Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) A little help for the newbie

[hensign]

Ok so I have this sweet truck that I love and want just a little(well you know) more umph.

I drive it every day and mostly around town, It will be pulling a couple of trailers 5 and 10k lbs and be carrying a slide-in when hauling the lighter trailer.

My current plans include turbo housing replacement with a 16 2 CM unit, Its on a turbo I just picked up as mine has bad bushings/seals. What will this do to a stock truck? More lag? More bottom end? Will a box cover these downfalls?

Going to purchase a Edge EZ or Pro. Is it worth it to put the pro in if I dont plan on doing injectors for a while, possibly ever?

Also an exhaust is in the future 4"? 5"?

It would be great to go all out but money issues and the fact that this truck needs to be stone reliable and basically last forever are more important than sheer acceleration. Besides my wife drives it and although she isnt too heavy footed I dont think she would ever look at an EGT guage.

I have done power upgrades in the past and there is nothing worse than cheaping out in the beginning and then wishing you had spent the bigger dollar up front.

Thanks

Hadley

 

[LSMITH]

Well, you have a lot of questions.



First, forget the 16 housing. It is not necessary and will only cause lots of lag. It will possibly increase EGT too on a stock truck. Put the 12 housing off of your bad turbo on the new one.



The exhuast will only benefit you by making it sound different, it is not needed or even beneficial until significant mods have been done.



A USED EZ or a VA would be a great start, but new prices are such that you can get a set of mild injectors for the same money. Injectors offer better driveability in my experience. Adding a Comp (I assume that is what you mean by a "Pro") is not a good idea. EGT on the upper levels is really high, and the power gained is not usable for towing above mid levels at best. You will spend a TON of money getting EGT in check to use all the power a Comp makes.



I would recommend you put in a set of DD2's and the 12 housing, leave it at that. You will have a great running truck and no EGT problems.

 

[hensign]

injectors

I am a chicken... ... I dont want to change the injectors yet. Would I get better power with Just an Edge EZ and maybe a AFE intake?

Had

 

[jbone]

Didn't notice if you mentioned gauges or may have them already, but that was my first install and glad of it!!! Next put on the BHAF or equivilent... (my . 02, don't get Scotty like I did--too much money for what you get!!)... . I like the EZ, but start saving for transmission up-grade if you have auto..... I lost the muffler and like the sound and think truck runs a little cooler... . hope this helps. R, J. B.

 

[LSMITH]

Intake and exhuast mods will net you a gain of 0 horsepower. The look cool and sound cool and all of that, but are pretty much wasted money IMO.



A Van Aaken is my recommendation over the EZ, but an EZ is a nice power increase. A set of DD2's will provide about 60 ft/lbs and about 40 HP peak above the boxes. At 2000 RPM the horsepower will be only slightly higher than the boxes.



An injector change takes less than 3 hours if you are somewhat of a mechanic, should cost you less than $120 to have installed if you farm it out. It really is pretty easy.

 

[monkeyman]

Injectors are easy!

I think the hardest thing about changing the injectors is getting that blasted Valve Cover off the engine! With the right toold you can make that change in maybe a hour and half.

Rick

 

[hensign]

No guages but I am planning, NV4500 not sure about the clutch although I know its not the original. What can this trans take? I see alot of people are upgrading to 6 spd.



I am actually a ASE Certified Master wrench just have never gone digging in a diesel here in NJ 3h labor will run you $240 in most shops. Besides my track record on personal repairs is kinda sad... ... ... What about a box and injectors? Do these two add up or do they negate each other. I understand that 65hp from this and 60 hp from that usually means 100 hp together. When do I have to start worrying about EGT's.



had

 

[monkeyman]

Mod's

You can e-mail me at:rickvtwin@aol.com

I used to be a mechanic back in the Points and Condenser days!

I did all my mods one step at a time to see my performance gains.

I have propane but have not installed yet. Im very happy with results, and think that everything works great.

Since my last post I added prime-loc, remote oil filter,cut off for cycling of mainfold heater, Horton Fan, and idle speed controller.

Rick

 

[Diesel Freak]

Since your wife will be driving the truck, and will not be watching a Pyrometer, limit the bombs on the truck to an EZ. It is good for about 60 HP @ 2000 rpm, and 30-35 hp at 2700 RPM.



If you want more performance than the EZ provides, a Pyrometer is mandatory. A boost gauge is also handy. Adding a set of injectors with the EZ will gat you more power.



DD2's and an EZ will net you at least 310-320 RWHP, but runnung a pyro is a must!

 

[GRudy]

hensign,

Check out my signature. I have the same truck in 4x4. With the mods I have I cannot get the EGT above 1200, pyro in manafold. The truck is very "driveable" but I did have to upgrade the clutch. Peter took care of me with a con-ofe, 13". I started with just the VA box, then added the boost module & elbow and then the injectors and then the BHAF. I could notice a difference with each addition but the whole setup works great together. I am thinking of going with DD2 or DD3 injectors yet but that will be my limit..... yea, right!