Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Banks Power Pack is too slow

[RGutierrez]

The Banks Power Pack is the only power enhancement I have to date. I'm getting spanked by everyone in town and I'm tired of it. Some of them only have a small chip and I'm still losing. I can't take the shame anymore and I need advice. I still need to tow my 5vr with it but I sure would like to go a little faster. Here are some observations and considerations.

1. The Banks sytem will run briefly to 1300 degrees and 34 pounds of boost where I can compete but then it backs off and the competition pulls away.

2. The Banks system came with a new housing for the compressor side of the turbo. Is this turbo setup a problem with high temps and defueling?

3. The Ottomind seems to be very conservative with no adjustment. Other chips have several settings where lower settings supply less fuel than stock and higher setting provide much more fuel. Should I replace the Ottomind or can I fool it to give me what I want?

4. I've heard that the 2001. 5 high output cummins have smaller injectors. Do I need an upgrade?

5. Most important, I am electronically challenged but sometimes, things do soak in.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[RGutierrez]

My apologies. I'm still struggling with my truck profile. It's an 01. 5 4x4 quad cab H. O. with the Banks Powerpack.

 

[Tinman]

Many will disagree, but I would (and did) add some bigger injectors. But remember the Ottomind is tuned to basically max out the stock turbo. I added 275s and thus far I haven't had any problems but 275 wouldn't give you way you are looking for. A larger turbo and injectors would probably do just fine. DD2 or DD3 would get you going but you'll need a big huffer.

 

[RGutierrez]

Tinman,

Thanks for your reply. I had a call in to Banks Engineering and I voiced my concerns and they said they have the ability to reflash the ottomind to level five where I am at level 3 now. I have to call back this afternoon to make arrangements because they are short handed for the holidays. They also said I might want to look at ways of cooling EGT such as a better air box. I'm still interested in better injectors and turbo.

 

[nps]

I went from stock injectors to Jammer 2's with a stock turbo + EZ.



My EGTs dropped about 150-200*. I can't get it over 1100* empty and 1200* towing 11K#. I'm pushing about 34-36# boost.

 

[Fishin Guide]

Where this may not be practical, you may find it to be the best way to proceed.



Sell the Banks stuff. Find an RV board and get rid of all of it. Except that 14cm turbo housing.



Get some bigger sticks. Dons EDMs are the ticket. Mach 2. x should make a tow rig happy.



Add a Comp. You'll have all the adjustability that you need. This will give you that big empty power and still be able to tow at lower box settings.



Get a small performance turbo. Depending on HP goal, a simple PDR35 with the housing you currently have will work great and have very good spool. Heat is going to be an issue if you have enough fuel.



I don't tow heavy, but I run box on all of the time. This is with M4s. I drive daily with the Comp on 5X5. Heat is an issue of the right foot. When I tow, I turn the box down to level 1 or 2.



Dave

 

[RGutierrez]

Scrapping the Banks stuff is definetely a possibility. I'll wait for the reflash on the ottomind first.

Tinman seems to have reasonable EGTs with his setup. Interesting that he added injectors and maintains EGTs. His turbo pressure is good too.

 

[Fishin Guide]

Scrapping the Banks stuff is definetely a possibility. I'll wait for the reflash on the ottomind first.

Tinman seems to have reasonable EGTs with his setup. Interesting that he added injectors and maintains EGTs. His turbo pressure is good too.

You are running more or as much boost as you should through that turbo. A turbo upgrade would help put more cool air in the engine at comperable boost levels.



Remember, more boost doe NOT equal more power. Generally speaking, the lower the boost you need to get the job done, the better off you are. A mild turbo upgrade would be an easy step and you could actually run it with what you have right now. You could lose some serious heat and not raise boost pressure 1 lb.



Dave

 

[Tinman]

I haven't had too much of a problem with EGT's but I don't tow much to speak of. I know that my poor hy is working hard though and the seals are starting to leak so I'm gonna get a PDR35 in the next few months. I really like my set up but you are looking for more. Advancing the timing (which the ottomind doen't do) will help control EGT's some. There have been a few to stack a timing box with the ottomind and do ok. So I suppose you could add some timing and small to moderate injectors and still be OK with stock turbo. However, there was at least one person on this board that ruined his engine stacking a timing box with an ottomind. Fact is; more power ,more fuel, gonna need more air. If you wanted to save money and keep what you got, you could reflash the ottomind to a lower level and get some larger injectors. But where you are now is about all I would think you could do with the stock turbo. Oh yeah, do you still have the stock trans?? That'll have to be improved also. Bombing is a slippery slope.

 

[Fishin Guide]

Tinman, I love my PDR35. In fact, it's gonna be the top turbo in a set of compounds.



As far as it being slippery, Aint that the truth!!



Dave

 

[RGutierrez]

I'm willing to change whatever is needed including the turbo but I am really ignorant when it comes to turbos. I'll need it to respond quickly and also keep EGTs down so the ottomind won't defuel. After seeing your replies, my direction seems to be with injectors, turbo and I'd like to use the ottomind with the reflash. What is a PDR35? Who makes it?

 

[johncameron]

I'm running level Banks 5 with DDII injectors and it is awesome! Look at my sig for the corrected #'s at the wheels a few weeks ago. I put my EGT probe post turbo just so the banks box will not de-fuel. I then installed a switch on the pump wire so I can turn off the fueling and run with just the injectors for towing.



John

 

[Hohn]

Dave (Fishin Guide) gave you good advice.

The Banks stuff just isn't designed for racing and performance.

Keep in mind that the FULL NAME of the Ottomind is the Ottomind TLC. The TLC means Torque Limiting Computer-- I'm not kidding.

The reason people are walking away from you is that the Ottomind is backing off to limit tq and save the driveline. Banks has liability issues and stuff they worry about.


I'd do what Dave said and keep only the 14CM housing-- ditch all the rest of your Banks stuff on some poor unsuspecting overfunded grey-haired RVer.

The combo I'm pursuing is Mach4s, Smarty Tuner (just released), a TST pm3 box (no remote), a 35/40 turbo, and a Don M Helix 2 cam with mechanical LP.

With this setup, I can just run the tuner and the 4s for fun and towing, and I'd have the TST box for "War Emergency Power" aka the need to show a ricer some "mo powa yo. "

The cam fixes the LP problem permanently and lets you run a smaller charger instead of a bigger, laggier single.

I've been on these boards for a lot more time than I ought to admit, and in the hundreds of thousands of posts I've read, I'm convinced that the combo I outlined above is the best all-around combo one can put together for these trucks. With the box off, you'll have 400hp and EGT under control. With the box on, you'll push 500hp if not more in a wonderfully streetable truck.

Fishin Guide's truck represents the closest thing to the "perfect" truck I've seen in all of TDR. He even has the 285 Toyos I want so badly!!

jh

 

[DirtyDodge]

I would swap out the ottomind. The exhaust and everything else is okay. Your boost and pyro will not work without the ottomind. Keep the thermocouple. It will save you a $100 and just buy a new pyro gauge. I used a Big Hoss for about a year and got sick of the thing defueling.

 

[johncameron]

I used a Big Hoss for about a year and got sick of the thing defueling.

Thats why I put my pyro post turbo. I guess it depends how much money he wants to spend. I won't argue that other boxes will produce more power, but why not simply put bigger injectors and see more .



J

 

[Cummins724]

I bought the big hoss, used it for 2 days & sent it back for an edge comp [best thing i ever did] the big hoss performance was barely a difference to my truck, but when i installed the comp i was way impressed with performance. It was night & day compared to the banks, but it matters what you do with the truck, injectors are for low end power. I would definately send it back, or sell it & get the edge comp. you'll Thank me later.

 

[foolkiller]

rgutierrez



i've been running the banks pp for years and have never really cared for it. i was going to try injectors too before i scrap it but i think the ottomind will adjust out the gains from the injectors anyway. also turbo lag is huge with me. is this what you're getting. i thought i had a 16cm housing and you're all talking as though it's a 14cm with the banks system. i shouldn't get lag from a 14 should i?

 

[DirtyDodge]

Thats why I put my pyro post turbo. I guess it depends how much money he wants to spend. I won't argue that other boxes will produce more power, but why not simply put bigger injectors and see more .



J

If you go post turbo, you take a chance of getting your EGT's to high. You could actually damage your engine over time. The thing will not defuel as its supposed to and continue adding fuel and heat. Not getting a true reading.

 

[JJ Jackson]

Hey Spanky ....lol

I see you have an 01. 5 HO. so that means you have a 6spd. Are you racing guys with an automatic? If so, they'll beat you every time.



If your towing heavy and your still getting beat going up a hill WOT, then I don't know. All your numbers sound right, 1300* 34 lbs boost, you're defitnitly at the ragged edge. Unless the guys beating you don't have pyro guages and are running at 1500* and possibly toasting some pistons..... Jim

 

[Koa Man]

With my Catcher, (I just placed an order for the Smarty), Mach 1. 6s and PDR HX40/16, I got way more power than needed for everyday driving and will beat most vehicles on the road once I get into 4th and higher. As was mentioned, the autos will easily beat a 6 spd. from a standing start. I rarely turn on my TST PM3... . usually only when taking any friends (who may think diesels are dogs) for a ride. I don't have unbelieving friends anymore. The last one was a guy who owns a stock 2001 PSD 6 spd. who was absolutely sure than his truck had more power than mine because it was a "V-8". This guy I let drive my truck and set the TST at level 5. He never took it to WOT. He felt the difference in the first 50 ft. and at 1/4 throttle in 4th realized his truck had no chance. I feel bad for him... . he is unhappy with his truck now.



Get the Smarty and 1. 6s or 4s if you want more. You will be real happy with that combo.