Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) helix 2

[Wyomingcowboy]

I'm on my first 1k miles with new cam and here's a few observations:

- I can feel the low end come alive as good now as with my tuner before (I am running detuned until after a few tank fulls)

- It smokes now where it didn't before (with stock cam and WITHOUT tuner I could rarely get it to smoke even a hint of black. )

- I am not impressed with the overall egt's (running empty at I-80 cruise speeds in a typical Wyoming wind I am as hot as I was before)

- The verdict is still out on mpg's but so far it looks as if I'll be doing better with the cam



The plus sides to this cam were supposed less smoke, and lower egt's among the mpg's and faster turbo spool up. Bear in mind that I also installed the marine injectors at the same time.



My question is this: Is it the injectors that are causing the smoke and egt's? Or perhaps the fact that I am still breaking in new pistons, or maybe just that it's been so dang long since I drove this thing that my memory is failing me?

 

[darkhorse]

All of the above... ? Glad to see you are up & running.

 

[DIESELWRKS]

yes glad to hear your truck is up. thanks for all of the threads on your rebuild. I cant say about the marine injectors never had them. I do know that the people I know that run a helix that have large injectors they noticed slight less smoke. but overall more drivability I guess as they explained it to me is made it fun to drive again little bit more pep and run higher rpms which really help when you have bigger turbo and sticks. well keep us posted on your break in on the motor. I hope your truck with everything you have done and gone through is clear sailing. good luck

 

[SNiebaum]

Only question I have is are you running marine pistons and would that even matter? I know on the 12 valves, the ever popular marine 370's have a different spray angle and don't hit the bowl on the piston found in the truck engine. This causes egt and smoke issues in 12valves running marine injectors.

 

[spratt]

I have marine injectors with an original Van aaken box and can put out a nice cloud when I want to.

 

[Wyomingcowboy]

I am running factory replacement pistons. (Mahle) I have never heard anything about problems with fuel spray from the marine injector and our stock pistons, but I have never looked into it either... .

 

[Wyomingcowboy]

I have noticed a slight jog in the idle. is this normal? I can sort of see the tach moving up and down slightly and when outside i can hear a very slight jog or real quick increase in RPM but only for a quick second. What is this?

 

[darkhorse]

Mine has always done something like that both before & after the cam swap. My SO 5 speed did it too. I thought it was normal.

 

[BarryG]

I am really not familar with the marine injectors but I thought I had read that they are very similar/same as the rv275s. If that is the case they are definitely more smokey than the stock ones.

 

[THoltz]

I don't understand why it would smoke more? I thought the cam should provide for increased air flow. Anyhow, good luck and keep us posted.

 

[PC12Driver]

The smoke would be from the larger injectors. If all other mods remain equal, the addition of a cam would clear things up a little.

 

[THoltz]

The smoke would be from the larger injectors. If all other mods remain equal, the addition of a cam would clear things up a little.

Thanks for the clarification. I was not aware larger injectors were being used.