Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Do I need BHAF on stock truck with EZ ?

[damon]

My truck is stock so far except for the EZ, and I'm looking to do the turnbuckle this weekend. I did not notice much of any difference in EGT before and after the EZ was installed, and in either case I can easily hit 1200 empty on a 5% or better grade. Will a BHAF help me at all, or would it be wasted $$ ?

 

[BFC]

Can't hurt that for sure. It will help when you tow. More air is always welcome.



I ran a BHAF for about a year and liked it. I just went to the AFE Magnum Force and love it even more, the turbo is a lot louder than with the BHAF so some people won't care for it but it flows more air.



Glenn

 

[Six_Man_Diesel]

If you can hit 1200 degrees with just an EZ, you need more air for sure, whats your wastegate set at?? My brother has a pulse box with a K&N in the stock air box, and he can't get past 1100 degrees pre-turbo. He does however pull a little over 30 psi of boost.

 

[RJOL]

My truck is also stock, and except for the auto, it is pretty much the same as yours. I installed the EZ and tow at max CGVW with a 5th wheel. I never see temps over 1150-1175 under full load and up to a 7% grade. I never see temps over 800-900 empty. Adding a BHAF would probably help, but after you do the turnbuckle your temps should go down, even without the BHAF...

 

[damon]

The prospect of towing is exactly what is worrying me now. My 5er is < 5k lbs, but if I can hit 1200 empty I'm sure that I would have to back out of it on grades when towing. I'll post the difference that I see after the turnbuckle mod, and then I'll have a good benchmark to see how much the BHAF helps.



Thanks for the responses... .

 

[kevincook]

Originally posted by damon

The prospect of towing is exactly what is worrying me now. My 5er is < 5k lbs, but if I can hit 1200 empty I'm sure that I would have to back out of it on grades when towing. I'll post the difference that I see after the turnbuckle mod, and then I'll have a good benchmark to see how much the BHAF helps.



Thanks for the responses... .

I am going to ask my dumb question for the day, what is the turnbuckle mod?



KC

 

[kaptn]

Turnbuckle the wastegate closed,to increase boost pressure. Without a boost fooler it will set a code that the dealer will catch if there is any warranty issues. I have a picture from Big White Beast he submitted. Do a search on above name and it shows a parts list and installation. I will turnbuckle mine when I get my Edge Comp box. Good Luck

 

[RJOL]

Originally posted by kevincook

I am going to ask my dumb question for the day, what is the turnbuckle mod?KC

KC... Basically it is a device to keep the wastegate from opening. If you can limit the wastegate, you get more boost to the engine. This will help reduce the EGT's. The turnbuckle is primarily use in auto trannys as us manual guys can use a modified boost elbow to achieve basically the same thing. Hope this helps...



Damon... If you want to see what the difference is, you can just temporarily clamp off the hose to the wastegate.

 

[LSMITH]

The turnbuckle will knock your EGT down a TON, you will be good to go.



1200 pre-turbo is not even close to danger. You can sustain 1300 for DAYS on end.



IF you have high EGT, as in you cannot maintain speed without going over 1300* pre, THEN fix it. There is no reason to go to a BHAF or anything else with just an EZ unless you want the cool factor of having something else. Fixing EGT trouble that you don't have is a waste of money IMO. The STOCK intake system (complete with stock foam over paper filter, boot between the airbox and the fender, no holes in the airbox etc) is capable of supplying air for over 300 RWHP! No EGT trouble either! Same for the stock exhuast!



I hate to see guys spending money on mods that they don't need. Buy some power with that money!!!

 

[Ncostello]

I just put a Mallory Shield on and a Fleetguard BHAF. I can get the Fleetguard version for $22 through work. We order tons of Fleetguard stuff from an Indiana distributor warehouse.



I had to grind a little more off the shield around the AC lines cause they touched and I put some more plastic shields around the hoses.



I just installed the turbo hose directly to the BHAF and used a Dixon constant torque clamp like those on the intercooler connections. I really dont see how this thing could come off. And the neck on the filter seemed super strong enough to hold the clamp with a little torque applied. That clamp kinda looks neat too like all the others around the turbo.



No filter minder yet but I really dont think I'll need one. I'll change it often enough at that price to not worry about it.



Funny thing was the parts guy at work said the shipment of filters arrived. He asked which one was mine. I told him to look for one with "BHAF" on the box. He said we didn't get one. I was mad. Then I realized BHAF is not exactly how Fleetguard labels this filter... duh. I guess Ive been reading the TDR too much.

 

[WadePatton]

Originally posted by LSMITH



I hate to see guys spending money on mods that they don't need. Buy some power with that money!!!

I do too, but Some Folks recommend putting on expensive aftermarket exhauste systems and air filters BEFORE bombing.



I recommend gauges before BOMBing and I recommend the BHAF and muffler removal to anybody who'll listen. Not because they NEED it, but because it's so dang cheap. And that along with SR removal makes the beast more beastly. (If you're into that sort of thing).



How many fueling boxes or injectors are you going to buy with 80-90 USD? That's what I spent on BHAF and -muff.



Or we could follow the advice of Some Folks and buy a $400 exhaust and $200 filter before BOMBING--that I find downright silly.

 

[TURBOs4LIFE]

Turnbuckle pic

This is the turnbuckle mod!

 

[Roger rodbolt]

Originally posted by damon

My truck is stock so far except for the EZ, and I'm looking to do the turnbuckle this weekend. I did not notice much of any difference in EGT before and after the EZ was installed, and in either case I can easily hit 1200 empty on a 5% or better grade. Will a BHAF help me at all, or would it be wasted $$ ?

Damon,

Your truck has a smaller turbo (HY 35 9cm?)and housing then most of our trucks and you are not the first to quickly run in to egt problems, even stock. Restricting the wastegate is a first step. I prefer to change to a stock HX 35 turbo with a 12cm housing that some of us have removed for larger turbos. It would be interesting, though, if you could borrow a BHAF from a TDR member in your area and use your test hill to find out for yourself if it makes a difference. I would guess that the larger filter is not needed until you get more are OUT of your motor with the turbo. The factory airbox is restrictive with the "boot" installed. Larry

 

[damon]

Thanks for all the responses on this.



I did notice about a 10% drop in EGT's after the turnbuckle install, and now I can't seem to get over 1100 when wide open up a 7% grade. This same grade pushed well over 1200 and forced me to back off at about 80 mph before the turnbuckle.



One interesting thing - I installed the turnbuckle with spring that has been shown here by a few folks, and my wastegate blew through the spring with no increase in pressure at all. Now with the solid turnbuckle I get up to 30 psi boost and EGT's are better.



Since I will have some time for a baseline with better boost, I will be able to tell if there is a difference when I go to the BHAF. But since I have a barely modified engine, I'll just wait untill the OEM filter needs replacing.



Kind of like the stock tires, I don't like them, but I am going to get my $$ out of them before upgrading to something potentially better.