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

[Gary - K7GLD]

I am especially interested is seeing what sort of gains and low RPM response is available when something like a Comp is added - as well as what a Comp would add in towing situations.



The expected low-end gains of the MAD coupled with the adjustability and even greater power availability provided by a Comp or EZ should really be something to experience...

 

[Marco]

MARCO, please accept my apology

Roger, no need to apologize(SP????)!



You know we all have a wrong day sometimes and say things we don't think in reality. I'm sure that we CAN get along with all our buddies here on TDR. It just takes a little patience sometimes...



Just take HH for an example.

It's an old buddy trying to give me a hard time...

What's wrong with it? Nuthin... . LOL



AND no this thread is NOT about ME, it's about all the hard work the WHOLE M. A. D. staff has done over the years. That includes also our poor guinea pigs... So I'd say this thread belongs to everybody intrested in it and willing to read the oh sooo many pages we've been able to type.

What this thread needs now is new information. There's a bunch of ECM's in the pipeline to Marco currently, Mine amongst them. When those get back & into some trucks, I'm sure we will have some new information worth reading.

Can I say it? Should I say it???

Oh well... the pipline has delivered the ECM's to me today. I HOPE to be able to send them all back tomorrow.



I agree with you, till now "I" have told you what the CaTCHER does. It's time now to hear your impressions!

We'll see... .



Marco

 

[darkhorse]

MAD CaTCHER

Can I say it? Should I say it???

Oh well... the pipline has delivered the ECM's to me today. I HOPE to be able to send them all back tomorrow.



Marco



Oo. WHOOPIE!! I can hardly wait!

 

[HoleshotHolset]

Chipstien said: "Uh Oh, Matt is getting excited. "



Nah, but it was good to see the thread take on a lighter (gaseous?) atmosphere... :-laf



Marco: I'm not out to give you any problems - I never was. I stated my intentions for being involved with this thread many times. I raised what I thought were some important questions and got people thinking about the ECM - in fact I got quite a few PM's and emails from people thanking me for putting it all 'out on the table'.



Matt

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

I raised what I thought were some important questions and got people thinking about the ECM - in fact I got quite a few PM's and emails from people thanking me for putting it all 'out on the table'.



ABSOLUTELY!



How else would we have learned of the possible complications to those who really consider proper cruise control function an important consideration - or those who may consider TOO much throttle sensitivity to be an issue on icy/slick surfaces.



FAR better to uncover that stuff BEFORE you have one on yer truck than after...

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Rumor has it - and both Marco and Bob are keeping quiet about it - but installation and use of the CaTCHER are EXTREMELY hard on muffler bearings...

 

[Bob Wagner]

Originally posted by Gary - KJ6Q

Rumor has it - and both Marco and Bob are keeping quiet about it - but installation and use of the CaTCHER are EXTREMELY hard on muffler bearings...

I'm not being quiet, just busy.



I just sold my comp box yesterday since I never planned to tap the pump wire and with the CaTCHER I am very pleased with the performance with Mach 2. 4's (110 HP) injectors



more power than I need for towing and plenty for shooting around town.



I still keep forgeting to run the cruise control so I can report back on that.



I will be back with more

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

I was wanting to ask what you felt about use of the Comp combined with the caTCHER - and didn't know you hadn't tapped the wire - but otherwise, assuming you DID at least try it in EZ comparable operation, how much added effect did it provide?

 

[RCone]

Bob, and I respect him for his values, told me that he never turned the EZ portion of his comp on with the CaTCHER as he didn't believe that he needed it. Now me, I plan to. Let the chips fall where they may.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Bob, and I respect him for his values, told me that he never turned the EZ portion of his comp on with the CaTCHER as he didn't believe that he needed it. Now me, I plan to. Let the chips fall where they may.



Let us know what you find out - those of us who already have EZ/Comp boxes will be interested to learn about compatibility and any added gains they will provide - me, expecially in towing situations, tho' the CC bit might be a bit of a problem.

 

[Bob Wagner]

Roger and I have spoken a few times on this subject. I ran the comp for and it added more power and would be nice to keep.



TDR Member RBallard was looking for a used comp so I pasted it along since I was never going to use the pump tap.



I will be receive RBallards EZ that I may hook and just for testing.



But no need for me and I have yet to ask about adding more timing to marco's program.



I would only consider running one timing advance product to my truck since I do tow.



We (some of us) have seen the #6 cylinder after melt down, a... no thanks



This is just my opinion on timing since I have not a clue what marco does to the program.



I can say the boost fooler is not needed with the ecm, works great and no codes.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

As to what Marco does to the timing - I would suspect rapid timing advance would be the MAIN reason for instant throttle response, since added fueling alone would do little to reduce turbo lag from what it is... So, you may well be right to avoid gadgets that would advance it still further - hopefully Marco will comment...

 

[Marco]

As to what Marco does to the timing - I would suspect rapid timing advance would be the MAIN reason for instant throttle response, since added fueling alone would do little to reduce turbo lag from what it is...

Hey guys I'm more than willing to tell you what I did... a little less HOW!



Ok, to answer your question first yes you can add/stack boxes to the ECM. No problem with the timing ( that's if the BOX has a reasonable timing advance) Don't ask me HOW I did this. Thanks!



Now let me ask YOU a question.



Are you sure you will need/want any kinda box stacked to the ECM?



For ME the answer is NO.



The CaTCHER is enough for me ( with injectors and HX40) on the road. I guess everything depends on what you want to do with your truck...



Bob also says the CaTCHER is enough for him... .



See, the question is simple, where does the CaTCHER deliver it's thing and where the boxes? Simply put, the CaTCHER has done it's thing in the Rpm band before a box starts to fuel. That translates into USEABLE power and torque.



Useable on the road! For the track or sled pulling there's no doubt! You will need also to pierce the VP's wire.



This morning I did a little test. Standing on the brakes as hard as I could... Being mine a '99 I have the drums on the rear...

Boost @ 3/4 Psi the rear tires brake loose. I have 33' BFG's on my truck.



Final point, you have to try the CaTCHER to fully understand.

I'm not saying that you'll like it, in fact could be that you not for whatever reason. But I'm ready to bet that most of you WILL like it.



Marco

 

[darkhorse]

Originally posted by Marco

Ok, to answer your question first yes you can add/stack boxes to the ECM. No problem with the timing ( that's if the BOX has a reasonable timing advance)



That's pretty clear. It only leaves the question as to what's "reasonable". I tried getting specifics on timing from Edge once but was told that it was a trade secret.



The EZ did a very good job for me but I always wondered if the timing was a little to much for the higher compression of the 245hp ETH motor. Also, with 1. 5 EDM's I found it tricky not to puff smoke while hustling down the road.



If the return flight from Italy goes as fast as the trip to Marco's shop went, it will only be about a week & I'll be able to say something about how the MAD CaTCHER works in my truck.

 

[Marco]

Good bye, Auf Wiedersehen, Au revoire, Bye Bye, Arrivederci...



Sniff...



The box is back to the UPS office. Should get to Doug by Friday.



It's been a loooong night... .



Marco

 

[darkhorse]

Thanks Marco!

I, for one, appreciate your efforts. You certainly kept the ball moving right along

 

[Murle]

I don't know what difference it makes, but I cannot get in touch with Doug... . He is on a working vacation this week.....

 

[Bob Wagner]

Doug, deserves a vacation, cut him some slack

 

[Murle]

I did not say that Doug did not deserves a vacation. I was just letting people know that he cannot be returning phone calls this week. I called monday and left a message and called tue. and got a recording about being on a working vacation.

 

[darkhorse]

So maybe those freshly re programed ECM's will be waiting there for him on Moday morning just waiting on the next UPS pickup.