Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) caTCHER ecm (Marco's aka MAD)

[MACHINEST]

You the man Marco

 

[MACHINEST]

Heads up Marco, you should be seeing another one,some time soon!

 

[darkhorse]

I've been to busy enjoying the ride with my MAD CaTCHER to say much here, but this thing is really growing on me. If I want to ***** foot around, it responds to a light touch with wonderful mannors & great milage. Get a little aggressive & zoom, off we go. Get a whole lot aggressive & I can't change gears fast enough. I sooth myself with the thought that a top of the line clutch is a lot less $$ than a "full meal deal" automatic.

 

[Murle]

DITTO!! Darkhorse

 

[darkhorse]

DITTO!! Darkhorse

 

[RCone]

CaTCHER DATA

Ok, a 2325 mile towing trip. 14K+ 5ver, 1 wife, 2 dogs, 2 electric scooters. From sea level to 8600ft. Salem, Oregon to West Yellowstone, Montana and of course, back.



Highest pass elevation unloaded: 8600ft plus.

Highest pass elevation loaded: 7400ft plus



Best miles per gallon unloaded: 20. 63 (have acheived 24+ on other trips)

Best miles per gallon loaded: 13. 72

Worst miles per gallon loaded: 11. 77

Average miles per gallon loaded: 12. 51



EGT's at 65 degrees ambient temperature, 2250RPM's 12PSI boost, 58mph, 3415 feet elevation = 725-750 degrees.



Worst EGT's at top of 7400ft summit= 1350 for about the last 10 seconds. Was running in 3rd gear, boost 24psi at 45mph. Dropped into 2nd gear for last couple hundred feet of pass (length that is) and EGT's came right down. I know, I needed more boost to keep EGT's down, but that would require more throttle and couldn't do that because of size of injectors.



The CaTCHER is awesome!!!! This pulling machine was/is equipped exactly the same way as it was equipped when running 104. 15mph in the quarter mile at Spokane, WA at Diesel Thunder.



Thanks to Marco and DonM for great products.



Note: All #'s were hand caculated (I couldn't afford the fancy model with the overhead computer) and my drag comp was never turned on any setting. Didn't need to. Now I literally only use the drag comp when drag racing.



CaTCH ME IF YOU CAN... ... ... ... ... .



Roger

 

[Diesel Freak]

Check here for dyno results!

 

[Marco]

Roger,



thanks for the report! Anyway what I would like to know is how the CaTCHER MPG #'s compare to what you got towing with the stock ECM.



Also the towing performance stock vs. CaTCHER would be intresting...



Thanks,



Marco

P. S. How was the vacation? I've send you a PM a few days ago...

 

[RCone]

Performance

I would say that MPG are up somewhat with the CaTCHER verses the stock ECM. Tis a subjective thing to a degree unless you were going back and forth on on the same route, like a hotshotter, to be able to compare. What I can say is this. With my other 5ver (11k) I averaged about 12mpg, sometimes less. So... ... ... this 5ver weighs over 3K more, and don't forget the elevations I was pulling at and I average bout . 5mpg better. When you leave Pendleton, OR and climb Cabbage Hill, then the rest of the entire trip was a minimum of 2600' elevation in the high deserts of Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. Plus crossing the continental divide more than once. I would definitely say that MPG at cruise (empty) are up also as confirmed by my previous discussion of 24mpg +.



Now with regard to power, heretofore, I have always towed with my Comp box on 1x1. Not anymore. Don't need to as I personally believe the CaTCHER in and of itself, is stronger than the Comp on 1x1, especially in low and middle range and certainly doesn't give up anything on the top end either. I can get up the hills (actually mountains) as fast as I want to except for EGT's. And you have to consider that this trip was a little out of the ordinary as far as elevations are concerned. The Rocky mountains are about the highest in the Continental US. Now there are three (3) ways to control EGT's. More air, less fuel or smart use of the go pedal. I am not going with twin turbos (can't afford them and don't want the lag time), I love my EDM Mach 2. 4's and so I must rely on the judicious use of the go pedal. Having said that tho, if I were at altitude all of the time I would probably drop down to EDM Mach 1. 5's and doubt that I would give up very much at all since I have a CaTCHERIZED truck. I can say that at 8600' one has to be careful on rolling on the throttle. I didn't want to smoke up a beautiful place like Yellowstone National Park.



Roger



PS. Got your PM Marco, will be responding after formulating thoughts, and vacation was great! Thank you for asking.

 

[24V-DSL]

Marco....

Check your PM's.



thanks... .



Joe

 

[BRI7070]

rev limiter

Hey Marco,

Have you had any luck removing the top end rev limiter??

 

[Black-Smoker]

This thing rocks I just put mine in today. I love it way more han the VA box that i took out. The low end power that the ecm delivers is great and it doesent seem to de-fuel in the higher rpm's like before. Great gob marco.

 

[Marco]

Can you see me here?



Thanks,



Marco

 

[BRI7070]

Marco.





Any luck on moving the top end rev limeter???

 

[BigDan]

Ok let me get this straight, the catcher will help my driveaility alot and will also be quicker on a stock truck. But if you have a comp box like most of us do, it will actually hurt my performance make my truck slower and have less HP.



If this is true can Marco program a comp version? If you did I think you would have alot more customers.



If im wrong please correct me.

 

[Marco]

To answer BigDan,



Ok let ME get this straight.



One more time the CaTCHER is meant and designed for the average truck, with "reasonable" injectors and single charger.



BigDan sez:

-----------------------------------

"Can Marco program a comp version?"

------------------------------------



Marco sez: WHY NOT?



BUT there are several "but's"...



I've yet to find out WHAT does we need to write a "comp version"???

I've been in contact with a lot of people during the R&D for the CaTCHER.

It seems that everybody has it's OWN opinion about what a " Comp Version

CaTCHER" should or should not do. :-{}



Just as an Example...

More or less timing?



Would I've listened to each opinion I would still be sitting and writing and writing and writing... .



From somewhere I had to start... The CaTCHER works! Do we need a special "CompCaTCHER"?



Well, let the cats outta the bag. What do we change for

the "CompCaTCHER"?



Any and all ideas are welcome!



Thanks,

Marco

 

[Murle]

I have been running the CaTHER for a while now. I just can't see what anyone would want more than what the CaTHER gives. My box has been behind the seat ever since I installed the CaTHER. Will never put it back on. I know everyone whats something different... ... . But just drive a truck with a CaTHER and you will understand what we are taking about. It seems that some people here are not paying attention to what we are saying or they just can't comprend what the CaTHER does... . :-laf

 

[Sticks]

Marco,



Can the ECM be programed to know the difference between rolling onto the throttle, and sudden "Mashing"?



I. E. Rolling would entail a gradual increace in the throttle position percentage from 0 to 100. - this would keep the ECM operation as the normal Catcher



Sudden mashing would be an instant change from either 0 or a held pecentage (20 or under) to 100. - this would advance the timing and increase the fuel delevery as the comp version.



For that matter, is it even possible to be able to hook up a switch to the ECM an run it into the cab where the driver could select fixed timing and fueling percentage increases in the program?

 

[Marco]

Murle,

I'm with you. Last time I've used the box was... mhhhh musta have been a long time ago, I can't remember... .



Anyway, it is also true that we're not all the same, we do not all play the same game... so I'd say why not a "SpecialCompCaTCHER"?



As long as you don't ask me the moon...



Sticks, I'm affraid, no, what you're asking for can't be done through the ECM...



What I'll have to do is to write a SW that works with the Comp. It HAS to be different from the original CaTCHER. That means it will have it's advantges for some and disadvantages for other's.



WHAT do I change in the CaTCHER?



Marco

 

[darkhorse]

WHAT do I change in the CaTCHER?



Marco[/QUOTE]



As far as I'm concerned, I wouldn't change a thing. Maybe Edge could reprogram the "comp" for less or no advance along the order of the DDUFD. I'm not a racer & the way I use my truck every day you have hit the nail right on the head.