New Power Mod Install/ Help!

[BBettencourt]

Hey guys, Just bought my first diesel last month. A 99, 36K mile, 2500 Ext Cab, Long Box Auto, White w/shell. It took me 8 months to decide between Ford or Dodge. Then I got onto the TDR website. Man, now I was confused. I'm not a mechanical moron, nor am I a Mechanical genius. All I wanted was to get a little more power. I read about the VA, BD, EZ power modules, and here we go again, which one to buy????? Well, I just finally jumped at the first deal and bought a Dyno Sources Inc. (Sequim, Washington www.dynosources.com ) "POWER BUTTON. " It's the splice in type and goes through the firewall and has a switch box, connects in engine with two scotchloks. . I still can't understand why you would want to shut off the box, I guess if your creating too high of an exhaust temp. . Anyway, I installed it yesterday and I think I like the power. Although I don't have much to compare it to. I guess the real test will come when I go to pull my 24' Wilderness. Can anyone tell me if I need to do anything else other than a Pyrometer. I wish I could some how compare it to a BD or EZ. Don't mean to sound like a moron, but I guess a pyrometer is an EGT gauge? It will take me a little time to learn the acronyms and abreviations. P/S Can anyone explain to this rookie, diesel owner, the correlations between EGT, Boost(what exactly is boost). Thanks for your comments/suggestions.


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99 Ram /Turbo/White/Leer Shell/Long Box/Automatic/K&N Filter

[This message has been edited by Bob Bettencourt (edited 02-17-2001). ]

 

[Chad Sheets]

Check out my web page. I have about 4-5 pages with good generic diesel knowledge on there. That will get you started.

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Always ready to help!
2000 2500 Red Sport quad cab, 4x4, K&N, DDI's, straight piped, boost, pyro and fuel pressure gages, Hot Power Edge, EZ box, race transmission, Barry Grant fuel system, mean looking set of 33. 5" tires, Snap On diamond tool box, Marine Corps window sticker, Semper Fi!

1972 340 Cuda'. Original tripple Black, 340 car w/air. Good clean car, super stock springs, Weld Prostars, shaker hood, strong 340 with a 727/4000 stahl, 4. 56... . Bombs away!
NRA Life Member
My Diesel Page

 

[LSMITH]

Without a pyrometer you will have no idea if you are going to damage the engine or not. I would not take the chance. I went to Dyno Services site and they recommend a pyrometer, and from the dyno charts they show the transmission will not last in it's present form. Remember that these are my personal opinions. What box you choose to run is up to you, but whatever it is get a pyrometer. I really think you are playing with fire with your present choice and no gauge and that you could get burned.

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99 2500 QC 4X4 AUTO SB 24V LARAMIE SLT 3. 5 LSD 285-75-16'S SPA Boost/EGT Everything but leather NRA Member

 

[LSMITH]

The Power Button is a major fueling box. I would not run it at all without a pyrometer pre-turbo. I repeat, I would not use it again until I had a pyrometer, even with the truck empty. If EGT's get too high you can burn pistons and valves resulting in an overhaul about 350,000 miles early and it will cost you dearly. Yes, a pyrometer is an EGT gauge, and a boost gauge shows how much boost pressure the turbo is putting in the engine.

edit:
The stock transmission will not hold the power from your box. You need to address the transmission ASAP.
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99 2500 QC 4X4 AUTO SB 24V LARAMIE SLT 3. 5 LSD 285-75-16'S SPA Boost/EGT Everything but leather NRA Member

[This message has been edited by LSMITH (edited 02-17-2001). ]

 

[BBettencourt]

[This message has been edited by Bob Bettencourt (edited 02-17-2001). ]

 

[BBettencourt]

Originally posted by LSMITH:
The Power Button is a major fueling box. I would not run it at all without a pyrometer pre-turbo. I repeat, I would not use it again until I had a pyrometer, even with the truck empty. If EGT's get too high you can burn pistons and valves resulting in an overhaul about 350,000 miles early and it will cost you dearly. Yes, a pyrometer is an EGT gauge, and a boost gauge shows how much boost pressure the turbo is putting in the engine.

edit:
The stock transmission will not hold the power from your box. You need to address the transmission ASAP.

Thanks for the tip. This is what I needed. I have put probably put 50 mile on just driving around. Will I still do damage??? Also I didn't think I had to do anything to the Trans. Should I go to the BD or EZ? Can anyone else provide any information? Is this as critical as it sounds??



[This message has been edited by Bob Bettencourt (edited 02-17-2001). ]

 

[Chad Sheets]

Never heard of your box. What is it compareable to? I have seen hot PE's in stock trucks with stock trannys, and the trucks are still holding up. Is this thing less power or more power than a PE?

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Always ready to help!
2000 2500 Red Sport quad cab, 4x4, K&N, DDI's, straight piped, boost, pyro and fuel pressure gages, Hot Power Edge, EZ box, race transmission, Barry Grant fuel system, mean looking set of 33. 5" tires, Snap On diamond tool box, Marine Corps window sticker, Semper Fi!

1972 340 Cuda'. Original tripple Black, 340 car w/air. Good clean car, super stock springs, Weld Prostars, shaker hood, strong 340 with a 727/4000 stahl, 4. 56... . Bombs away!
NRA Life Member
My Diesel Page

 

[BBettencourt]

Originally posted by LSMITH:
Without a pyrometer you will have no idea if you are going to damage the engine or not. I would not take the chance. I went to Dyno Services site and they recommend a pyrometer, and from the dyno charts they show the transmission will not last in it's present form. Remember that these are my personal opinions. What box you choose to run is up to you, but whatever it is get a pyrometer. I really think you are playing with fire with your present choice and no gauge and that you could get burned.

Thanks again for the tip. I called Dyno Sources and "Jim" told me that there are four settings 15,30,40 and 50% power. He said that at the 30%(his box is pre set to this level I will be fine with my trans. He also said I could re-set the box to 15%. Do you know what the VA or EZ is pre set to? |If I don't want to have to mess with the trans sould I go to an EZ or VA. And again do you know there pre set power level? Thanks again, just trying to get up to the learning curve here... . Bob B.



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99 Ram 2500 Ext Cab /Turbo/White/Leer Shell/Long Box / Automatic/K&N Filter/Dyno Sources Inc. "Power Button".

 

[Archive]

That box looks suspiciously like a Blue Box. It has the same adjustable settings, too. Sometimes, companies will buy a product, re-label it, and sell it as their own.



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Rob Hanson
1999 "Big Red", 3500 SLT QC 4X4 6 spd, 4. 10 LSD, Braided SS fuel lines, Mag-Hytec Rear Cover, Cummins E-Brake, Blue Box, DD3 Injectors, Banks High Ram and 14cm Wastegated Turbo, All-steel Cowl Induction Hood, Cummins RED Valve Cover, Rhino, Rosewood Kit, Scotty System, SportComp Gauges, TorkLift SuperHitch, Tekonsha Brake Controller, Rear Flood lights, Cobra CB, DeeZee Running Boards, BD 2WD Low kit, Air Lift bags, Hitco exhaust blanket, air horns and a Geno's "I tromped a Ford" decal. Member of BOMB! (WW NW Chapter)

MyPics.com (pics updated 02/17/01)

I'd rather be... .
Cummin than Strokin.

 

[BIG BOB]

LSMITH,

The EZ box is adjustable, 3 different settings with jumpers. #1 is timing advancement only, #2 is timing and fuel kicking in at somewhere around 20# of boost, and #3 is timing and fuel kicking in at somewhere around 3# of boost.

I'm sure other TDR Bros. will have the exact amount of boost before the timing and fueling kicks in on the EZ.

Bob,
The EZ works a bit different than the Power Button (Blue Box).

Most people are getting somewhere between 45 to 60 HP with the EZ. <font size=-2><font color=blue>

[This message has been edited by BIG BOB (edited 02-18-2001). ]

 

[LSMITH]

Bob, the EZ and VA are not adjustable. I would guess from total gains with them that they are closer to 15 than 30 percent. If you can run it at 30% with no slipping I would do that, but any higher and you will slip the clutches. Before you really worry about it get a pyrometer, especially if you plan to tow with it. If you absolutely cannot do without it while you are waiting for your gauges set it at 15%. If you like the power from the box AND you do not have EGT problems using the power it makes keep it.

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99 2500 QC 4X4 AUTO SB 24V LARAMIE SLT 3. 5 LSD 285-75-16'S SPA Boost/EGT Everything but leather NRA Member