Van Aaken 3.2 Dyno Results

[HDaniel]

Well, I have nothing but praise for Don, in tech. support over at Van Aaken. He has answered every question and been a huge help in me finally getting this thing. I originally ordered it from a diesel shop out of TN, and they sent one for an '05. Imagine my disappointment when I took the truck down the road and ... ..... nothing I tried calling them, but they were closed, so I called Van Aaken, and just like every other time I got a person (Don) right away. He asked a few questions and we found out that it was for an '05. Obviously the big 2005 on the box was also a dead give away. (Dumb on my part) Anyway, he sent me the right one out the next morning. This thing works better than I expected. Seat of the pants, you can definitely feel the difference on both settings. Their HP/TQ claims are close to what they advertise for the 04. 5. It was 72 and our altitude is around 4700ft. These charts show corrected and uncorrected. Not sure what number everyone goes by, but either way they are both impressive considering my pretty much stock truck.

 

[RMalone]

Nice, I appreciate the info! I have a VA 3. 1 in my arsenal and wouldn't trade it, $250 used and worth twice that, so far it is the only electronic that has not back-talked me, ever. It just works, simple to install and simple to adjust, and the safest of the pressure boxes, I love it.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Yeah van Aaken, the company with the little "v" . . . that can spell "Velocity" with a Capital "V"

I would say van Aaken products are some of the finest out there, all without the big "press" many others get. They quietly go about making a fine product without the hype or hoopla (like Banks or Edge). I have no firsthand experience with vA on a 3rd Gen, but of the 4 boxes I tried on my 2001 HO the vA was my favorite hands-down. Night and day difference between it and the EZ in terms of refinement and drivability.

Vaughn

 

[HDaniel]

Their products are definitely just as advertised. Installation is easy, 5 - 10 min. It performs just like they describe and with the numbers they claim. And I cannot say enough about their customer service. I know that I am not going to set any land speed records, but I want to see what she'll do in the 1/4 as compared to stock.

 

[MR.K]

Torque band movement

On setting 2 look at the torque !!! The 3. 2 moves the tork band down like a old 12 valver had ... ... so any mileage improvement??

 

[Matt400]

What ever happened to the 3. 3 timing/duration unit?

 

[HDaniel]

On setting 2 look at the torque !!! The 3. 2 moves the tork band down like a old 12 valver had ... ... so any mileage improvement??

I can't stop . It'll set you back in the seat. As far as mileage, I haven't been able to keep my foot out of it long enough, but I will calc. my next tank. I figured that there is no point in doing this one because of the "play" factor. I try to keep it on setting 1 because I do not have any gauges, and I would like for my transmission to last for a little while longer.



Matt400

There is and has been a new box out there being tested, but as far as timing, duration, pressure, or whatever else, I am not sure. I think that it is all of the above.



Oh. I am not sure if these RPM are normal, but they couldn't keep the truck from down shifting so they had to raise the min. RPM.



Bert

 

[MR.K]

I have a 3. 2 box... is it much different than a 3. 1 ? Is a 3. 2 an improved 3. 1 ? Could you stack a 3. 2 with a TST box like they do with an edge box? Is 3. 1 a rail pressure box and the 3. 2 is timing and duration box? What does the Edge box do that adds to the tst box ? Of which the 3. 1 or 3. 2 most like the Edge box ... so many boxes so little money... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .

 

[Buffalo]

I have the VA 3. 2 (duration-only) on my '03, HO. When I accelerate hard (3/4 to full throttle) in 4th, 5th or 6th gear, I get a miss at about the 2200 rpm range. It lasts for just a second & then goes away. I think I,m running out of fuel at that point & then the fuel system catches up again.



I dyno'ed the truck, last year, at May Madness & at the Low level (65 HP. ) I was at 341 HP. The High level (130 HP. ) was only 6 HP. more @ 347 HP. My guess is that the loss of fuel is causing the low performance on the High level.



I sent the box back to VA, along with copies of the dyno results, & they reprogrammed it & updated it to the latest levels. Said everything was fine with the box.



Does this sound right & do you think a better fuel pumping system (than the stock one) would help the low power on the High level?



The 3. 2 increases the power by quite a bit, even with my low power problems on the High level. I did a fuel economy run & got 21. 47 mpg. s in a high wind condition.



Joe F. (Buffalo)

 

[nickleinonen]

What ever happened to the 3. 3 timing/duration unit?

there was a thread somewhere here [got deleted i think???] and the new van aaken i think is the smart box v5. . i'd link to it their site but seems to be down right now. .

 

[HDaniel]

MR. K, the 3. 1 is a pressure box and the 3. 2 is a duration box. I know that the way that the 3. 2 is programmed, it doesn't add fuel until the boost starts to build. This is why it doesn't smoke as much as other boxes. This is also supposed to help keep the EGT's in check..... as much as possible. I really can't speak to how the 3. 1 delivers power but my guess is, and someone correct me if I am wrong, it may be just a touch stronger right off idle, because it's a pressure box, but anything much over that is where the 3. 2 would be stronger. ??? So to answer your question the 3. 1 would be more like the EZ.



Buffalo, After talking to them several times, I would tend to believe them if they said that the box was functioning correctly. It could be like you said that your pump may be struggling to keep up. The Cummins is about the only thing that's consistently reliable in these trucks. Well, except for torn door seals and bald tires. :-laf How much of an increase in mileage did you see?

 

[Buffalo]

The 21. 47 MPG's was not a good test. I was heading into a strong head wind & then strong side winds. This trip was over 400 miles & I filled up at the Flying J (right to the top) before I started the trip & filled up, again, on my return to Phoenix. Same pump & right to the top, again, & hand calculated mileage.



My last fill up was 17. 71 mpg's with mostly around town driving. I have a full, 115 gal. aux. fuel tank in the bed of the truck, so, there's a bit of extra weight being hauled around.



Sure would like to know "For Sure" that the 'miss' is related to low fuel pressure. I've been considering the GDP (Walbro) system to correct the problem.



Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.



Joe F. (Buffalo)

 

[AMassaro]

Buffalo, you're running a stock fuel pump????????



If so, I think you answered your own question...

 

[rhino_50]

I have a edge ez stacked with the 3. 2 box. I made 422 hp and 777 ft pounds of tq. Last fall. I also have fass and my truck stumbles at 2200 rpm at a hard acceleration in 6th gear. I think may it is the timing. But I not sure either. Rhino50

 

[Buffalo]

Rhino50,



My '03 "stumbles" at 2200 rpm's, also. Only on the high level, though. I've, also, done the 'tone ring mod' for timing.



My guess is the "stock fuel pump" not moving enough fuel, for a short period of time, & then it starts to catch-up. I don't think it ever does, completely, which results in low HP on the High level.



Joe F. (Buffalo)

 

[rhino_50]

You would think that the fass would give the fuel need? I had my ez set on the 3rd setting and the 3. 2 set on high. Rhino50

 

[CookJ]

Rhino/HDAniel, just curious, where did you guys mount the toggle switch? I like the idea of having it hidden, just in case my wife or friends decide to drive the truck without me knowing.

 

[rhino_50]

I mounted it right beside the steering wheel on the right side.

 

[HDaniel]

Rhino/HDAniel, just curious, where did you guys mount the toggle switch? I like the idea of having it hidden, just in case my wife or friends decide to drive the truck without me knowing.

Mine is just hanging from under the steering wheel. I didn't want to drill any holes in the dash and I didn't want to reach under the dash to flip the switch.



CookJ, do you have the 3. 2?

 

[CookJ]

Thanks guys. I was considering both locations but wanted to conceal it a little better till I've completed other mods to the truck. Call me overly cautious. (HDaniel) the box should be here tomorrow. I ordered it Friday morning, UPS ground. Plans are to install it and post some information here. I plan on setting EZ to stock and running the VA alone. Then I'll run the two stacked and monitor. thanks