First tow with the new upgrades...

[Gary - K7GLD]

I've had the Edge Comp since my truck was nearly brand new - it always has performed excellently in towing our 24 ft. Kit 5th wheel, especially in steep Sierra grades.



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I could easily pull the steepest grades in overdrive at 60+ MPH, if traffic and/or road conditions allowed. EGT's were around 1200 at the highest, boost was 32 PSI max.



Then, a couple of months ago, I added a BHAF, Don M's 1. 6 F1 injectors, and Rip's full 4 inch exhaust with straight-thru mufler and an added short straight-thru muffler as "drone protection". It all works PERFECTLY!



I'm a strong believer in BALANCED power - lotsa power with EGT that makes it unusable, is pointless - as is any other compromising issue. I already had upgraded my clutch with a LUK Cerametallic - the OEM was slipping with only the Comp.



This past weekend, we took our 5er up to a nearby lake for a few days - went from 3000 ft. elevation to over 5000, 8% grades in a couple of spots. Our GCW is about 15,000 lbs.



I had the Comp set down on 1x1, primarily for the DEfueling and smoke reduction that setting provides, and also ran it completely off as well.



This thing is an absolutely effortless DREAM for towing in the hills! No need for any use of the Comp in "normal" situations, but nice to have there for those "Ford/GM humilating" occasions... :-laf :-laf



EGT is running at 600 degrees or so in the flats towing - about where it USED to run *empty* - and the MOST I was able to crowd it to in the hardest pull was 900 degrees - boost instantly will jump up to 36+ PSI (my guage only goes to 40 PSI) - NO drone, and all is well with the world.



This was undoubtedly the BEST combination of USABLE power enhancements I have accomplished so far on the truck, and (honest!) will likely be the LAST - simply NO NEED for more power than I now have!



Based upon what other similar setups dyno at, I should have 400+ HP, and perhaps over 900 ft. lbs. torque - I already had 311 HP and 835 ft. lbs. prior to these last mods.



Especially to Rip Rook and Robert at Rip's place - and to Don M:



GREAT JOB GUYS!

 

[R-N-R]

Awesome, Its great when the setup all comes together to a comfortable package!

 

[BILLUA]

Gary, congrats! I know how fun that is and I also completely share your philosophy of only adding usable power. I will have to tell you that my former truck, a 2nd gen, had an abundance of that. I did things similar as you, but with mostly Diesel Dynamics products. That truck was had an unbelievable amount of usable power. it was a true towing beast.



Do you want to know what the final thing was that brought all of that other stuff together? It was a Diesel Dynamics camshaft. The spool up, EGT and power improvements were impressive to say the least. If you love your truck now, just wait until you do a cam, it raises the wow factor exponentially again

I know that Piers also makes a cam that folks have had very good response to.



Anyway, enjoy the mods!



Cheers, Bill

 

[Boondocker]

I'm a strong believer in BALANCED power - lotsa power with EGT that makes it unusable, is pointless - as is any other compromising issue.

I hear that. On a recent power upgrade discussion, I took the position that "I'd rather be able to use 100% of 90 HP than 50% of 150 HP". The compromise is not being able or willing to use all the power you can make because of EGT, emissions, MPG, too small a turbo, etc.



With a new clutch (SBC Con OFE) and Mach 1. 6s going in this month, I hope to be looking at the final piece of my performance puzzle soon. I'm mostly debating between Catcher and Comp, and throwing in a little Snow's Water/Methanol injection just to keep myself off balance :-laf



Neil

 

[Froadin]

Yeah, useful power is the key to my plan.

Now to address my turbo quandry, and I should have it all come together

I have a similiar setup, but with the turbo mounted exhaust brake, I get higher EGTs.

Tough call, bigger turbo or remote exhaust brake (and more likely a larger turbo).



My previous setup was 100% usable, but not quite enough for my demands. I now have the power I want/need, I just need to finalize the setup to balance the entire system out.



It sure is nice to know you have a nicely dailed in setup that you don't really have to worry, or even think about.

 

[viper700]

Gary. I am interested in how you installed the muffler and resonator? The muffler is 30"and the resonater is 18", where did you place them? Did you do this yourself or a shop? Were you able to use the original hanger places? With my 04. 5 I am also thinking of the CAT test pipe to emilinate the resonator or Bone it out inside. I don't want the DRONE noise or as little as possible and yours sounds as it is pretty quiet. The only thing I have done do far is install the AFE air filter and have ordered the chip for towing DXZT2 from Quadzilla. my main concern is power for towing and staying quiet.

 

[jrobinson2]

Gary,

Are you running the stock turbo and are you running an exhaust brake?



Jared

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Gary,

Are you running the stock turbo and are you running an exhaust brake?



Jared

Stock turbo, no exhaust brake.

 

[Buffalo]

VIPER700,



You are correct to question the sound levels of some of these "free flowing" exhaust systems.



I have an '03, HO (305/555), 6-sp & built an exhaust system incorporating an 18" Magnaflow, straight-thru muffler. I wanted the extra, loud sound. I believe the Magnaflow Exhaust Systems come with a 24" muffler.



It's loud enough, for me, now. But, there is a drone, expecially when towing uphill at about 2100 rpm's. The drone is VERY loud in that range. Most people would not like it, at all. I don't care for it but, it doesn't bother me enough to do something about it.



I did read about a guy in Colorado that installed an additional 11" Magnaflow muffler in his system & that it took care of the drone problem, for him.



Your Cat, I've heard, will cut down on some of the sound. It breaks up the sound waves. So, a system MAY work OK for you.



Hope this helps.



Joe F. (Buffalo)

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

"I did read about a guy in Colorado that installed an additional 11" Magnaflow muffler in his system & that it took care of the drone problem, for him. "



That is essentially what Rip Rook did on my setup - one of his 24 inch straight-thru mufflers, with an additional Magnaflow 14 incher about 2 feet ahead of it - still very low restriction, and NO drone at all...