Power Sucked!!

[ropinfool2]

Well I pulled my 5th wheel this weekend for the first time, I can honestly say that my '89 Ford w/460 (225K miles) & 5 speed pulled this trailer better than this truck. I would hit a good hill at 50 (county speed limit) OD off and watch the speedometer slowly drop down to 40 which is when I would crest the hill. The transmission never shifted, my rpms were higher than I felt comfortable manually shifting to second. I installed the TAG and cut a 4 1/2 hole in my air box (My air filter was horrible, looked covered in grease (dirty side, clean side looked good), only 18K on the truck, the turbo blades looked very dirty) but didn't notice any difference. These are the only "performance" mods done. I can tell I'll have to do something, I won't be able to live with the amount of power I have now, of course with Diesel at $2. 12/gal I won't be able to afford to do anything anyway. Enough ranting, any suggestions????? Thanks. John

 

[thejeepdude]

Fueling/timing box... Edge EZ... TST... others... do some research, pick the one you like, and be done with it. I would probably get the TST box since you can get it with gauges and auto-defueling on high EGTs. Just keep in mind you'll have to keep it on the lowest power settings until you beef up the transmission...

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

First before throwing mods at it I'd determine if/what problem there may be with the truck, or if expectations are realistic (it does seem it should pull better).



ropin' how much does your trailer weigh, or you combined weight with all your gear and passenger load? How steep is the hill? What RPM are you pulling at? With more information it will be easier to figure out what's happening. If there's something wrong with the truck it should be addressed before throwing BOMBs at it.



Vaughn

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Ah I just noticed you have an '03, do you have the Anemic 235hp California Special (CARB) Model? If so that's the answer to your perceived lack of power

 

[thejeepdude]

Originally posted by Vaughn MacKenzie

Ah I just noticed you have an '03, do you have the Anemic 235hp California Special (CARB) Model? If so that's the answer to your perceived lack of power

That was my assumption before I suggested the bombing... alas if it's NOT the 235hp model, he definitely needs to find out what's wrong.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

An '89 Ford 460 gasser with a 5-speed manual transmission provides LOTS of grunt, nothing to be sneezed at for power if running properly... Fuel mileage, on the other hand...

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Sorry to counter you there Jeepdude. You're 100% correct. . . if it's the California Special, the cure is to BOMB it!

 

[thejeepdude]

Originally posted by Gary - KJ6Q

An '89 Ford 460 gasser with a 5-speed manual transmission provides LOTS of grunt, nothing to be sneezed at for power if running properly... Fuel mileage, on the other hand...

This is very true! I remember towing with my SO '99 CTD before I put the 275's in there and it was a dog. My previous towing experience was with a '79 Suburban with a 454. Man that big block would move, and pulled pretty good! Too bad it got <5MPG most of the time! But that's the beauty of a CTD, adding power doesn't neccessarily reduce MPG, and often increases it. Since I put my 275's in my truck pulls better than that 454 ever did, and there's still a LOT of room for enhancement. I'll never own a gasser truck again!!!!

 

[Chris N5CWM]

I have the 235/460 ETC in my 2001 and yes it is a dog until it's BOMBED! They really respond to various mods. I have one of the early EDGE in-cab fueling modules. On level 1 it has plenty of power for towing, a huge improvement over stock. The 275 RV injectors I installed also made a big improvement. About the same as the level 1 setting so now with the 275s and level 1, it will break traction in 3rd when the turbo spools up if I'm into it heavy. Level 2, breaking traction is no problem! But I try to be easier on the drivetrain and refrain from running in level 2 while towing. EGTs are in the 1,100F range in level 1 with the 275s. I can't remember what they run in level 2 but in level 3, 1,400+ is not a problem so I never use 3 for towing. Only blowing off ricers.

 

[curatchko]

Time for a REFLASH!!!



Firewalker had the same problem on his 03. Wouldn't pull well at all. He said after the reflash for low power, the truck came alive. I'd pm him and see what he had done.

 

[DPKetchum]

How long has fuel filter been on this truck also!

 

[fencebuilders]

Originally posted by ropinfool2

Well I pulled my 5th wheel this weekend for the first time, I can honestly say that my '89 Ford w/460 (225K miles) & 5 speed pulled this trailer better than this truck. I would hit a good hill at 50 (county speed limit) OD off and watch the speedometer slowly drop down to 40 which is when I would crest the hill. The transmission never shifted, my rpms were higher than I felt comfortable manually shifting to second. I installed the TAG and cut a 4 1/2 hole in my air box (My air filter was horrible, looked covered in grease (dirty side, clean side looked good), only 18K on the truck, the turbo blades looked very dirty) but didn't notice any difference. These are the only "performance" mods done. I can tell I'll have to do something, I won't be able to live with the amount of power I have now, of course with Diesel at $2. 12/gal I won't be able to afford to do anything anyway. Enough ranting, any suggestions????? Thanks. John

My Ca. S. O. which was an absolute dog,responded MOST favorably to the RAMifier. Smooth,steady power,comes in low and keeps pulling. It will put your s. o. about where a stock h. o. is as far as h. p. and tq.

 

[EMD-Run8]

The motor probably ain't the problem. It's that slip-slip-slip happy stock slushbox transmission.

 

[fencebuilders]

Originally posted by EMD-Run8

The motor probably ain't the problem. It's that slip-slip-slip happy stock slushbox transmission.

You ever driven a Ca. S. O. ?

 

[EMD-Run8]

No, I see your point... ..... but I ain't see a stock Dodge auto transmission yet that shifts anything like an Allison 1000 either. The closest I ever drove was an '89 D250 with the 727 Torqueflite. It had a REEEAAAALLL low stall speed and would just hit 3rd in no time--------pullin' strong all the way. I'd a thought seriously about buying an auto if they made one shift like that from the factory!

 

[thejeepdude]

Originally posted by EMD-Run8

No, I see your point... ..... but I ain't see a stock Dodge auto transmission yet that shifts anything like an Allison 1000 either. The closest I ever drove was an '89 D250 with the 727 Torqueflite. It had a REEEAAAALLL low stall speed and would just hit 3rd in no time--------pullin' strong all the way. I'd a thought seriously about buying an auto if they made one shift like that from the factory!

You should drive a DTT equipped truck... sure it's not like that from the factory, but with a TC and VB you're not into it for that much $$ and the end result is so much more enjoyable than rowing through the gears, IMHO. The fluid coupling is incredible, although I haven't towed with one yet. But that will be remedied in 2 weeks after mine is done. All that said, it's still a lot cheaper to add 50HP than modify the transmission... the transmission can be done once it's roasted.

 

[ropinfool2]

Thanks for all your replies. It is the Ca. edition which I guess is 235 hp. I'm not sure how much my trailer weighs, but it does have tandem 3500# axles on it, my rpms were about 3000 and my speed was dropping!!! I saw an edge ez on ebay with a AFE drop in filter for around $300, maybe I'll just get that. Spending money is going to be tough, the wife just got laid off but maybe I can sneak it in. Although I know I won't be able to get gages for awhile. Thanks again and keep the suggestions coming!!! John

 

[fencebuilders]

save it

Originally posted by ropinfool2

Thanks for all your replies. It is the Ca. edition which I guess is 235 hp. I'm not sure how much my trailer weighs, but it does have tandem 3500# axles on it, my rpms were about 3000 and my speed was dropping!!! I saw an edge ez on ebay with a AFE drop in filter for around $300, maybe I'll just get that. Spending money is going to be tough, the wife just got laid off but maybe I can sneak it in. Although I know I won't be able to get gages for awhile. Thanks again and keep the suggestions coming!!! John

If you add a pressure box,and tow without gauges you are asking for trouble,imo. Save the bucks and go gauges,pressure box,air filter at the same time through a DTR vendor/advertiser you should save $$$ doing it that way. Put it on the credit card if ya gotta. Not to mention change out the muffler,its super restrictive. You will save both time and money in the long run,not to mention fuel mileage will might increase a mile or two. $1,000. 00 to $1,100. 00 should get you close. Nice little combo bomb lite package for the Ca. S. O. 235 Good luck!

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

ropinfool, fencebuilders is right, towing with an EZ and no gauges is suicide. I know a power mod would be nice, but an EZ without gauges is bad enough without towing.



Vaughn

 

[DPKetchum]

That old diesel with the 727 auto was a 3. 07 gear more then likely and top speed FLOORED with a tailwind and downhill was about 74/75 mph if that. On top of that the torque convertor was the SAME that was used on the gas engine. Stall speed was a mess!