Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Airdog 100 install?

[DSeamans]

I'm planning on actually installing the Airdog on Monday. How long does it take for someone who can wrench pretty good? Can I get it done in 2 or 3 hours? I haven't looked, can you pull the fuel line off the pick up w/out dropping the tank or lifting the box? My lift pump is all but dead and I have to get it done. Father-in-law having heart surgery this week and I have to take care of the farm and need it running in a hurry. Sorry so long, it been a very hectic week.



Thanks for any advice,

Dave

 

[Wyomingcowboy]

If you can get the line off the top of the tank, you can do it in 2-3. I lifted the bed to do it cuz i had the time and equipment. After seeing the fitting the needed removed I am not sure I could have without lifting the bed. Not impossible, but be prepared to cuss alot and be careful. The fittings are plastic and a tad tricky... ..... especially if you can't see them. I also had 60 minutes in installing the pump brackets, un-installing, cutting extra length off the thing, drilling new holes, and re-installing bracket. If I had used the predrilled holes would have no clearance between the bottom of cab and top of pump. Actually, it absolutely would not have fit. Other than that, everything else was a cinch!

 

[DSeamans]

Thanks for the advice. I have a topper on, (time to come off for the summer anyway) and hitch rails. But, it sounds like it might be quicker in the long run anyway. If I can't get the line in a minute, get the big impact and cherry picker out and lift it off. I guess that way it will be broke loose when I go to repain it in a couple months!

 

[Davcruz]

I just did my Airdog FP100 kit on Friday afternoon. It took myself and my retired father (he works like there is all the time in the world haha) about 5 hours to do it right. I did everything under the truck and he worked the engine bay portion.

I did not have to pull the bed off. I was able to sit on a creeper under the truck with my head and shoulders up between the bed side and the frame and get to the top of the tank easily. However I have a LWB, so not sure if it will work that way for you.

Only thing I recommend is this. BE SURE you remove the little blue plastic clip off the old draw tube connection BEFORE you try for an hour to put the new connector on it.....

Also, on a LWB truck there is only about 6" of extra fuel line, it was close.

 

[Wyomingcowboy]

Thanks for the advice. I have a topper on, (time to come off for the summer anyway) and hitch rails. But, it sounds like it might be quicker in the long run anyway. If I can't get the line in a minute, get the big impact and cherry picker out and lift it off. I guess that way it will be broke loose when I go to repain it in a couple months!

The bed should come off very easily. The 8 bolts have some sort of threadlocker on them but they come out easy. Othere than that, there is a connector for each taillight, and the plastic license plate holder thing. Getting it back on was easy enough too. I had to take mine off anyway for a trailer hitch install and did that at the same time. (crazy guys who weld to frame are just that... crazy!! It sure is scary with a torch under there... )

 

[DSeamans]

Only thing I recommend is this. BE SURE you remove the little blue plastic clip off the old draw tube connection BEFORE you try for an hour to put the new connector on it.....



That sounds like a good thing to know!



(crazy guys who weld to frame are just that... crazy!! It sure is scary with a torch under there... )



Not necessarily!... . I did weld the outside brackets. But, I have an awesome MIG and welding blankets to cover stuff up. I pulled the topper off today. I pulled my buddies box last fall when I painted his rig for him. I'm just worried about 8 winters of salt. Oh well, Its gotta come off when I paint this pig!



Thanks guys,

Dave

 

[P Pacatang]

When I did my AirDog install I did it the same way DAVCRUZ did. The only other thing I did was loosen the 2 nuts on the gas tank straps all the way till theirs about 2 threads left to hold on. That gave me enough room to get my hands in. Hope this helps

 

[DSeamans]

Its done

I got it done today. It took about 5 hrs and was a PITA at times. I did have to redrill holes in the mounting bracket. Two more feet of fuel line and I would have run them differently. Was able to sit between the frame and fender to do the pickup. It works great though - 19psi at idle and 15 at WOT. Never saw anything close to that with the factory setup.



Dave

 

[Davcruz]

DSeamans-

I agree, I would have run the lines differently if I had a bit more to play with, but I don't think they really understand just how long a LWB truck is... .

How do you have your fuel pressure gauge hooked up? I bought a Vulcan test kit from Genos, but the schrader valve gets removed from the VP44, so that is all but useless to me know. I am waiting on a Westach FP to come in from Genos now, but I have no idea what I need to hook up the sending unit.

 

[DSeamans]

How do you have your fuel pressure gauge hooked up?



I called Toby the airdog tech rep. He said to take one of the heavier 90*, drill and tap and put it on the vp instead of the longer one. It worked great but I had to turn the 90 up a bit to clear the ps cap for removal.

Use a 5/16 dril bit and 1/8 npt tap. Just center it on a flat spot. The westach has a pretty big sending unit, so put the 90 on and hold the sending unit up for bes placement.



Dave

 

[JohnRobinson]

what did you guys do with the stock fuel filter ? keep /abandon/or remove filter?

 

[Davcruz]

I removed my stock filter/housing and Carter LP completely. Filled the connectors with die-electric grease and put inside of the finger off a latex glove wrapped with electrical tape. Lots of room on that side of the engine now. :lol

 

[FLynes]

Yeah, I definitely don't regret having the AirDog installed... . I had to pay someone to do it, though..... no patience to put up with back and knee pain... being Airborne was fun, but I'm paying for it now. I guess I need to seal off the old fuel hose, though I'd be happier just cutting the entire hose out of the truck.



By the way, anyone else getting the WIF light up, after washing their truck?

 

[diesel runner]

airdog got me codes

just got my airdog pump done today but now I got all kinds of codes 0230 fuel pump relay 0178 fuel composition sensor circuit malfunction. what did I do wrong

 

[Davcruz]

Wow, no idea. I did not get any codes. What did you do with the harness that previously ran to the factory fuel filter housing?

 

[Wyomingcowboy]

Ya, that's a new one on me. I would suggest calling the AirDog help line.

 

[diesel runner]

I let the original harnes hang. but today I purchased an OBD code scanner and cleared the codes because they would not clear by unhooking batts. cleared codes and ran everything good. thanks

 

[Davcruz]

You should tape off the WIF sensor harness, I was told that it can illuminate the light if it gets moist. I do not know that I believe it, but that is what I was told.

 

[FLynes]

Well I'd believe it... happened to me twice so far... now I just need to find that damn WIF sensor!

 

[diesel runner]

WIF sensor is the one that is/was pluged into the lower side of the filter base it is the only one that can be unpluged the other one has screws in it that is the fuel heating element remove WIF sensor and like davcruz said make sure you tape it up very well so no moisturecan get to it.