New Guy - First Question

[chrycofan]

Hey Guys, been reading the mag since 96 but just came here recently. Great place! So much info, so many nice people.



Okay, enough buttering up already! Recently I think I noticed a problem, you know, one of those where you aren't sure it wasn't always there and you just weren't paying attention.



The truck is a 96 3500 5-sp 2wd 215horse clubcab / 3. 54's. Its got a complete Banks Powerpack ( Intake Turbo/wastegate plate pyro & boost guages exhaust K&N) the whole kit.



It seems to me (if memory is correct) that after installation (last year) solo egt's say in 4th wot never ran over 900 degrees.



What caught my attention was I noticed that the filter minder (which I had never seen move before) had moved full range. I reset it and ran a 30 mile run sometimes wide open bursts, stopped & checked and it had moved full range again.



At this point I started watching the egt's closely and now in 4th wot I can puch it all the way between 1100 and 1200 degrees. I had read the other thread about the minder moving halfway but not full. I had just recently put in a stock filter because I has neglected the K&N but I put the K&n back in - same result.



One other thing, the boost gauge goes to 30 psi and at wot it will peg the gauge. Also, I forgot the pyro probe is in the exhaust manifold (pre turbo).



The only thought a mechanic buddy had was possibly the cat was plugged ( truck has 80,000 miles, sorry forgot that). That would be fine with me - easily fixed (gone).



So wadda think, is my memory just bad (like other things at this age) or does this sound out of whack.



Truck also has Maghytek rear cover w/Amsoil in rear, has the filter package on the 5-sp,and the Prime-loc remote fuel filter w/ homemade mounting because of the Intake setup.



While I'm at ,where would you go from here with this package?





Thanks Butch



P. S. Where do you actually log in at? I just hit - Post new Topic - and logged in from the error box that came up (computor Illiterate!)

 

[drives mopars]

WHERE TO GO

THEN FUEL PLATE NOT SURE WHAT BANKS HAS

IN YOUR TRUCK

MAYBE A TST 11 PLATE



LOOSE THE CAT



AFC ADJUSTED ? GOV SPRING KIT DOES BANKS HAVE THIS? 3500 RPM GOV KIT FROM PIERS DIESEL

TURBO HOUSEING ?

THEN CLUTCH UPGRADE

 

[Smokey Joe]

I would recommend, if you suspect cat is plugged, get an exhaust backpressure reading. Go to a good exhaust shop and they will check this for you. I test cars frequently at the auto shop I work at. Most likely, if I am thinking straight, your turbo will not boost if it cant get the exhaust gas to freeflow by it and spin it. In other words if the cat is plugged gas can't flow out of the exhaust. This will cause low power and boost. If your filter-minder is showing full you have a severe restriction on the inlet side of the intake to turbo. That filter minder shows basically a vacuum being pulled on it. Try a new air filter also check an make sure that the fresh air intake to the box doesnt have a dead rat in it or something causing a restriction. I hope I help somewhat. Good luck

 

[MLee]

filter minder

welcome new guy, read some of the recent post, seams as there are alot of these type of concerns, your restiction is in the neck between the air box and the fender. either remove it, and then drive it, or just open it up like i did in a previous post with the boombing that you have, your not getting enough air. you egt's will also go down some. just a suggestion. my pennys worth

marv

 

[Steve Roseman]

You can also drill holes on the bottom of the breather facing the firewall

I didn't know there was any other way to log in After you log in, your computer will keep the cookies for the site so you don't have to log in every time you post.

 

[chrycofan]

Thanks guys, I was thinking of opening up the air box anyway( I did check for critters or any obstructions in the fender area).



I guess it's time to loose the cat too! Guess my easiest option is to get the pipe from Geno's and do it at home. The system is stock back to the muffler.



BTW, I did tilt the box lid & filter so they were'nt sealed to the box and the filter minder does'nt move now but the egt's still are in the same range.



This was my main concern, that something had changed to make the egt's higher than before. All of the Banks kit was installed at home and I was afraid I might of missed or done something, but right after the install it seemed like my egt's were substantially lower than now.



Like I said - could just be old age & bad memory.





Butch

 

[Deezul1]

Sounds like your EGT is about right for the boost and mods you have. Loose the rubber coupler between the fender and air box it will make difference, it just pulls out, yank hard. With just my 370s and no other mods it would peg the minder evry time I went full throttle and wouldnt ever move it before.

 

[Turbo Thom]

Could be the age or the truck but 900 WOT in 4th is a little low, I think! I can get more than that with the 370's. When I'm towing at highway speeds, I normally stay at 900-1050. Also for me, Banks uses the K&N. Take it out. It will get your turbo fins dirty. I like the Banks kit but not the K&N. I have switched to the Amsoil filter and have had better luck. For me the stock one just does not move enough air. Maybe the MHAF is in my future.



Also watch with the rubber boot being out. I had some little rodent build himself a nest in there. Had a pantry and table too. I had to mess up his kitchen.



Good luck.



. . Preston. .

 

[Cooker]

I don't think the Geno's exhaust part is to eliminate the CAT, I think it is just to eliminate the muffler. But Dodge has a "test" pipe so you can remove the CAT. Cost about $50.

 

[Tim1]

Hey Butch, to do the signature and other things you like, click on user cp . This is the control panel for you to adjust your stuff. Hope this helps. Tim

 

[chrycofan]

This is a catch-up post! Right after the last response to my question the computor blew up!



Thanks to all who responded I paid attention!



I plan on modifying the air box for better flow w/some extra holes in the back side and then covering them with fiberglass screen bonded to the box to keep large objects out(probably do it to the main inlet too).



I think the filterminder moving so much just made me think I jad something else going on.



I am going to check on getting the cat out also, If my exhaust guy won't do it he probably will at least make me a pipe so I can install it myself.



This new computor is great i'm learning how to do a lot more with it, I'll set up my sig next.



Just wanted to holler back and say THANKS, sorry it took me so long!

 

[kchristopher]

Originally posted by Cooker

I don't think the Geno's exhaust part is to eliminate the CAT, I think it is just to eliminate the muffler. But Dodge has a "test" pipe so you can remove the CAT. Cost about $50.

I've got a $20 3" pipe from from an exhaust shop. Either 63" or 66" in length, can remember. NO bends, just expanded on each end to slip over the other 3" pipe on the truck.

 

[illflem]

Butch, my trucks are almost the same as yours. When my 2500 had a similar problem it was a rat nest in the airbox, they striped off the underhood insulation and stuffed the airbox full. Hardware cloth took care of that. When the 3500 had it it was a clogged cat at 70k, I'll bet that's your problem since you've checked the airbox. I wouldn't bother checking the cat for restriction, just lose it. I replaced mine with pipe, reducer and clamps from Napa for about $25. Hard part is taking the old stuff off.