chips

[drsnook]

Greetings folks, I am new...well not really, as I had a subscription way back in 02, but let it laps. I now have another 02 and am setting it up to tow. I have installed gauges and a K & N panel filter, with a Banks power elbow and 4" exhaust coming up this week end. I am in analysis paralysis mode right now on chips/modules as to what to get. As I am a Cummins tech, and have seen my fair share of engine damage, I am hesitant. In the past when asked about what chip to purchase by a customer, my response is usually " I like Juanita's".



Any way, I do not want any box that pierces the pump wires and I am not looking to make smoke...dumb. I am looking for clean towing power. My GCW is 20k and I do tow on 6% grades. My truck is an 02 HO 4x4 with 3.54 gearing, no lift and stock size tires. I have searched on this subject, but most of the posts are old, and I know some improvements have likely been made to most of the products out there. Thanks in advance. D

 

[TConver]

Throw away the K&N filter they just dust your motor. Stock filter is better. Sorry no advice on the chip.

 

[Killer223]

quadzilla, or smarty,
i dont usually post other web pages but the guys at Mopar1973man.com really have the tuning for these 2nd gen trucks down. head over n check them out.

 

[NIsaacs]

The Edge EZ is a good option for the money and power gain. I used one for 12 years with RV injectors with no problems. I left it on level 3 at all times. It pulled 335/800 on the local chassis dyno. The '01 in my sig.

Nick

 

[Michaelsloft]

Throw away the K&N filter they just dust your motor. Stock filter is better. Sorry no advice on the chip.

X2 on the K&N....

 

[mpaulson]

Throw away the K&N filter they just dust your motor. Stock filter is better. Sorry no advice on the chip.

X3
Last truck I had an AFE filter(same type) and could get the “service air filter” notice to come on if I turned up the fuel and gave it a good tromp. Got sick of the dusting that could be seen in the intake and went back to the stock box with fleetguard filters and could not get the “service air filter” notice to come on. Stock flowed better and obviously filtered better as designed by the Cummins engineers.
As for chips, as mentioned, Edge EZ, I had one on an 01 as well and liked it and never had any problems. No smoke either if I remember right.

 

[petersonj]

My GCW is 20k and I do tow on 6% grades. My truck is an 02 HO 4x4 with 3.54 gearing, no lift and stock size tires.

Your truck sounds identical to mine. The HO means you have 6 spd manual, right? I bought a used Smarty S03 a couple of years ago. I tow various trailers (GCW from 13,000 lbs to 19,000 lbs) and the truck performs very well with a mild to moderate tune. The Smarty is easy to use as it just plugs into the OBD2 port to program a tune and then is removed.

You have several levels to chose from and within each level you have 6 choices of "torque management" (essentially smoke control), 4 choices for "injection timing", and 5 choices for "injection duration". A selected tune takes just over one minute to load.

Another benefit is that the programmer will read and reset codes and can recalibrate the ABS computer and speedometer for tires with different diameters from stock. The Smarty is not noted for making lots of horsepower, but for improving driving performance throughout the engine RPM range, especially at low RPM's. You will notice a very significant improvement in engine torque in the low and mid RPM range - nice for towing.

I have 283,000 miles on my truck and the Smarty has been used for the last 33,000 miles. The engine still has the original stock injectors and the original clutch.

- John

 

[Michaelsloft]

Your truck sounds identical to mine. The HO means you have 6 spd manual, right? I bought a used Smarty S03 a couple of years ago. I tow various trailers (GCW from 13,000 lbs to 19,000 lbs) and the truck performs very well with a mild to moderate tune. The Smarty is easy to use as it just plugs into the OBD2 port to program a tune and then is removed.

You have several levels to chose from and within each level you have 6 choices of "torque management" (essentially smoke control), 4 choices for "injection timing", and 5 choices for "injection duration". A selected tune takes just over one minute to load.

Another benefit is that the programmer will read and reset codes and can recalibrate the ABS computer and speedometer for tires with different diameters from stock. The Smarty is not noted for making lots of horsepower, but for improving driving performance throughout the engine RPM range, especially at low RPM's. You will notice a very significant improvement in engine torque in the low and mid RPM range - nice for towing.

I have 283,000 miles on my truck and the Smarty has been used for the last 33,000 miles. The engine still has the original stock injectors and the original clutch.

- John[/You have several levels to chose from and within each level you have 6 choices of "torque management" (essentially smoke control), 4 choices for "injection timing", and 5 choices for "injection duration". A selected tune takes just over one minute to load.




Another benefit is that the programmer will read and reset codes and can recalibrate the ABS computer and speedometer for tires with different diameters from stock. The Smarty is not noted for making lots of horsepower, but for improving driving performance throughout the engine RPM range, especially at low RPM's. You will notice a very significant improvement in engine torque in the low and mid RPM range - nice for towing.
QUOTE]

John, your explanation of the Smarty S03 is very helpful and I have been tempted to purchase a USED one online, but have found the resale to be very high! I'm trying to learn more about the Smarty and the "torque management" sounds very interesting. I purchased my truck new in April of '99 and have kept it stock other than the accessories listed in my signature. It has been so very reliable and fun to drive I have been hesitant to make any changes, but the Smarty may be a good add-on to get more out of my truck in the coming years and miles. Anything you can share from your experience would be great! Thanks.

 

[drsnook]

Thanks for all the reply's. I really don't need to make big power, I would just like to get this 24v up to a similar power level as my 97 12v 5 spd had. That truck had a TST # 11 with the afc kit, and 4" exhaust. Other than it being a club cab and my current truck a QC they were a lot alike. A couple of my co-workers didn't even notice I had got a new truck. The quad box and the Smarty are out of my budget, as I need to save back some $ to get on board air to make my exhaust brake work.
I got the 24v for the QC and the 6 sp.

On another note, I run the K & N only while in the valley, when I go to central OR, I swap out to a fleet guard. Most if not all of the dusted trucks I have found at work were caused by either sloppy maintenance or holes in intake piping.

 

[Killer223]

easy to find used smartys. just make sure they are unlocked.

 

[JR]

I ran a Smarty on my 2000 and my 98 over 10 years total. They do not make as much power on the big end as Edge does but their low - mid torque is exceptional in my opinion. Right where it's needed for towing. Long term I believe they are more reliable than any other programmer on the market for the 2nd gens, no module or wires or plugs to worry about which seems to be the main cause of failure long term on the "plug and play" types. A programmer and a good set of mild injectors really makes these trucks come alive.

 

[Michaelsloft]

On another note, I run the K & N only while in the valley, when I go to central OR, I swap out to a fleet guard. Most if not all of the dusted trucks I have found at work were caused by either sloppy maintenance or holes in intake piping.

Maintenance is the most important and checking specific items that may be affected where you drive is very smart. Enjoy your Gen 2 24v HO update how the exhaust brake and other upgrades work out when you can.

 

[petersonj]

Anything you can share from your experience would be great! Thanks.

Can I send you a private message?

-John

 

[drsnook]

petersonj...sure

 

[Michaelsloft]

Can I send you a private message?

-John

Please send a personal message anytime whenever you can! I was a TDR member years ago and not active for many many years and never posted.....enjoying all the information on TDR, learning many useful tips and still getting things set-up to use all the features available in the forums etc. Write when you can.

 

[phantomusa]

Like other members have said the Smarty S03 is the ez way to go I have a 02 2500 with stock everything except for a BHF the big fleetguard air filter
I pull a 30 ft equipment trailer rated at 21000 lbs 3 axles and a 44 ft enclosed car hauler 3 axles rated at 18000 lbs with no problems
I carry my smarty with me so if needed i can change setting at any time
Good luck in your search

 

[cerberusiam]

Not an optimal truck for towing that weight by any means, but, if it is part time it works. Short on gears even with stock size tires, it leaves a lot to desire on grades if you do a lot of that.

Smarty is the way to go for adjustability and UDC Pro gives the ability to custom program to dial it in, just cost $$. Without upgrading the injectors the Smarty is overkill, it helps a lot but no where near what the combo of large nozzles and Smarty does. The EZ is a cheaper easier install that bumps things nicely but it has its limits and if you like to be able to actually tune the engine it is comes up short. If the truck has 100k or more on the injectors they are due for a tune up anyway so consider what you can leverage there.

The HO VP-44 will be the weak point in power upgrades of any kind. It is already pretty well maxed as it is so additional fuel tends enhance its filature rate. LP upgrade is mandatory at any power increase so have to factor that in.

Once you add power the turbo becomes the next choke point, much beyond 300 HP it is running behind the curve and driving EGT's and drive pressure too high. That couple with the high gear ratio and heavy load are what you want to avoid or you get to rebuild.

As a Cummins mechanic you should well understand what pushing the engine out of parameters is going to result in, and, what it will take to uprate it to a decent level to do what you want. If a Smarty is out of budget drive it like it is and deal with it until you can afford to do it correctly or you will be fixing things. Cheap these trucks ain't and if you try that with upgrades and parts the results are well documented.