Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Help with towing upgrade

[jglasgow]

I have a friend with a 2000, 3500 ,duel wheel, 5 speed who needs more power to pull his new horse trailer. Checked fuel pressure today: 11. 5 idle,5 lbs full throttle empty. Ordered a new lift pump. I have gauges on the way, fuel pressure, egt and boost, 4" exhaust and a aFe intake. I need help with the fueling part, would you be better off with a set of dd2 injectors and a ez box ? Or maybe a comp box no injectors. He is open for any suggestions and any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks







John

 

[woodsrat]

John



I have about the same setup and have the same issues talk to a local performance shop today and they said to go with the comp box because they felt that the injectors would run to hot. They said as i upgraded the turbo then i could add injectors. I like the box idea because i will be able to shut it off if things do heat up.

 

[jglasgow]

John



I have about the same setup and have the same issues talk to a local performance shop today and they said to go with the comp box because they felt that the injectors would run to hot. They said as i upgraded the turbo then i could add injectors. I like the box idea because i will be able to shut it off if things do heat up.

I tried to call three different performance shops today and all I got were recordings, I don't know a great deal about 2nd generation trucks and I just wanted to recommend the better way to upgrade the power on the first try. Thanks for your reply, John

 

[DDT]

If I am not too late. I have the same truck. I put a EZ on first, makes a BIG difference. Then got hoggy put in 275 injectors. It will pull any thing I hook up to as fast as I want to go.

 

[Tcolesanti]

I still think the ultimate towing combo is a stock turbo, Edge EZ/DDTTPM/Van Aaken (your choice) and a set of mild injectors, DD1's/RV275's/EDM Mach 1's. I love towing with my setup, and I tow all the time, but it gets warm, when pulling long (and I mean long) grades in hot weather. To each his own, I don't regret for one second what I have done with my rig, as a matter of fact I love it! Just my $. 02.

 

[jglasgow]

update

Today, I installed the gauges, exhaust, intake,new lift pump,(14. 5 idle,8lbs wot empty) and the edge ez. My friend picked up his truck, went for a test ride and came back with a frown on his face. He told me there was no way this set up added 65 hp and 160 lbs of torque. I opened the ez to make sure it was on the right setting and it was so I told him to pull his new trailer and let me know if it made any difference, If It didn't I told him we could try the comp box because he didn't want to go the injector ez route. I guess I will here back From him in a few days. He sure wasen't a happy camper when he pulled away.



John

 

[rubberneck]

When i first put the ez on way way way back when, i kind of felt the same way. But it adds the torque and horsepower down low. You dont notice it as much empty as you do towing. He will be happy when he tows. If he isnt, I would highly suggest a mild injector such as a dd2 or mach 1. I would have to agree with above that the sweetest set up i have ever run towing is an EZ, stock turbo, and a set of dd2's. Of course you could do the comp and injectors and leave it in 1x1 or off while towing then crank it up while empty. However, he better be ready for a clutch cause it will live a short life. By the way, the shop is wrong, HP for HP, injectors run cooler than a pump tap fueling box. Reason is, injectors add more fuel during the entire inejction event. Fueling boxes work by prolonging the injection event, which effectively retards the timing. Trust me on this. I experimented with my truck. Running stock injectors with a powermax 10 level competition box, and then on another run, box off with dd3's, the truck was several hundred degrees hotter with the box, but was making about the same power to the wheels. There is a point that the box can be shut off, but with dd2's, i dont feel he will want/need to.

 

[jglasgow]

Rubberneck, If the set up I installed on his truck won't do the job after he hooks up the trailer, I'll try to get him to buy a set of dd 2 injectors, I just didn't want to tap the pump wire if i didn't have to. This guy still can't figure out why I told him he needed a new lift pump(0lbs at wot) . I think the problem is he wanted Banks stuff from the start and I told him to go buy it and if he was unhappy with it ,that would be between him and Banks. Thanks for your reply,



John

 

[RustyJC]

See my signature - this setup pulls a trailer like mad. The only caveat is that, with the DD2 injectors, you have to drive by the pyrometer as it can get hot with the stock turbo. Our new 5th wheel has a GVWR of 16K and a published dry weight of 13. 5K - haven't been to the scales yet, but obviously it's heavy enough to work the truck.



Insofar as other performance, 70 MPH cruise on the Interstate is about 12-13 PSIG boost and 700-800 degF pre-turbo EGT. Fuel consumption is 9. 5 MPG (it was about 10 MPG with the stock injectors) at 70 MPH, and I haven't had any problem with coolant temperatures even towing on 100+ degF days during the summer here in Texas.



Warning - this setup is pretty smoky off-boost, coming off the line and at each upshift.



Rusty

 

[rubberneck]

Yeah, i can understand not wanting to tap the wire. That's another reason your recomendation is better than banks. Their ottomind is a tap box. I can tell you that if you put dd2's in that truck, he will stomp all over a power-packed truck. Talk him in to the injectors, then let him go find somebody with a banks truck, and have him drive it. He won't be so dissapointed with the path you sent him down. Rusty, your trailer is just a tad heavier than mine. (dry 12k). Dont these 6 speeds run awesome loaded like that. I grin from ear to ear every time i pull a hill. FWIW, I dont see coolant temp problems untill I pull a long grade. IE. several miles, then the temps will start to go up. I find if EGT's are above 1200 too long is when you start to saturate the cooling system. Oh yeah, if you get the chance, you might switch out that EZ for a comp box. I really like mine, because i can leave it off when towing. I dont think you need the timing while towing, but some may argue. It also greatly cuts down on the off boost smoke. Almost hard to make the truck smoke as a matter of fact. Get a blue chips pump cover so you dont have to use one of those nasty wire taps on the pump.

 

[RustyJC]

Oh yeah, if you get the chance, you might switch out that EZ for a comp box. I really like mine, because i can leave it off when towing.

I can cool mine down and clean it up by unplugging the EZ's CANbus data link cable, leaving the MAP sensor cables plugged in so that the EZ is only functioning as a boost fooler. Doing that, EGT's are very controllable (1100 degF typical) and the smoke just about disappears. I guess I'm just addicted to the EZ's mid-range "hit", though - it doesn't feel nearly as strong towing with the EZ unplugged.



Rusty

 

[jglasgow]

Rubberneck and RustyJC, thanks for the replys. The Tropical Storm that rolled thru here Sat night and All day Sunday dumped a foot of rain and 70 mph winds, killed the power at the house, no computer. I have a comp box I will let him try if the ez dose not work, Thanks again



John

 

[RustyJC]

John,



You're certainly welcome. I hope, other than the power outage, you and yours are all OK! Living just northwest of Houston, we certainly understand what it's like during hurricane season, even though Allison was the last one to affect us.



Rusty