Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Adjustable boost elbows

[Black Cloud]

I see these little adjustable boost elbows offered on the TDR by different vendors, what is the benefit of adding one. My truck is stock, would a elbow be worth anything for me and how would you know what adjustment would work for your truck.

 

[terrywerm]

An adjustable boost elbow would allow you to increase your boost pressure by changing the point at which the waste gate opens, thus lowering your exhaust temps a bit when pulling hard, BUT once you exceed 20 PSI or so, the MAP sensor and the ECM would start to defuel to reduce the high boost, sort of like taking your foot out of it. Nothing gained. Since your truck is stock, you shouldn't have to worry about your EGTs though.



If you were to install some hotter injectors, then you might benefit from the increased boost once you get around the defueling problem. To get around that, you can install a box such as an EZ or a Comp or similar which will modify the signal from the MAP sensor so that the ECM does not know that your boost is higher than stock, and as a result will not defuel.



Most of the power enhancement boxes that are available will modify the boost signal from the MAP sensor. There are also a couple of vendors that offer a MAP signal clipper that is designed to modify the MAP signal without doing anything else to your system. In this situation, your clutch would start to slip if you were running both an enhancement box and hotter injectors. As you can see, increasing your power levels would have a snowball effect.



You could also look at Marco's CaTCHER ECM, which does not defuel under high boost conditions. Using this in combination with hotter sticks would also have a negative effect on the clutch in your 5 speed.



In short, a boost elbow is only one component of an enhanced power system. Simply installing a boost elbow only will not give you any performance benefits, and will most likely decrease your available power under high boost conditions. Myself, I've been holding off on bombing just yet, so that I can afford the clutch, transmission input shaft, injectors, etc all at once.

 

[Black Cloud]

My future plans call for a Edge EZ, a 4 inch exhaust and a AFE or similiar air intake system, now when those plans are realized (ie MONEY and/or my WIFE, more like my wife) I'm not sure, but they are on my wish list. Thanks for your help Terry.



James

 

[terrywerm]

Sounds like a good way to go - the Edge EZ comes with a boost elbow, by the way, so you don't need to buy one either way!



As for the household financial coordinator (I know how these things work, too!) Make sure you drive like a madman for a few weeks before putting in the EZ, which should drop your fuel mileage in the toilet - after putting in the EZ, drive sensible, then say "See honey! I've got more power AND I picked up 3 MPG!! Just think of the savings in the long run!"



Ok, ok, it looks good on paper anyway. :-laf