review from the nw bomber's site
Group: Members
Posts: 2185
Joined: Dec. 2002 Posted: Nov. 01 2004,22:13
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I've tried to be REALLY patient, get all the first impressions-woo hoos - Right Foot Factor fun out of the way, and post a a pro-con summary of the CaTCHer... ...
That just ain't gonna happen I guess. The first impression is a lasting one!
First off you can't compare the CaTCHer to a stock ECM. It just isn't fair. There is NO comparison.
Truthfully, the closest thing to compare it to that I've used is an Edge Comp on 3x5 - slightly higher setting than the top jumper setting on an EZ - with the stock ECM. The following is running the CaTCHer only (NO FUEL BOX) for 3 weeks as compared to running the Comp and Stock ECM for 2 years. I do exactly the same drive every day to the tune of 170 miles. The road varies from 8mph construction, to the 35mph and 45mph winding hilly roads, to 60mph freeway with 3 small towns mixed in for fun.
Turbo response:
The CaTCHer is WAY more responsive and much stronger to 2000rpm than the Comp on 3x5.
Boost starts building at 950rpm - thats the 1psi, 2psi, 3psi stuff that starts slowly. (elevation approx. 2300ft - thanks for the reminder to include that Augusta!) The Comp is making smoke at this point on 3 x any sub-level setting, and there is very little engine response to 1500rpm or higher, again depending on gear.
I drive around town now WITHOUT having to drive around the large turbo which is very nice. 4th gear at 25mph is just fine and with the cost of fuel these days, it's actually more than just fine. Acceleration is still much faster than a stock ECM in 4th at 25mph, ample for town driving, but it won't shove you into the back seat cushion for another 600 to 800rpm.
At 1550-1700rpm, depending on which gear Ol Blue is in, the PDR40-16 is ready with 10psi boost and climbs very fast. Torque is immediate. Throttle response is faster than with the stock HX35-12 and DD2s.
The 35mph roads are effortless. I can slow down, go through the corner to half way, and smoothly accelerate out the other half of the corner exiting at 55mph. If/when I wish to play, a downshift from overdrive will let me exit the corner at over 70mph as long as the road is dry so the rear of the pickup stays BEHIND the front..... the ends actually swapped places once by accident, then again a few minutes later, on purpose (after cleaning out my shorts) ! All was very easy to control and play with..... in a FULL SIZED PICKUP!!!! This is something the Comp wouldn't do on 5x5. The smooth torque of the CaTCHer is very impressive.
EGTs:
the CaTCHer cool down time is reduced by (usually) 45 seconds over the Comp on 3x5.
Accelerating EGTs temps rise faster with the CaTCHer, but don't go any higher, and maybe not quite as high. Accelerating temp max seems to be about 50 degrees lower, but the speedometer is typically 8 or 9 mph higher after passing a car. 1250deg EGT is the maximum I've seen the pyrometer since installing the CaTCHer. Stock ECM max EGT was roughly 1100, Comp 3x5 would be slightly over 1300deg.
Throttle sensitivity:
The throttle is more responsive, but not sensitive. The roughly 2 miles of 8mph construction, pot holed, wash board road is as easy to drive with the CaTCHer as it was with the stock ECM. I don't go much over 10 or 11mph, on this part of the road, but a jumpy, overly sensitive throttle, and bucking engine just doesn't happen. I took the seat belt off this morning, to see if being free to bounce up and down on the seat would make a sensitive throttle more noticeable. I ended up just slowing down more to stay in the seat than to control the throttle.
High(er) rpm horsepower and torque.
The Comp on 3x5 is easier to drive to be stronger from 2000rpm to roughly 2600rpm according to my SOP meter. Though I feel as though I'm STILL "learning" to drive the CaTCHer to it's fullest capability, this rpm range seems to be where the CaTCHer changes from efficiently using 0 to 1/2 throttle to using 1/2 to full throttle. You don't just hammer the throttle with the CaTCHer, but actually get to drive again, where gear selection, throttle, rpm all come into play for the absolute best results. Come on dry roads of next spring! I wanna learn the upper rpm band and how to get the CaTCHer's best up there. So far, from 2600rpm on up, the CaTCHer is signifcantly smoother, and provides for great acceleration. The stock ECM and Comp on 5x5 is faster from 80mph to 113mph (defuel) than the CaTCHer alone.
Fuel Mileage:
I can't believe it hasn't dropped! With the RFF refusing to wear off, I'm still getting the same fuel mileage (hand calculated at each fill up). Perhaps it's the ability to drive around town at a lower rpm that's offsetting the RFF???? I don't know for sure, but if/when I can keep from over accelerating for the fun of it when passing cars, I think mileage will increase. The CaTCHer is just way too much fun.
Overall:
I will not go back to a stock ECM.
I would seriously suggest to anyone wanting more out of their Cummins and who typically go the "box without wire tap" route to consider the CaTCHer instead. The throttle response and driveability is much, much better.
I would also VERY seriously suggest to anyone considering adding a timing box to a non-timing/fueling box to go with the CaTCHer. The CaTCHer + Comp was good. I feel as though the top end had too much timing and resulted in lower (SOP) performance than stock ECM + Comp. The CaTCHer + TST Comp, is faster and stronger all the way around. There is real proof to this not just the SOP meter. After slipping the Con OFE with the TST set on level 4, I turned the TST off. It won't be turned back on until a DD gets installed. The OFE is a GREAT clutch, it just won't hold what the CaTCHer + Comp puts out, but would hold what the stock ECM + Comp and CaTCHer + Comp delivered.
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Ol Blue~Rob Milosh - Moscow, ID
2001 LB QC ETH/DEE - 507HP@DT 04. Rip Roar'n Exhaust, Don's Mach 3s, PDRHX40-16WG, SB-Con OFE, Desperado custom built CB antenna mounts, Marco's CaTCHer, 315-75R16 Mud Slingers, Leveled, Rancho RX9000 with controller, custom tunes, tool box, tonneau cover, some grinding, sanding, polishing, painting, just a touch of NWCustom Stainless and ready for twins.
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