Stock FAQs

how much horsepower can a stock 5.9 cummins handle

by Ollie Watsica Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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The 5.9L inline-six mill's factory rotating assembly from '89 to '02 is capable of handling 800 hp (1,400 to 1,600 lb-ft of torque) without breaking a sweat, and is often pushed into four-digit territory before aftermarket rods become a consideration.Nov 20, 2017

Full Answer

What kind of horsepower does a Cummins Engine have?

Even when Cummins changed to a different style connecting rod in its common-rail 5.9L engine (a rod that is generally perceived to be inferior in strength to the ’89 to ’02 units), 800 hp and 1,500 to 1,600 lb-ft of torque proved more than survivable.

What kind of crankshaft does a 6BT Cummins have?

In high rpm applications that required a better rod-to-stroke ratio, the 5.9L crankshaft is still employed in 6.7L blocks with frequency today. One of the most impressive hard parts in the 6BT Cummins is its forged-steel connecting rods.

How much power does a Cummins 48RE have?

To stand up to the kind of power the ’03-‘07 5.9L Cummins’ stock turbo and injection system can support (again, roughly 500rwhp), several reinforcements are in store for the 48RE.

Should I get a bigger or smaller turbocharger for my Cummins?

While an upsized single turbocharger can suffice on a daily-driven 6BT Cummins, big horsepower and drivability only go hand-in-hand to a certain point. When drivability isn’t as much of a concern as making horsepower is, such as in drag racing, truck pulling, or chassis dyno competition, a large single turbo makes a lot of sense.

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How much horsepower can a stock 24 valve Cummins handle?

From the factory, the engines were rated at 235 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. The high flowing aftermarket VP44 pumps are now almost capable of supporting 800-plus horsepower on straight No.

How can I get more horsepower out of my 5.9 Cummins?

By feeding more fuel into this massively-compressed engine, it's only natural that you can unlock more power. Though, you can still out-do the factory turbo by adding too much fuel. With the 5.9 Cummins, 50-hp or 75-hp injectors are about the maximum injector size with the factory turbo.

How much power does a stock 5.9 Cummins make?

Starting in 2003, the standard output 5.9 liter common-rail Cummins produced 235hp and 460lb. ft. of torque, and the high-output version of the same year made 305hp and 555lb.

How much horsepower can a stock Cummins block handle?

Stock Block: Unofficially Rated For 1500 Horsepower In high horsepower, race-only type applications, the 6BT block has proven capable of standing up to 1,400 to 1,500 hp so long as torque output is kept below 2,500 lb-ft (usually accomplished with high-rpm operation).

What year 5.9 Cummins is best?

1994-1998 2500 & 3500 As far as performance potential goes, it doesn't get any better than the mechanical P7100 equipped versions of the 12-valve 5.9L Cummins. They're simple, rock-solid reliable, and can easily tick off a half a million miles if properly maintained.

Is 5.9 or 6.7 Cummins better?

To sum up, the more simplistic 5.9 fixed geometry turbo means that while it tends to be more reliable, the more advanced 6.7 variable geometry turbo gives better performance. The Exhaust Brake is a big part of why the 6.7 Cummins is such a powerful towing machine.

Is Cummins 12v or 24v better?

When it comes to serious power and performance the 12v 5.9 Cummins takes the win. These engines are known to hold up better at extreme power levels when compared to the 24v engines.

How much horsepower does a 5.9 24 valve Cummins have?

Other 2nd Gen Cummins specs were changed as well, that helped Dodge trucks stay slightly above their competitors. 1998 Dodge Ram trucks with the 24 valve 5.9L Dodge Cummins engine produce 235 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque when paired with the 5-Speed Manual transmission.

What size turbo is on a 5.9 Cummins?

Stock turbochargers usually have large exhaust housings, large-diameter turbine wheels, and smaller compressor-side inducers. For instance, an HX35 turbo from a 5.9L Cummins measures somewhere around 54/69/14, which means it has a 54mm-inducer compressor wheel, a 69mm-inducer turbine wheel, and a 14cm2 exhaust housing.

How much HP can you get out of a 12-valve Cummins?

500 hpThough it's quite restrictive, the factory cast-iron 12-valve cylinder head will allow you to reach 500 hp, but that aged head gasket might not live at 35-45 psi of boost.

Which Cummins Engine is the best?

The Cummins 6.7L Turbo Diesel is the most powerful engine option for RAM 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks. Producing up to 400 horsepower and 1,000 pound-feet of clean diesel torque, this powerhouse helps RAM deliver best-in-class towing.

How much HP can 12v rods handle?

While the factory 12-valve rods can handle 1,000 hp, Scheid Diesel does recommend upgraded rod bolts anytime you're in the neighborhood of 800 hp. Scheid offers these heavy-duty 12-point rod bolts, made by ARP, which are 23% stronger than the stock fasteners.

Performance 48RE Parts

To stand up to the kind of power the ’03-‘07 5.9L Cummins’ stock turbo and injection system can support (again, roughly 500rwhp), several reinforcements are in store for the 48RE.

Aftermarket Lift Pump

One of the simplest and most affordable ways to get around the failure-prone factory lift pump is to install one of FASS ’s direct replacement pumps (DRP). The DRP is a direct bolt-on for under hood lift pump applications, but can also be used to replace your in-tank unit when combined with FASS’s suction tube kit.

Complete Aftermarket Fuel System

To support future injector and CP3 upgrades or to better filter and remove air from the fuel feeding the engine, many ’03-’07 Cummins owners replace the factory lift pump with a complete low-pressure system.

Boost Fooler

Boost fooling is an age-old trick that can either be executed physically (think of a mechanical pressure regulator tied in with the MAP sensor), electronically or through ECM tuning. On top of the boost fooler allowing more boost to be made without throwing a CEL, the internal wastegate has to be altered to open later.

Boost Fooling Done Via Tuning

While the HE351CW on ’04.5-’07 engines requires an electronic boost fooler given the fact that its internal wastegate is electronically controlled, boost trickery can also be dealt with in the ECM tuning.

Popular Turbo, Pump and Injector Upgrades

For a turbocharger that supports more horsepower yet keeps an ’03-’07 Dodge responsive, factory-based turbos with bigger compressor and turbine wheels or the S300 line of chargers from BorgWarner have long been go-to options for 5.9L owners. A 62mm or 63mm S300 (i.e.

How much horsepower does a Cummins stock block have?

Stock Block: Unofficially Rated For 1500 Horsepower. During its production run, the 6BT Cummins’ gray-iron, non-sleeved, deep-skirt block was cast in Brazil (TUPY), Mexico, and even by International here in the states. The blocks cast by the latter manufacturer are said to have been the strongest ever produced, due to their higher nickel content.

How much horsepower does a 6BT have?

However, despite the immense restriction, with enough fueling and turbocharger (s) in the mix, it can still support 700 horsepower. CNC porting, bigger valves, and hardened valve seats are very common upgrades, and 12-valve heads that’ve been opened up can lead to significantly more horsepower while requiring less boost (i.e. aiding engine longevity). The 6BT’s factory valvetrain will tolerate more rpm than the 2,400 to 2,700 rpm the OE-prepped injection pump governs them to, but stiffer valve springs should always be added before the engine sees 3,500 rpm or higher.

How much horsepower can a Bosch P7100 pump handle?

For seekers of serious horsepower, the P7100 (a.k.a. P-pump) is the only way to go. Though the rotary Bosch VE pump found on ’89-’93 6BT mills can support as much as 500 horsepower when highly modified, a worked-over version of the Bosch P7100 can facilitate three times that. Even the 160hp version of the P7100, the least coveted of the bunch (found on ’94-’95 engines backed by the 47RH automatic transmission), can support north of 700 horsepower without upgrading to larger plungers. Once larger plungers and barrels such as 13mm or 14mm units are brought into the fold (for reference: stock plungers are 12mm), along with a custom grind cam, an Ag governor for high rpm fueling, and crazy timing advance, the sky is the limit. These purpose-built, competition pumps are anything but street-friendly, but can support well north of 1,500 hp.

How much rpm does a 6BT have?

The 6BT’s factory valvetrain will tolerate more rpm than the 2,400 to 2,700 rpm the OE-prepped injection pump governs them to, but stiffer valve springs should always be added before the engine sees 3,500 rpm or higher.

Can a Cummins 6BT have a single turbocharger?

While an upsized single turbocharger can suffice on a daily-driven 6BT Cummins, big horsepower and drivability only go hand-in-hand to a certain point. When drivability isn’t as much of a concern as making horsepower is, such as in drag racing, truck pulling, or chassis dyno competition, a large single turbo makes a lot of sense. Not only is a single turbo easier on the engine (due to its producing less boost and drive pressure than a compound configuration would), but a sizeable lone charger will require elevated rpm to keep it in its efficiency range. And as we mentioned earlier, at higher rpm the kind of torque levels that bend rods and crack blocks can be avoided without sacrificing horsepower.

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