Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) 370 opinions

[illflem]

You guys who've installed 370s what do you think, was it worth it? Any problems?

 

[Deezul1]

A great addition for the money, probably about 40hp increase and nothing tricky on the install. Take out the old ones and put in the new. Use . 020 thick washers for better spray pattern and I suggest new return line gaskets also. The 215 used injectors should bring $200.

 

[Jeff H]

I installed them in my 95. They do move the truck pretty good. Mileage seems to have slipped just a little. My transmission seems to hold yet.

 

[The patriot]

I lost some mileage, but it was probibally just me steppin on it.

When you get on it, it definitly smokes more!!!

I was told by Piers that it would give me about 45 HP on my 215 engine. It feels at least that much by the seat of the pants test.

They smoke slightly at idle too but not enough to be annoying or anything.

My . 02 is it's money well spent.

Eric

 

[drawson]

Bill they are well worth the cost and are a great addition. Unlike a plate they add power from Idle to top end, which can add some excitement on slick roads . Even at my altitude I can drive smoke free. But when I put the hammer down the day turns into nite





Bill go for them you'll like them... .

 

[Extreme1]

Made a substantial power increase on my truck, now I'm woking on getting enough fuell to really use them. I have the shudder from unbalanced pump/not enough fuel.

 

[Jim Fulmer]

The best I could tell my mileage went down 1/2 to 3/4 MPG, but now with the air addition this last tank was down to 16. 2 from a usual 18. 5-19. 0. Guess I need to keep my foot out of it.



Jim

 

[MDKram]

They are fan-dam-tastic! Like Dee said, drive not too aggressively and they will not smoke. Put the hammer down and they will smoke!



I hummed and hawed for over a year on whether to buy 370's or not. I too worried about smoke and stumble and... . However, after the install, I am very happy with these injectors. The idle was a tad bit rougher than with the 215's but fuel conditioner has resolved this problem. I am getting ready for many -30 winter days so I will report any funny problems at low temps.



Regards, Marc

 

[drawson]

I forgot to add they also seen to make it so it starts better. Ever since installing the 370 it will fire in almost the first rotation.



Marc, It was about time. Have you dyno'd with them yet???

 

[bighammer]

I'm still on the fence...

 

[MDKram]

Dee, i have not dyno'd since Calgary. Since Calgary, I have installed a PDR35-14 and the 370's. The truck is much stronger everywhere and EGTs are now under control.



Back-on-topic



The injectors are really an important step in the quest for more useable power and a better running truck. Adding a fuel plate is a great place to start but you can only get so far with a fuel plate before the smoke is out of control. Larger injectors allow more fuel into the cylinder per degree of crankshaft rotation. With static timing, it is important to not inject fuel too late in the stroke if smoke control is your concern. The #11 plate in my pump is set almost full forward. Before installing the 370's, my truck would smoke under medium acceleration effort. After installing the 370's, touching nothing else, I can accelerate harder with less smoke. I am not talking about hard, wheel spinning acceleration, I'm talking about reasonable acceleration. Reasonable meaning my wife still complains about her head snapping back but a neck brace is not required.



Let's say you want an intermitent duty 330 HP. You can achieve this by using a #10 plate (in a 2175 cpl) or by using a #11 plate and 370's. Combination 2 costs more but will result in a cleaner burning engine. The reason is the fuel charge is being delivered faster (over fewer crankshaft degrees of rotation) so there is more time for a complete burn.



It is no secret that the spray angle of 370's is not optimal for our pistons. However, the thin washers seem to compensate for this. The 370's are an affordable injector which deliver a reasonable performance gain. I am very happy with the reduction in smoke in around town driving and have had no stumble problems. Others have had similar results to me and some have not been happy with their 370's. I don't own Bosch stock so I have no vested interest in convincing you 370's are the answer. They work for me and I am very conscienceous about minimal smoke and a smooth running engine. When I was still undecided, I think it was drawson that finally convinced me with his honest opinions - thanks Dee.



Regards, Marc

 

[RHARVEY]

Also sitting on the fence!!! I have a friend that just ordered the 370's from Piers. Our trucks are about the same as far as BOMB's and also what we tow. He said that he would do the testing to see how things change. We want to see if the EGT's go thru the roof on a hard pull with 10k in tow. I like the idea of the off idle power for towing, but not sure about the EGT's on a hot summer day towing the trailer. .



Rick

 

[Doubleclutch]

And you can buy a whole set of injectors for less than a single Ferd/Chebby injector! Go for it Bill- It's worth it!

 

[RHARVEY]

A friend of mine just had 1 injector replaced(F550) for $1300! Most of that is labor because having to dig into the motor to replace it. One of the injectors... you have to move the motor forward to get to it. .



Rick

 

[kchristopher]

Originally posted by MDKram

It is no secret that the spray angle of 370's is not optimal for our pistons.

Does anybody make an injector with the flow of a 370 but a more appropriate spray angle?

 

[MDKram]

DD3 are extrude honed 215 injectors (I think). Same spray angle as the 215 stock injectors but these have larger holes. They make roughly the same HP as 370s. They are also more expensive than 370s which is probably why most use 370s rather than DD3. (Diesel Dynamics = DD)



Marc

 

[bighammer]

Marc,



My 370s have been in a box taunting me for about 6 weeks. I was affraid of excess smoke, high EGTs, etc. I'm thinking maybe the PDR HX35 14 might be the right addition with the injectors. I want to bump my timing up from the 12. 5* as well. I'm glad to see 370s and cleaner exhaust in the same paragraph. Thanks for your input.



Anybody with that combo in a 175 hp pump?



Thanks

 

[LarryB]

As stated before, the 370s give a very noticeable power increase from idle to governor. Mine smoke a bit blue at idle. They also smoke quite a bit preboost if I lug it bad but that's the way I have the AFC set to prevent turbo lag. During hard pulling they clean up real well. They are not embarrassing at all Bill if that's what you're getting at.



I recommend them.

Larry

 

[drees1]

Smoke at idle

Several of you have talked about smoke at idle. Any one ran their truck through an emissions test with the 370's where they use the Bosch Opacity smoke test? My mods don't effect an opacity test and I have flown through (with CAT) at . 2 opacity of 20 allowed. I want to go to 370's and a 16cm housing, but worry a little about idle smoke. I have had to play the emissions game in Ohio, and it will be here in Tennessee, I'm sure at some point.



Doug Rees

 

[Extreme1]

Pete - Go for it!

My smoke went down with the 370's. The milage did a little too.