Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) More Power & Fuel Economy!?

[TenBensel]

I've been a member of TDR for 6 months but have hesitated to post anything because I've never done this before.



A little background. I'm a missionary and have been working in southern Mexico in the mountainous state of Oaxaca. I live at 5300 ft, drive on curvy mountain roads, and to get anywhere, you often have to go over passes 9000-10,000 feet high. I often go on narrow dirt "roads" out to remote villages. Sometimes I pull a 30' trailer weighing 15,000 lbs. (but not on the dirt roads), or a horse trailer (OK on dirt roads).



But I'm wanting more power and better fuel economy. Once I was pulling the 30' trailer full of hay, and it slowed me down to about 22 mph coming up a steep mountain. Not a big deal, but I have an AMSoil airfilter and a 4" exhaust, and I'm wondering what a good next step would be. I've heard of power chips, but I don't know much about them.



Any advice?

 

[Rattlin_Ram]

Edge EZ or similar timing box. Would be what I recomend. But be sure to get gauges before hand if you are pulling a lot.



I have the same truck as you pretty much except mine is Auto. And the edge made a world of difference compared to just running with 4" exhaust and a KnN.

 

[TenBensel]

Thanks. Are there any drawbacks in life of the engine, etc. from using this kind of timing box? I'm willing to change the clutch if necessary, but don't want to fry anything.

 

[RHamner]

Check my sig. I've towed more than 50000 mi (including Chiapas) with an edge. Make sure the boost elbow is in to get the added boost to avoid excessive EGT.

 

[TenBensel]

Chiapas is way down there. What is a boost elbow? Does that and the gages come with the Edge EZ?

 

[Rattlin_Ram]

Boost elbow makes the wastegate stay closed to a higher PSI, so you get more boost to cool your EGT's from the more fuel and advanced timing of the EZ. At least that's how I understand it to work. I think it comes with the EZ, but mine didn't. But I bought mine off of E-Bay used, for about $300, and mines an auto so I can't use the elbow anyway.



The gauges don't come with the EZ, you'll have to buy them seperatly. Boost, EGT, and Fuel Pressure would be the ones you want. Check out Genos.com for prices, there are other vendors too, E-Bay there is a guy that sells them for about $275 or so for all 3 and the A-Pillar mount.



As far as engine life, I only know what I've read on here, but I don't think that it will cause any harm. Lots of guys run them on here, and you don't see too many ENGINE problems. Just the typical lift pump problems. Others that are more knowledgable than I will probably chime in and let you know.

 

[TenBensel]

So the boost elbow is like the Banks Ottomind or something similar, if I understand correctly. Thanks for the tips on eBay, etc. With limited $$, doing things a little as I can afford them, should I get the Edge or the Boost elbow first?

 

[Rattlin_Ram]

I don't know much about the Ottomind, but from what I've seen you pay more for Banks stuff than you would for say an Edge EZ, for the same amount of HP. From the Banks website it looks like the Ottomond is more like the Edge EZ or something similar.



You will need the box (like the EZ) to keep from throwing an overboost code with the elbow. The box fools the computer into thinking the boost is still in check. So the elbow would do no good without the box.



If $$$ is an issue watch Ebay and the classifieds on here, you can regularly find a used EZ for around $300. But if I where towing, I'd get gauges first. EGT and Fuel pressure at least. If you are towing up a steep grade, with an EZ, and you don't know what your EGT's are you could get them too hot and do damage to the trubo. With the EGT gauge you can back out of the throttle to control the EGT's if you need. The Fuel pressure gauge is just to let you know if your lift pump is going south.....



You could also consider a set of injectors. I've been looking at adding a set of RV-275's, they go for about $300 too.