Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) catcher or not to catcher?

[C4gan]

So after many hours of reading... ... ... . I am definetly ready to make the move. One question that i have is, Is there anyone that has purchased one of these ECM's that has a relatively stock truck... . ? Something with stock injectors, exhaust, turbo, etc..... I would like to hear someones opinion with a truck relatively stock... . Just to firm up my decision!

And Hats off to Marco..... The barrier has been broken..... I am really looking forward to the future and his craftsmanship!!!!!!!!

Chris

 

[BLACKRAM]

If that is your question, the answer is YES! The caTCHER ECM will completely change the driveability of your truck. While the unit will not add additional horsepower (or very little) it makes the horsepower you have much more useable. Boost and power come on very fast. Responsiveness is very similar to a gas motor. Other than the DTT trans, I would have to say this is by far the best BOMB I have ever done. Buy it and you'll never look back.

 

[C4gan]

Excellent! that is the boost that i needed..... You know anyone looking for an Edge EZ... looking for the spare ecm as i type! thanks!

 

[MDale]

Does Marco have a website with more info and price?

 

[Jetpilot]

I know that there are a lot of guys that love the caTCHER but so far dyno results have shown less HP over the rpm range that they have been tested. Also the times at the track are also showing that the truck is not as fast..... Seems like the "seat-o-the pants" meter sure feels like there is more or better HP but so far the only quatifiable tests are showing otherwise.



Doug

 

[jrobinson2]

I know that there are a lot of guys that love the caTCHER but so far dyno results have shown less HP over the rpm range that they have been tested. Also the times at the track are also showing that the truck is not as fast..... Seems like the "seat-o-the pants" meter sure feels like there is more or better HP but so far the only quatifiable tests are showing otherwise.



Doug

I thought that was only compared to a comp on the higher settings, Ive never seen anything showing lower dyno or times compared to an EZ type box? do you have some links

Jared

 

[Black-Smoker]

Check this out. http://www.dieseltruckresource.com/dev/showthread.php?s=&threadid=54061

 

[Jetpilot]

Here is one of the best ones... . Take the time to read all of the thread paying particular to Opie's post's:





http://www.nwbombers.com/cgi-bin/forum/ikonboard. cgi?;act=ST;f=3;t=9523;st=0

 

[MACHINEST]

C4gan,I have 2ea 2001. 5,one has 275 injectors,the other DD2,Both Catherized,You will like once you put one on. . And that you can take to the Bank as you do your payroll Check...

 

[C4gan]

Wow... . seems that this ECM is gathering a strong following... . And its getting one more follower! Me! I'll post my thoughts when i install one..... thanks everyone!

 

[darkhorse]

The CaTCHER will add about 50 hp to a stock truck. That's about the same as an Edge EZ. Where is out shines the EZ is on throttle responce. The only problems with reduced top end power have come from highly fueled trucks with twins. Marco worked up a special program for that case which, if I remember right, Opie is now testing.

 

[Marco]

E-Mail from Opie... ...

Yes, things worked as advertised there were no issues between the ECM and the Comp box. I wasn't running the same injectors as last month but for what I was running the truck made good h. p. and had a flat torq/pwr curve. I didn't post a dyno sheet as it wouldnt be comparing apples to apples and life has kept me very busy lately.

OK?



Marco

 

[TORQUE THIS]

I know that there are a lot of guys that love the caTCHER but so far dyno results have shown less HP over the rpm range that they have been tested. Also the times at the track are also showing that the truck is not as fast..... Seems like the "seat-o-the pants" meter sure feels like there is more or better HP but so far the only quatifiable tests are showing otherwise.



Doug

I have many runs down the highway with ToolMan before I had the ECM, I could easily walk away from him. Now with the ECM from Marco, I can pull away from him but he catch up and walk away from me now. Do I care, NOPE! I love this ECM.

 

[RCone]

Also the times at the track are also showing that the truck is not as fast..... Doug

This is not directed particularly to Doug, just to the remark in general.



Well, in my case I must disagree! I ran my best times ever on the track with the CaTCHER. But of course I'm not set up like some of you big strappers. I only have one turbo and puny injectors (but they are DonM's Oo. ). I could only run 104+ with my setup. Not to bad tho for a 7300# truck do you think.



Regards,



Roger

 

[Chrisw]

Lets say Marco would have told me I was going to lose 15 HP on the top end of my max HP with his EMC code, With the way my truck is now I would never go back to a stock ECM ..... Some how Marco found the lazy horses and keep the good one on tap. I realy didn't need them guys after all they were just in the way of the other guys. :--)



beside that my fuel MPG is up, and how often do you run at max HP out put any way were 15 hp is going to make that big of a difference?



I didn't dyno before the change but I don't really care even if I did lose some power I still wouldn't go back. I have made so many changes to my truck since then, and it is making more power to date then it has ever made.

 

[Jetpilot]

I am happy guys like the caTCHER. But the problem is that I am not just talking max HP..... The caTCHER appears to do what an EZ does as far as HP gains down low, difference is that it does it at the expense of top end HP where an EZ doesn't.



So is it a good upgrade? By all means if one is happy with it then it is. Is it the best? Well that depends on what someone wants.



RClone,



On the times at the track were you able to do back to back runs one with the caTCHER and one with a stock ecm? Only reason I ask is when this has been tried times have been slower. trucks are faster/slower under a different conditions (ie. track, humidity, temp).



I am not trying to knock the caTCHER but to just point out some of the quantifiable data gathered... . I have done the same for other products, each product has its place and as long as the owner is happy that's what counts!



Doug

 

[RCone]

On the times at the track were you able to do back to back runs one with the caTCHER and one with a stock ecm? Only reason I ask is when this has been tried times have been slower. trucks are faster/slower under a different conditions (ie. track, humidity, temp). Doug

Doug, I respect your knowledge of these trucks. You were setting high marks, and I have the utmost respect for you and your accomplishments, long before a lot of us were even on this board.



But more to the point, yes different tracks, different conditions, pro tree verses sportsman tree, etc. etc. But the tracks (all three that I have raced at) were all located in the great Northwest and humidity, temperatures and elevations were pretty much the same.



I did not do back to back runs with and without but I can tell you that previous to the CaTCHER I was running in the high ninetys, 98 99 etc. And with the CaTCHER I gained in both trap speed and mph. Having said that, all trucks are not created equal as we know and a lot has to do with the VP44 itself. At Dave Smith motors in Kellogg, ID, new trucks, same model, same dyno (theirs) same time of day have turned as much as 40rwhp difference. Go figure.



On a side note, and please indulge me, I have used the AutoMath calculator and have discovered something interesting. Drive train loss defaults on the calculator at 20%. I tried changing the number from 5% to 20% and HP is always the same. Now I got to figure that with my DTT transmission my drivetrain loss should be lower than 20% but by how much, I don't know. Anyhow, doesn't make a difference on the calculations. Based on the formulae and using trap speed (which even they claim is way more accurate) rather than ET, my truck comes out to 567rwph. I think that is a bit high but I will say that I did turn 482. 2rwhp (with a smaller turbo) at Piers so the formulae must be fairly accurate.



Roger

 

[BLACKRAM]

I believe the original question was for "relatively stock" trucks. For that application, the caTCHER will be a major improvement. I don't know about the mega-torque class, but with my moderate mods the caTCHER was a great mod. I wish the ECM had come out years ago! Oo. Oo. Oo.

 

[C4gan]

Yea, the original question was for a relatively stock truck. . It is good to hear everyones opinion though. Maybe someday i will be on the other end of the spectrum and worrying about running out of fuel cause i have twins or something. Well especially if i stay subscribed to TDR.

 

[LOtero]

relatively stock too

i am with c4 here, i have an edge ez and all the normal upgrades (exhaust, intake, heavy foot) i have been following this catcher ecm deal, it sounds really interesting, but i would like to see a site telling prices and what to expect. how will this work with my EZ, and how much, any suggestions?