Competition Grid Heaters or Ether on low compression preformance engine?

[zstroken]

I was also gonna suggest an oil pressure switch to drop out the relay. How long do you have to crank to see the pressure? I guess you could get a switch that cuts out at say 20PSI to drop out the grids.

 

[RyanB]

tough to say... I still like to have them on for a while to keep the neighbors happy when I start it on... With air flowing past them I usually keep them on for a minute, turn them off for a few seconds and then back on... I do this untill the haze is almost gone! even now starting it up without cycling like this results in white cloud surounding the truck!

 

[Graphic man]

Ryan,

What about putting a large light something an auto meter warning light to the switch so you know when it is on. mount it to the dash or someplace easy to see.





Scott

 

[Kissfan113]

I have been following this post, and have a few questions.

1. how low can you go with compression before the grid heaters won't work anymore and ether is the only way out

2. what type of grid heater arrangement is required, (stacked, single, ect)

3. how many grid heaters are needed

4. will this work on a 24 valve



I have been looking at cams and decompressioning, I really want a scheid billet cam, but fear it will make my truck poor on the street. I am looking for power and ultimately a monster under the hood for pulling, but i still want to be able to keep it on the street.

 

[CumminsAholic]

How about a momentary switch on the floor? That way you could use a foot and not have to have 3 hands. Just a thought.

Corey

 

[therabbittree]

mummn i have a new set of marine pistons here... i was gonna get em notched for a big cam and coated . . i am worried now seeing this post that i will be too low compression wise to use in the snow . . as this is my snow plow truck normally. so i use it most often in really cold weather. . often below o degrees. . any ideas. . i have a big full length grid heater a friend gave me ... he said it was from a cat engine. . and its painted yellow. . any how it has the intake bolt holes in the same spot as a b series i paln to run it with a custom plenum top that goes to the intercooler pipe. . i should get some pics for ya . I hope that may help as it is a full intake plate length grid heater. . so its liek 4 regular dodge size ones. .

thanks,

Deo

 

[RyanB]

hmmmm, I would think you better think twice about the flycuts in that kind of weather. The temp dropped down to 40 this morning and even with the manual grids and letting them heat for 30 seconds and then a few seconds of cranking with the fuel off it was just enough heat to get it to fire. Its alot nicer than the old way with the ether.



On a truck that is going to be driven in those temps I would think the higher the compression the better and even with having a HUGE grid heater like your talking about I could see you draining those batters rather fast... especially with using a plow and the extra lights, those hydolic pumps take alot of power as it is!



If it were me I think I would pass on the flycuts.



RyanB

 

[Jim Fulmer]

The Marine pistons are overrated! I would use a stock type piston and mill or notch it if needed, that big of a cam is not really needed unless your trying to live on the edge. Take it from those that thought that same thing a few years ago. I would take my stock compression and a slightly bigger cam (ground to my specs not a vendors) over my setup. Much friendly and I still know there is a ton of power to be made, just depends on how you want to make it.



Jim

 

[therabbittree]

mummn aren't the marine pistons 15:1 stock?. . mummmmmmm

maybe

ill sell em they are new in the box

later deo

 

[Cummins360]

What exactally is the advantage to having low compression and a big cam???????

 

[lmills]

more room in the cylinders from the lower compression and improved airflow frm the cam.

 

[Jim Fulmer]

Remember 2 years ago when I took a stock motor and stock cam to 793 hp. Imagine were it would be today.



I've got money, big money that says the same motor would go to 900+ with N2O! If anyone has even driven a 800+ hp truck then you would know were I'm coming from... ... ... . it's scary.



If you want to jump in cam size then go to a 500 lift or so and drop the compression to say 16 to 1. Mine is at 15. 5 or so now and it's a little hard to start if it's now plugged in and is cold soaked. I've had to cycle my grids up to 4 times before.



Jim

 

[RyanB]

Jim- and your in Oklahoma! try being up here in Ontario, Canada!!! Took the truck to work yesterday for the first time and driving home it was in the mid 30's... . man that thing was noisy!



When Van built my engine he put a severly modified Thermostat in it (almost totally gutted) instead of putting a new one in for street driving I am thinking of just pulling the fan off for now. Im not going to be pulling or acting stuppid with it or anything, just trying to get a few miles on it and break it in before I put it away for the winter... what do you think?



Ryan

 

[JerrodGlover]

What I usually do is crank it with the fuel off for 5-10 seconds to build up oil pressure, and then turn the fuel on (cable shut off).

I have been told not to do this as it could damage the pump, any truth to that?

 

[RyanB]

Hmmm, never heard of that and I don't see it being a problem because with a P-pump it is lubricated from the engine oil and not lubricated by the fuel.



The grids are working great now for me other than the other day I left the switch on by accident... 3 minutes later I could smell something hot and relized they were still on... didn't hurt or melt anything like I have heard from others but it did turn my nice red cummins paint black! The day after that happened I went to radio shack and picked up a buzzer and wired it in... now I will know they are on even when outside of the truck!



Ryan

 

[Bandit1]

i have 15. 5:1 CR also with EEP cut pistons (370 spray pattern) i had a heck of a time getting mine to start b4, i would have to cycle grid heaters multiple times then it would stall a bunch. I took the pump off and had it tuned and flowed and it fires right up now, no stumble no need for pedal pressure, just turn key and she lights and runs great.

 

[zstroken]

I have been told not to do this as it could damage the pump, any truth to that?

I don't see how it could damage the pump, unless it actually flowed through the pump.

 

[TractorNut]

The grids are working great now for me other than the other day I left the switch on by accident... 3 minutes later I could smell something hot and relized they were still on... didn't hurt or melt anything like I have heard from others but it did turn my nice red cummins paint black! The day after that happened I went to radio shack and picked up a buzzer and wired it in... now I will know they are on even when outside of the truck!



Ryan

Ryan. . check out an electronic place. . (Not radio shack. ) you should be able to find a timer circuit. . Its been years ago... but I have used them to rollup power windows on alarm systems. . Most you can set the amount of on time. . Then switch it to a push button. .

Good Luck. .

Bryan