First-gen Dodges lead hard...
First-gen Dodges lead hard lives, but with some easy upgrades, trucks like this one can make 300 horsepower or more.
Injection Pump
There are some simple tweaks you can perform to the VE injection pump to get an extra 100 hp. In the last few years, people have started making custom parts for these pumps to increase their fuel output even more. Brian Block, one of the original VE gurus, designed a 14mm injection pump head that can flow a lot more fuel than the stock version. The upside to the 14mm is a 100-horsepower increase over stock; to date, the only VE trucks over 600 horsepower at the wheels have used Brian's pump heads. Rocken-Tech is another company that builds parts for the VE, and their 4mm cam plate and 14mm head have also been used successfully at power levels over 400 hp. With either of these 14mm heads, an ultra-high-flow lift pump is necessary to maintain injection pump longevity.
Turbochargers
Unfortunately, there aren't that many cheap turbochargers out there for the early 5.9L Cummins. A popular upgrade is to fit a Holset HX35 off of '94-'98 1/2 trucks onto the earlier models. An HX40 from an 8.3L Cummins will also work, but the HX35's seem to be a little stronger. Compressor upgrades for the stock Holset WHC-1 are also an option, and are available through Gillett Diesel Service and High Tech Turbo. Any of these turbochargers will be an upgrade over the stock 56mm turbo. Turbo Auto Diesel out of Phoenix, Arizona, also offers a line of turbochargers that can support 400-500 horsepower or more, for less than $1,000.
If you want to step beyond 500 hp, then it is time for twins. An HT3B or S400 off of a semitruck can be used as a low-pressure turbo in conjunction with an HX35 or upgraded WHC1 if you or a friend knows how to fabricate, but the turbo system probably won't spool right without a small exhaust housing, big injectors, and a 14mm injection pump head.
Intercooled vs. Non-Intercooled
If you plan on towing, it's easier and cheaper to start off with a later, '91 1/2-'93 intercooled truck. The intercooler will keep EGTs in check, and the extra Overdrive gear will help fuel economy. Oddly enough, non-intercooled trucks had much larger injectors, which means they can still make decent power on a set of stockers. Power Stroke intercoolers can be made to fit first-gens, although water injection also does a good job of cooling the incoming air. If you find a screaming deal on an earlier model, go for it. If not, hold out for an intercooled truck.
 Bill Gilbert has made 523...  Bill Gilbert has made 523 horsepower with a 14mm injection pump head and a set of S300/S400 compound turbos. The VE pumps fuel hard down low, and 500 horsepower usually means 1,100-1,200 lb-ft of torque. |  Brian Block's 14mm injection...  Brian Block's 14mm injection pump heads can make some power, but the rest of the vehicle's setup has to be right. This means good airflow, big injectors, a good lift pump, and more. |  Believe it or not, this is...  Believe it or not, this is one of the most powerful VE-pumped trucks in the country. Brian Block's Old Yellow truck runs 13-second quarter-mile times, makes more than 600 horsepower to the wheels, and has a top speed of over 140 mph. Talk about a sleeper! |