Question about VA box

[Coonrod]

First off I would just like to say hi to everyone. I have been reading post on this site for awhile. So I finally became a member.



Now for my question. I am looking in to buying the VA boxes for my truck (600). I am planning on getting the duration and pressure box. Are they making the Y harness yet to combine the 2. If not is there anything special you have to do to stack them? Also for you that already have the boxes, what settings do you run and have you set any codes?



I have just installed my gauges and I ordered a AFE intake today(said it was on BO for 2-3 weeks) So I figure more like 5-6 weeks.



I have been hitting this one rough spot in the road and I am quite sure my Cat and muffler is about to fall off. So that should help with high Egt's that come with the VA right?



Thanks

 

[GWoody]

I've got the level 2 duration box, kitty ran away, straight flow muffler and egts are still an issue with this box. 0 to 60 or so and I'm at 1300 or higher. There is a guy on here from MN. , EEngle, and he has the 2 VA's stacked and said that that does help egt a little but they're gonna have to do timing to reallly make a large difference. On a positive note, this thing makes gobs of nice smooth power, they're great for stoplight to stoplight leavin another off brand truck in your smoke but pedal to the metal too much longer than that and the egt's will scare the begeebers out of ya.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

bhaner tells me with both boxes stacked and set to lower levels power is great and EGTs are fine, but he's running a big turbo (HX40 from Diesel Dynamics). The achilles heel of these engines is the teeny little exhaust housing on the turbo. The least that needs to be done if you really want to use more of the power is to upgrade the turbo, but even then you still can't really use the full power available, but at least you can use a lot more of it. I would consider a DD Jammer, PDR40, B1 or the new Dodgezilla 40.



Vaughn

 

[EEngel]

Stacked VAs

Coonrod,



I have the Level I and Level II stacked in the 600. The level I did help the EGT cause a little, but now near what I had hoped.



My kitty ran off with GWoody's... . Little rascals... I would say the change was very minimal in the EGTs. Like 50-75 degrees.



I agree with the above post that the turbo is a huge factor in the potential of the VA box. There is a ton of power there, but you can only use it on semi short bursts.



I really like the drivability of the box and how smooth it is, but the EGT's are definitly an issue. If you plan to run the boxes, make sure you have the gauges in and the air system in.



I'm not really sure what the above mentioned turbos cost, but I think I would consider using the $ from the level I box to put into one of the turbos. I think you will see more of a benifit from it.

 

[Coonrod]

I would like to get a turbo, but my bank acount won't allow me to at this moment. And I would rather have something I can just unplug when or IF the truck has to go in for warranty work.



I have also read a lot about the TST. Would it be safe on the lower settings? And do you have to tamper with the wiring harness to install it?



Thanks

 

[jcarey]

Someon can jump in and correct, but I believe there are 3 wires that have to be pierced using Scotch locks.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Coonrod, if you could spare $400 you could get the PDR modified 3rd Gen turbo that looks stock but will help cut about 100-150 off your max EGTs. I have that turbo and it made a noticeable power improvement over the stock unit. This turbo isn't enough if you really want to use your box but it's better than doing nothing.



www.piersdiesel.com



Vaughn

 

[Coonrod]

Yea, that is a good idea. Will it work on the 04. 5?



And for the stock turbo, when I put a box on do I unplug the electronic waste gate or not?

 

[GWoody]

No scotch locks on the tst for the 04. 5, 3 injector plugs, cam sensor plug, crank sensor plug, plug the electronic waste gate and run a tube from the intake via a boost bolt over to the wastegate on the turbo through tst special elbow. I been around one a little, above 3/3 setting when the truck locks up in forth, when its getting about 3/4 throttle it feels like it tries to slip the transmission a little. It doesn't seem quite as bad if you're at full throttle when it goes to lock up, maybe because of the higher rpm it has more fluid pressure inside the transmission, but at full throttle by the time truck is ready to go to 4th you're runnin about 80.

 

[jcarey]

GWoody,

If I uderstand you correctly, with the TST for the 04. 5, no wires at all have to be pierced/spliced?



If so, it's definitely TST for me. I've got to be able to remove it for warranty work.

 

[Coonrod]

Yea, I am leaning towards the TST also.



GWoody, DO you know what kind of EGT's the TST runs on the 04. 5 on settings below 4/4? I was set on gettign the VA boses, but I don't want something that I can't run because of EGT's.



I know that I will blow my stock turbo and transmission if I turn it up to its full potinial.

 

[GWoody]

I think they are cooler than the VA duration if you stay at or under 4/4. Don't know about towing though. I know they don't rise as fast as the VA but they will still hit 1400 if you stay in the throttle long enough. The 600 just runs hot on egt, mine stock towing 12000 has hit 1300 on a long hill. I think the only sure fire way to completley solve this egt thing is a turbo upgrade but there goes that rapid spool up we all love.

 

[GWoody]

If I uderstand you correctly, with the TST for the 04. 5, no wires at all have to be pierced/spliced?



Yup, no wires to splice, that surprised me too, TST really ought to update those instilation instructions on their website.

 

[Coonrod]

The 600 just runs hot on egt, mine stock towing 12000 has hit 1300 on a long hill. I think the only sure fire way to completley solve this egt thing is a turbo upgrade but there goes that rapid spool up we all love.





I have hit 1400 with out towing. I was passing a couple of semi's.

Could my gauge be reading high?



What is your opinion as far as power goes between the VA and TST

 

[jcarey]

I agree. Thanks for the info.

 

[GWoody]

"I have hit 1400 with out towing"



That 1400 is probably correct, keep in mind my kitty ran away and I'm not running stock muffler or stock air filter.



"What is your opinion as far as power goes between the VA and TST"



The VA seems a little smoother, tst does run a litle lower egt, VA is easier hook up, tst probably has more hp potential.

I think with either box it's gonna take several dollars worth of upgrades to really be able to control egt and put the hp to the road.

 

[Coonrod]

Forgot about your kitty being lost.



Mine will be running away this weekend.



Are you able to run the VA while towing around 8,000 lbs loads with out constantly having to back out of throttle?



With either box, they will have to stay on the lower settings for now. I don't want to be my own warranty station. I know you have to pay to play. But I still want to be able to put my truck back to stock with a few plug in's.

 

[GWoody]

"Are you able to run the VA while towing around 8,000 lbs loads with out constantly having to back out of throttle?"



Towing about 12000 I have been able to leave it on the 50% setting on most hills, I'm talkin long gradual hills, anything very steep that I would normally pull down to say 55 mph on the stock setting has to stay on the stock setting or the egt will go way high 1400+. The VA does help towing in a majority of the places. However, when towing about 18000, there are very few hills, even long grades, that the VA is useful, egts go up and I have had to back off the throttle so much that I am better off to go to the stock setting and put her pedal to the metal, then the egt goes to about 1250 or 1300 and stays there. Don't get me wrong the power this thing creates is good and smooth. I think when they set this 600 up they really walked a fine line as far as maximum fuel, fast spool, and egt temps. That's why any tinkering and we have to watch the temps. You're towing 8000, thats 1/3 less than my 12000 so you would probably be more satisfied than I am. Maybe 1/3 happier.