Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Removing grid heaters to increase airflow?

[illflem]

What do you think?

Is it worth the effort, anyone ever try it?

Could it lower egts?

 

[Whitmore]

Bill, I have often thought of that too but with the cold climate here in Wyo I think the grid heaters will have to be a necessity. I do believe that removing them could help out on airflow resulting in a lower egt, If I lived in a warm climate they would have been gone a long time ago.



Cheers, Kevin

 

[RHARVEY]

I never thought of removing the grid heater but it sounds like it would work. .

Here in Ca. it does not get that cold but in the summer is when I would like to try it...



Rick

 

[w-cummins]

Originally posted by illflem

What do you think?

Is it worth the effort, anyone ever try it?

Could it lower egts?

Well the banks twin ram reduces the restriction by the heaters to 25% of stock and it dose not seem to do much for the egt. but the heaters are not that hard to remove so give it a try and report back!

 

[kboettcher]

From what I remember seeing when I had my grid heaters out, they are knife edge... . so I dont think it would make a noticeable difference. They are so thin that I don't think they would be much of an air restriction... ..... Just my own thoughts

 

[Jeff H]

When my relays died. I could get it to start at 30 degrees. Does require some cranking time. Some extra smoke also. I think a twin ram from Banks would be some what benifical.

 

[24VChev]

grid heaters

I removed my grid heaters from my intake. It seems that they effectively reduce the intake opening by 1/2'. I can't say that it did anything at all for temps or performance. I did to many mods at once to know if it was worth while. If you remove the heaters you have to plug the four holes they leave open. I tapped mine to 1/8NTP and installed pipe plugs.





Malcolm

 

[Strick-9]

I know several people who have removed them. (me included)



I didn't see any appreciable gain in any area.



14:1 compression and no heaters make for ugly starts when its less than 40° outside.





-Chris

 

[JJW_ND]

Heads up....

Bill, when I was chasing what turned out the be a bad heater grid solinoid, I ran with one solinoid disconnected. One morning when temps were only down to -6 I could not get it to start with just one grid. I had to hook up both and then it fired right off. No grids would get shacky much below zero. You could always retro fit an ether setup off one of those John Deer tractors and skip the grids.



But then it never gets below zero over in the banana belt (Western Montana) anyway does it.



jjw

ND

 

[Extreme1]

I was thinking about this when prepping the Twin Ram for installation (still not installed though). I think to really get a gain you'd need to make a properly shaped manifold to replace the one that's there now with the element in it (or two if doing a twin ram).



I'm not sure how big an obstruction that grids really are but if these weren't turbocharged, things would be different.

 

[MCummings]

With the 'grids remmoved you could use Ether to start your truck. I'm not recomending it but you won't have the risk of blowing anything up.



I removed my grid heaters, WOT EGT didn't change any, part throttle EGT dropped a little, but cool down EGT was dvery reduced, it doesn't take near the time to cool down now, either slowing down, or idling to cool down the turbo, both cool down faster.





Hope This Helps,

Merrick Cummings Jr

 

[bighammer]

I would guess the oil gets more fuel in it in cold climates w/o the heaters.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

Sickly's grid heaters are unmolested and in place.

 

[willyslover]

sickly is old and like an old man needs a little heat in the knees to get going in the morning ... ya know kinda like me on a cold morning check that . . any morning LOL