EZ & Pacbrake: how hard on an ETC

[BLee]

I have a 2001 2500 with an automatic transmission. I had the transmission upgraded a week or two ago to handle a little more power and an e-brake. I have a friend (my daughter's father-in-law) who has a 2001 3500 ETH-DEE. He has a jake brake and EZ that he installed on his truck. Yesterday at a grandkid's birthday party, the friend and I snuck off and compared trucks. He finished convincing me that I need to go ahead and get an EZ and e-brake in my truck before pulling my camper this summer. The first question is how much difference is there in putting an EZ on his truck and mine. His turbo is different from mine, so we are concerned about how to install the elbow. . And I want a Pacbrake on mine. He installed his Jacobs, but we wonder also how hard it is to install a Pacbrake on an ETC. If this is a little job, we'll do it this week. If it's a project, it'll have to wait till summer's end. He's heading North to cooler climes in a couple of weeks. So how hard is it? Thanks for any input.

 

[CTRam]

As far as the EZ, you will see a little more kick having the ETC. His ETH has slightly smaller injectors. You also have an HY35 turbo which means you will have to do either the 22 shell or turnbuckle the elbow won't fit the hard line. do a seach there are very good instructions for either method in past posts. the Pac brake is about a 1 1/2 hour install, it comes with very good instructions, Good luck with your Bombing you will enjoy them both.

 

[BLee]

OK, I read the instructions that I could find with search. It sounds like people are using the turnbuckle or 22 shell methods to keep boost high and EGT's down. My friend with the ETH-DEE says he never sees high EGT's, but he has the elbow. The instructions on Edge Products' website says "The Power Edge EZ Module will operate equally well with or without" the elbow. My question is then why do any method if the only power enhancement that I'm installing is the EZ Module? Without big injectors or other power mods will my EGT's be too high? I'm trying to get a very moderate power increase without having to use guages. If I have to run around watching a guage, I'd just as soon forgo the added power.

 

[azcummins]

Realistically if you tow and have a box, you NEED gauges with a box. If you just piddle around town and have a box, you could be ok with gauges. I wouldn't run gauges w/ a box when you are towing. Besides, you don't have to "watch" a gauge, just know to check it when towing up a big hill. Gauges are fun to watch, esp. the boost one!

 

[Ted Constantine]

The brake install is not hard.



With the EZ I will second the gauges. You will want them. Do the turn buckle waste gate disabler. Edge can hook you up with pictures of how to do it. On a HY-35 it is very easy. This will allow your truck to produce more boost. More Boost=more fuel=more power.

 

[azcummins]

Oopps... gotta clairify some things...



If you just piddle around town, you don't really need gauges, but they are cheap insurance.



I wouldn't run w/out gauges if you have a box and are towing.



Sorry about that... must be the beer talking.

 

[fj40charles]

A lot of people say you don't "need" gauges if you only have an EZ. I think it is cheap insurance having one. Also, I believe there is a very good chance that the upgrade will not end with an EZ. I started with DD1's and a boost module. Went to an EZ. Then installed DD2's. Now, I'm going to install a Drag PE Comp box. Hope the clutch holds up for a while... .



However, one BIG benefit I can see from having an EGT gauge is the ability to monitor EGT so you know when to shut off the engine. I always watch my EGT and allow my engine to get at least 300 degrees before I shutdown.



My humble 2 pesos...



Charles

 

[Ramboy]

The Pacbrake install is pretty simple but, remember, because you have an automatic, you will have to have a smart controller to keep the TC locked up. Otherwise, your brake is useless.

 

[Wolfgang]

I second the Smart Contoller. Wouldn't be with out the Pac Brake

 

[Mingoglia]

Everybody talks about definately getting gauges if you have a EZ... In my opinion, this may definately be true with the ETH since it runs hotter, but I wouldn't have any problems sleeping at night if I pulled with my ETC w/out my gauge (I have an EZ with the boost elbow). If I lost my gauge tomorrow and was leaving for a trip a couple of days later pulling my 12k trailer up from Phoenix to northern or eastern AZ up the 6 1/2 - 7% grades I would fix it when I got back or when I 'got around to it' (I would just wait several minutes before shutdown after a long pull). My truck runs atleast 200 degrees cooler around town and a *minimum* of 300 degrees cooler under extreme towing situations. I ran from Phoenix to Page, AZ last week when it was around 110 degrees in the middle of the day with my foot to the floor in overdrive (5 speed) going up the hills at 70... getting stuck behind a truck going 35... down shift a gear, put it to the floor... . pass the truck (still going up the same 5-7 mile 6 1/2 grade) up shift to overdrive again and continue with my foot to the floor. When I'm towing, my foot is always to the floor when going up hills. I was trying my absolute hardest and couldn't get my EGT past 1150 pre (about 850 post). I mean my absolute hardest!! Anything below this, my EGT would drop about 100-150 degrees. This is pulling a 12k. Stock, my truck (the gauges have been in for awhile) would sneak into the 1350 range briefly before I backed off on the throttle. Unfortunately the only times I pulled stock was in the winter so I could just imagine what would of happened in the summer! Also, when I saw 1350 I was going from Phoenix to Imperial, CA so I didn't have all the loooong grades that I do going up north or east. My truck drives sooooo cool now and I figure if anyone should have the gauges with a ETC engine it should be the stock ones!!!!!!!!!! If my truck drives cooler now than stock, I can't see why I could recommend that someone "definately" get gauges with the EZ and at the same time tell people that gauges were "optional" on a stock ETC.



Oo.



Mike

'01 3500 ETC

 

[DHatfield]

I would have to agree with Mingoglia, I would be very hard pressed to get my truck to get over 1250-1300 degrees pre-turbo with just the EZ and boost elbow. The only time it maybe a problem is towing over the Rockies with high altitude or very steep grades then it may get hot. The gauge would be a nice piece of mind though.

 

[CAT 385]

I have a buddy that has a 2001 ETH w/ an EZ. He pulls a backhoe all over the place w/o gauges. He has never had an trouble, I tell him he should put gauges in so I can see how hot he has been running. Then I will know how hot I can safely run.

 

[CAT 385]

I have a buddy that has a 2001 ETH w/ an EZ. He pulls a backhoe all over the place w/o gauges. He has never had an trouble, I tell him he should put gauges in so I can see how hot he has been running. Then I will know how hot I can safely run.

 

[BLee]

Well, we installed the PacBrake last weekend. Took several hours, but we were going slowly and carefully, and it's a pretty installation that works well. ATS smart controller does a good job. It's a kick to vary the lockup speed with different gears for the e-brake. I'm passing on the EZ for now. It's just too much hassle to mess with guages, and I hate to put my engine warranty at risk. Anyway the power seems pretty good with the ATS T/C & VB. This truck sure exhibits more authority pulling away from a red light now. Why couldn't Dodge have delivered it like that to start with? They'd have cornered the towing market if they had gone to the trouble to do it right the first time.