Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) (bombing) what have i overlooked

[Dodge5256]

Currently i have an ez edge, 4" stright pipe exaust (stock downpipe), gages (EGT pre turbo, Boost, Trans, fuel) and an amsoil bypass filter, stage 5 Ats auto trans. In about a week F1 mach 2. 5 injectors are going in. i am still runing the stock turbo untill i can affortd a biger one. Im thinking im going to j clip the stocker untill i get the biger turbo. Also within the next month i will be installing an Fass 150 gph pusher pump (pump only, sill runing stock fuel filter). by this summer i hope to have a TST pm 3 installed, but it will most likely remain turned off or low untill i have installed the biger turbo. now my question is what other upgrades / modifications should i do to insure my engines relyibily and long life? this truck does its fair share of towing. what turbo would be good for towing with the injectors and ez, and also beable to keep EGTs under contril when hot roding around town with a TST turned up (below 1200*). with the Tst turned up i would like to beable to trow a large clowed of smoke when i feel that it is nessaray ie. tuner imports or passing a powerjoke. i just had my PV44 replaced so what procausions should i take to protect it, one item that i have read might be usefull is a fuel cooler. this truck is my prized posetion, i plan to drive it untill it will not move another inch. so the only limiting factor is how fast i can save up the money. sorry about this post being so long, i just wanted to make sure i didnt leave anything out. any info is much appreashated. thanks

 

[RAJohnson]

Did you miss Air Intake? BHAF

 

[RJPotts]

Like RAJohnson said. BHAF! If you haven't already and forgot to list that.

For your engine's life, I'd say get the FASS... ASAP, get a fuel cooler (take it off or bypass it when its cold outside, like 60*F or so).

Otherwise, when you get a bigger turbo, stud the head and o-ring it.

Otherwise, sounds like good to me.

-R. J.

 

[TORQUE THIS]

If you are concerned about your VP-44, I would go with Mach4's, and a caTCHER ECM and do not tap your pump wire. You will be amazed at the power that the 4's and ECM will deliver. A modified HX-35/40 will also work well for this set-up and won't cost a lot to upgarde.

 

[TRAMPLINEMAN]

now my question is what other upgrades / modifications should i do to insure my engines relyibily and long life?

Everything you've put on the truck, take it all off. :-laf

 

[Dodge5256]

If you are concerned about your VP-44, I would go with Mach4's, and a caTCHER ECM and do not tap your pump wire. You will be amazed at the power that the 4's and ECM will deliver. A modified HX-35/40 will also work well for this set-up and won't cost a lot to upgarde.

I dont think that i can run mach4's with the stock turbo iv been told that they will run to hot at altatude and i have to be able to use the truck up in tahoe. as far as the taping the pump wire, im not affride to do that. iv been told that taping the wire does not dectease the life of the pump but if the pump is at all defective form the factory 99 out of 100 time the pump will fail in the first 20 minutes of runing if it doent then u have nothing to worry about. this is according to Blue chip diesel preformance.

 

[TORQUE THIS]

Just suggested something you should look into...



I once had all the toys in the cab, ditched them and stayed with the ECM / sticks. Very Happy!



HighTechTurbo has some pretty good turbos when the time is right for you to buy. www.htturbo.com

 

[Dodge5256]

Like RAJohnson said. BHAF! If you haven't already and forgot to list that.

For your engine's life, I'd say get the FASS... ASAP, get a fuel cooler (take it off or bypass it when its cold outside, like 60*F or so).

Otherwise, when you get a bigger turbo, stud the head and o-ring it.

Otherwise, sounds like good to me.

-R. J.

I am still using the stock air intake system, i read that that it is cabable of handaling up to 450hp maybe more, however i am atlest going to put in a AFE stock replacement filter for now. i plan to put off geting a system untill after i get a biger turbo.

 

[johncameron]

I agree with keeping the stock air setup until you hit the 450HP+ range. I high flow filter should be good enough.

J

 

[darkhorse]

I am still using the stock air intake system, i read that that it is cabable of handaling up to 450hp maybe more, however i am atlest going to put in a AFE stock replacement filter for now. i plan to put off geting a system untill after i get a biger turbo.

Remember to take out the plastic snorkel that runs from the fender to the air box. It's just too small to handle your max needs.

 

[RJPotts]

"iv been told that taping the wire does not dectease the life of the pump but if the pump is at all defective form the factory 99 out of 100 time the pump will fail in the first 20 minutes of runing if it doent then u have nothing to worry about. this is according to Blue chip diesel preformance"



Blue Chip lied to you. Tapping the pump wire definitely decreases the life of the pump, unless you never use it, like buying a comp and tapping the wire, just to use it as an EZ.

I would change the stock air filter setup... if for no reason other than it makes the turbo louder.

I saw a decrease in EGT with the BHAF too. Better bang for the buck than replacing the OEM filter with a "higher efficiency" on that still lives in that restrictive little box.

-R. J.

 

[darkhorse]

"iv been told that taping the wire does not dectease the life of the pump but if the pump is at all defective form the factory 99 out of 100 time the pump will fail in the first 20 minutes of runing if it doent then u have nothing to worry about. this is according to Blue chip diesel preformance"



Blue Chip lied to you. Tapping the pump wire definitely decreases the life of the pump, unless you never use it, like buying a comp and tapping the wire, just to use it as an EZ.

I would change the stock air filter setup... if for no reason other than it makes the turbo louder.

I saw a decrease in EGT with the BHAF too. Better bang for the buck than replacing the OEM filter with a "higher efficiency" on that still lives in that restrictive little box.

-R. J.

Not to be argumentative, but I think Chip Fisher is right about the VP44. Also, the newer units are much more reliable than when the pump was first utilized on our trucks. A properly functioning & healthy VP44 will not be harmed by holding the fuel bypass solenoid closed longer.

 

[RJPotts]

Very true. I completely agree.

Its been my experience, and many others', that tapping the pump wire, and again I'm using the Comp as an example, has decreased the pump's life. maybe not drastically, but it has shortened it. Especially on 5x5... otherwise that wouldn't be the "KILL" setting.

I don't think anyone can say conclusively that tapping the wire will definitely shorten pump life, or how much because the VP44 sems to be either hit or miss when it comes to reliability. . and the lift pump design doesn't help.

-R. J.

 

[R-N-R]

Tapping the wire and having the pump fail in short order seems like there would be an obvious connection. btw, I support the "already bad pump brought to the surface by the wire tap" theory. If you tap the wire and the VP fails x months later, why would it be assumed that the wire tap caused an early VP failure? Especially given the number of stock trucks that have experienced a failed VP.