Here I am

SO 5 speed and fueling boxes

Attention: TDR Forum Junkies
To the point: Click this link and check out the Front Page News story(ies) where we are tracking the introduction of the 2025 Ram HD trucks.

Thanks, TDR Staff

need modification advice

problems at -40 ps vs. cummins

Status
Not open for further replies.

Swayse

TDR MEMBER
I've got an SO 5 speed and I'm getting ready for a fueling box. OK, I've been ready for quite awhile but I won't have anything to do with a pressure box. Most of my driving is empty, so I really love the 5 speed's wide ratios, and I got to save $1,000 by buying the SO and 5 speed, and it was on the lot and had everything I wanted in a truck. But every now and then I really regret not getting the HO 6 speed. I hear all the numbers for the HO with a box but I don't hear much about the lowly SO. I wonder if it will respond as well to box as an HO? Is the clutch gonna be as strong as an HO clutch? I guess time will tell, but I'd rather know now. Anybody have some firm info?



BTW, in FAQ it says that all SO's have the 10. 5" axle unless it's a 3500, mine has the 11. 5" and it's a 2500. :rolleyes:
 
That's odd. . Does anyone reading this have a 2500 SO 47RE? What rear axle do you have?



All information I've read so far says the FAQ should be right, but I'm certainly not doubting you. I have a 3500 so I have no first hand knowledge.
 
I can give 2 answers here. First, my 2500 47RE SO has the 10. 5 axle. As far as I know, the only way the 2500 gets the 11. 5 axle is with the HO engine. I have never seen a SO 5 spd around here so I cant tell you if that is the exception to the rule. Second, my SO responded VERY well to the Edge EZ box. I have it set at level 2 and power has gone up very noticeably. Really gets with the program at mid to WOT. Has taken much of the sluggishness out of shifting through the gears, especially when towing. And I still have 2 power levels to play with when I get bored with setting #2. :D
 
I guess mine has the 11. 5 because it's a stick. I have seen some SO 48RE on the lots with the 10. 5.



The different flywheel between the HO and the SO has me concerned. I would love to have the HO clutch, but I'm afraid I'll have the 2002 weak clutch. So I'm hoping that the FAQ is wrong there too and the HO and the SO have the same clutch. I'd hate to do a clutch with just a little 140 rwhp box. I know the input shaft between the NV4500 and the NV5600 are different, so the clutch will have a different part #. The clutch does feel strong, when speed shifting into 3rd it'll leave two nice 315/70/17 marks behind on rough pavement. Not sure if my 2001 with the South Bend MU 0090 12. 3" clutch would do that.



I guess time will tell.
 
I have a SO 3500 5 speed Dually. I put an EZ on it when they first came out and it is great. EGT's are low. Boost is 34 psi. SOP meter is way up. I also am running, at different times, a Bullydog prototype fuel pressure/timing box. It feels the same as an EZ on level 1 (60 hp ) and much better on level 2 ( 120 hp). It is still in the development proccess and is coming along great. I am sending it back today for an update in programming to make it come on a little earlier. I have towed very heavy (24,000 lbs) with both boxes. So far the Edge does a better job with a heavy load because the Bully was coming on at 2400 rpm's and the Edge fuels at about 1800- 2900 rpm's. Philip at Bully dog is addressing the late fueling and has changed the mapping. I will know more next week. As for the stock clutch, I have done alot of heavy work with the EZ and it is still fine. I will be the first to post when the truck eats a clutch. So I guess the next step is level II injectors. That will be a good step up.



For those that do not want a fuel pressure box. Both of them ramp up fuel pressures. You can install just injectors, level II, and have just as much power as if you installed a box. No smoke.
 
I've got the SO 5-speed with an EZ box, too. I've run it on all levels all the way to six and towed on levels 5 down to 2. On level 4 with a 3600 lbs. trailer I can still start the truck from a dead stop in 2nd gear (just to see if I could do it) with no shudder. The biggest boost I've seen is 32 psi, WOT towing uphill. EGT's have never seen 1200.



After talking with Bryce and Aaron at Edge I'm not as concerned about raising rail pressures as I once was. I've heard from many different places that the guys at Edge can be trusted and what I heard from Edge sounded reasonable. Also, I'm not running mine at the highest levels either.



I have the 5 speed HD and 11. 5 axle according to the original window sticker.
 
Last edited:
dig it up !!!



Does any one know if the SO will still have a HP dis-advantage after you put on a TST box? or will the program "TAKE-OVER" the old program and them the HO and the SO will have the same programming running... . hence the same HP



(not the same as Edge EZ)- because of the way the program just "adds" to the regular value (rail pressure)
 
Originally posted by Swayse

The different flywheel between the HO and the SO has me concerned. I would love to have the HO clutch, but I'm afraid I'll have the 2002 weak clutch. So I'm hoping that the FAQ is wrong there too and the HO and the SO have the same clutch. I'd hate to do a clutch with just a little 140 rwhp box. I know the input shaft between the NV4500 and the NV5600 are different, so the clutch will have a different part #.



Looking at the parts fiche, the clutch disk is the same for the standard output engines w/5-speed from 2002 and 2004.



Having seen the SO's in the 230rwhp range stock, the stock clutch should be good for about 100rwhp gain, but that's about it. From there, you'll likely want the SBC MU13-1. 25 Con whatever... which is the 13" pressure plate and clutch disk mounted to a 5-speed flywheel with the 1. 25" input shaft splines.
 
Originally posted by Swayse

I've been ready for quite awhile but I won't have anything to do with a pressure box.



What is your reasoning behind this? If kept to normal limits, they work very well and will not harm the truck. Bang for the buck, you can't beat them... plus that amount of power won't overpower your stock clutch.
 
Re: Re: SO 5 speed and fueling boxes

Originally posted by KLockliear

What is your reasoning behind this? If kept to normal limits, they work very well and will not harm the truck. Bang for the buck, you can't beat them... plus that amount of power won't overpower your stock clutch.



I was just remembering the Duramax and the pressure box thing. But I long gave up and put on a pressure box, your stage 3 injectors and your turbo kit. Truck runs great, thanks to you guys. :D
 
Originally posted by KLockliear

Looking at the parts fiche, the clutch disk is the same for the standard output engines w/5-speed from 2002 and 2004.



Having seen the SO's in the 230rwhp range stock, the stock clutch should be good for about 100rwhp gain, but that's about it. From there, you'll likely want the SBC MU13-1. 25 Con whatever... which is the 13" pressure plate and clutch disk mounted to a 5-speed flywheel with the 1. 25" input shaft splines.



Clutch still hold my power, 448 rwhp 833 torque SAE, 404 rwhp and 751 torque actual. I just can't launch in 4x4 or speed shift. Gonna wait on the big boxes before I decide on a clutch. Might go dual disk, but I should go FE.
 
Originally posted by Swayse

I've got an SO 5 speed and I'm getting ready for a fueling box. OK, I've been ready for quite awhile but I won't have anything to do with a pressure box. Most of my driving is empty, so I really love the 5 speed's wide ratios, and I got to save $1,000 by buying the SO and 5 speed, and it was on the lot and had everything I wanted in a truck. But every now and then I really regret not getting the HO 6 speed. I hear all the numbers for the HO with a box but I don't hear much about the lowly SO. I wonder if it will respond as well to box as an HO? Is the clutch gonna be as strong as an HO clutch? I guess time will tell, but I'd rather know now. Anybody have some firm info?



BTW, in FAQ it says that all SO's have the 10. 5" axle unless it's a 3500, mine has the 11. 5" and it's a 2500. :rolleyes:



In the SO's Manual trannies have the 11. 5" diff. , the Auto trans has the 10. 5" rear end.
 
Long term durability

I have concerns running higher fuel pressures in terms of long-range injector and fuel system durability. I'm one of those guys who thinks about what effect things will have on my truck 100K or 200K miles down the road.



I wonder if running higher pressures will erode injector holes more quickly or wear out injector solenoids faster than leaving it stock? Hard to say, until some guys get a lot of miles using a pressure box regulary.



Vaughn
 
I was waiting for my tst or edge box forever to put on my SO, gave up and bought a toy. Couple days after I bought my 97 Dodge 12 valve, tst calls and tells me that my box is ready to ship if I still want it. I think I'm gonna have a lot more fun with the 97 12 valve then I would have with my 03.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top