new gaskets of course.

One thing I did notice was that when I put on the new timing chain, I had to rotate the camshaft clockwise somewhere from 2-5 degrees for the new gears to line up.

On the first drive, one thing I immediately noticed was that my motor no long hits the rev limiter. Whether it's in park, neutral or locked into first gear while moving. The motor spits and sputters and holds rpms around redline, but wont hit the limiter anymore. It actually sounds worse now than it did before at those RPMs. All together the motor runs about the same as it did before.

2 days later (today), took it out for a drive. Immediately noticed the trans was shifting harder and at different points than usual. Then I hit the highway, truck was slower to reach top speed, and when I went WOT to attempt to reach top speed, my check engine light came on, flashed for about 10-15 seconds then went solid. Truck still runs fine. When I got home pulled out my scanner and heres what showed up
P0300: Random misfire detected
P0171: System too lean
P0303: Misfire cylinder 3
P0308: Misfire cylinder 8
P0302: Misfire cylinder 2
P0301: Misfire cylinder 1

My main concerns are these codes and the rev limiter issue, trans is whatever. It definitely doesnt feel like I have 4 cylinders missing, or even 1. System too lean could potentially be from not having a catalytic converter, but I've never had one on it for the last year or more and never had codes come up for it. But at this point I'd believe it to be related to everything else.

Not sure what the problem is, if yall have any info, that would be much appreciated.

 

I would almost bet you have a failing fuel regulator. Mine did the same thing. Check the fuel pressure, you may have to test the pressure under WOT as that is where mine failed.

 

Seems strange if that were to be the case, as I've never had a fueling issue. And that it occurred just after doing all this work. I would have assumed it was related to the timing. I'll hook up a fuel pressure gauge tomorrow morning and see what comes of it. Thanks for your info!

 

Is that the timing chain set with three keyways on the lower sprocket ? Did you compare with the old sprocket to verify the correct keyway ?

Otherwise sounds like fuel pressure.

 

Yes it was that one. Where the gear that's on the crank shaft has 3 selections. +4 degrees, -4 degrees and stock. I installed the gear on the stock setting and everything installed together as it should have. Sounds like it may be this fuel pressure issue then. I'll get it tested in the morning

 

These computers have no way to tell what fuel pressure is, so when no fuel gets to the cylinder, it just throws a misfire code. Attach the gauge to the fuel rail and tape it to the windshield and take the truck for a drive, see what the pressure is. Should be at least 45psi

 

Alright, I hooked up a fuel pressure guage.
Had to connect it to the schrader valve instead of the fuel line, since the kit I got was limited on attachments

Heres the results in PSI
System primed, engine off 45
Idle 47
WOT driving 45-47
WOT neutral 45-47

Check engine still on
Motor still runs fine

EDIT:
Did a 2nd run
Locked into 1st gear, it would still hold 45-47
But if I held it WOT at the redline (again limiter isnt working) for long enough, then I would see the guage spaz between 40-48, I'm assuming that's just from a fuel cut off

 

Schrader valve is where you want as it's a test port. Fuel pressure seems a little low at WOT, not a whole lot, not enough to cause a misfire.

 

Any idea on what might be causing all of this then?

I'm running an ACCEL ignition coil. Alot of people have said that the MSD and ACCEL coils gave them problems, I haven't had any issues with it, but still have my OEM one as a back up
It is another misfire possibility but I doubt it

 

Wouldn't hurt to swap coils, and see if things change. Also, do you have a mopar crank sensor in there?