Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) TST Powermax problems

[SpicyJam]

Bringing back up an old issue

I just wanted to see if I could get an up-date to some from some these folks who posted this a few years ago. What has been going on with their TST boxes, do you still have them, cause I am going to tell ya, I am afraid the way mine stumbles on its face when I get out of the go pedal I am waiting to put the truck into the ditch. From level 5 to 9 the truck is impossible to drive normal... ... ... ... ... ... ...

 

[Todd T]

Spicyjam, the problem you are discribing different. the boxes are real hyper on the upper levels and you have to get used to letting off easier or at a higher RPM. you should feel an offroad version of that box on level 9



I got pretty used to driving my other truck and left it on level 9 all the time. Except when the wife would drive it, she would turn it down to 5 or so.



I've been told the JVD box doesnt do this. I'm in the market for another fueling box so maybe I can give you some first hand knowledge on JVD real soon. they only fuel to a 50% increase though.

 

[SpicyJam]

Todd, mine is the off road waviered one. I tell ya, I have tried to lift my foot off easy, no good there either, just trying to drive on level 8 or 9 there is no way to do so. Truck shakes violently, tubo barks at will. It reminds me of having the cruise on... ... ... ..... lol. No, really it is bad. If I can't get better numbers than 485hp/1205fpt that I had with my Drag Comp I will go to a Comp again and sell this... ... ... ... ... really bites.

 

[Todd T]

Check with Van Haisley (Haisley Machine) and see if they will demo you a JVD box. you wont be disappointed. I've been away from here for a while (damn Fords) and i'm not sure if they offer an off-road version or not. if they do, get one.



I'll be talking to him soon, i need a clutch and a box from them. Piers is getting me a ported head, ATS manifold, DD Jammers and a B1-2(not the regular).

 

[diesel4power]

SpiceyJam

I have the exact same problem with my TST comp version, level 5-9 impossible to use, I only use it at the track on the higher levels. I bought this box as a PM3 one year ago and recently had it re-flashed to the comp. I once got some bad stumbling last winter when it was PM3 and a guy on here said solder the pump wire tap, I did and it fixed it. When I got it back as the comp I could tell the power increase easily over the PM3 but the way it falls on its face when you let off the gas (yeh you know what I mean) makes it impossible to use. I called TST and spoke to Greg, he blamed fuel pressure and the VP44 untill I kept emphasizing its not doing it when it needs fuel, its when you let off the fuel. He thought about it and said that it would not be the fuel pumps but could be the MAP sensor. I tried cleaning the MAP sensor and it made no difference. Posted the same question on here about 6 weeks ago and one guy answered, said it was the nature of the beast. Also talked to a couple of guys who said the same thing. Greg did say that level 5 is same as a PM3.

I leave it on 3 or 4 and can leave about anything in the dust so I am kind of half happy. I wish I could figure it out so they could fix the program. I reckon everyone with the comp version as the same problem.



Paul

 

[SpicyJam]

Ya I read all of that, I have been researching this thing for a year. Since I had the chance to try one at the cost of my drag comp, I went for it. So far as I can tell setting 3 and 4 are great, setting 5 by the seat of the pants feels like my Drag Comp at 5x5. Anything above that I really don't need to be into for just driving on the road. I am however impressed with the way the box responds when you step on the go pedal. Much better than my Drag Comp.

Today I towed in my 27ft inclosed hauler on setting 3 and was very impressed, with this box. With my injectors and any box off I can bury the EGT gauge, but with the box on, although still easier to bury the needle past 1500 I was able to maintain a constant speed and control the heat very easy with the go pedal. Unlike the Drag box where I just had to leave it off. I like not having all the timing the Edge box threw at my truck. Just miss the smoothness coming off the throttle.

Since I know Patty Haisley maybe I will call them and see what they have to offer.



Thanks

Jim Daly

Torque Diesel Performance

Ramsey, MN

 

[Todd T]

everyone i have talked to has had this hard decelerating problem with the off-road version PM3. they are great boxes just hyper (as in shudder the hole truck) when you let off. one guy i know of took his PM3 off and went to a JVD and he said its smooth as silk. maybe you've heard of him? Don Quaethem, used to be BigDon on here. i thinks Chris911 has one too. Man, i'm so glad to be back here. i gotta catch up with these guys, its been too long.



FWIW i had the stumble problem and soldering the pump wire fixed mine too. e new map sensor wont fix it, dont waste your money.

 

[Hohn]

Just talked to Mark.



There is no new super-duper connection for the PMAX-- the Grabber is all there is.



His thoughts on tapping the wire on an HO truck were interesting. He said that on an SO truck, a super-hot PMAX will post a best gain of up to 180hp!! Unfortunately, an HO truck will top out at around 80- 90hp, no matter how hot the box is. He said there's no reason to go to the Comp version with an HO, as the regular pmax will already max out the wimpy HO pump.



I wonder if that applies once bigger injectors are installed. Is the HO VP running out of fuel, or is it running out of time with the tiny stock injectors the HOs have?



JLH

 

[SpicyJam]

I am aware of the power output of the H. O. versus the S. O. It has nothing to do with my injectors. It all lies in the small VP plunggers, and the stroke the H. O. uses. That is why I will be playing with a ETC computer on my HO and with a ETC VP44. Because if you just stick a ETC VP44 on a ETH the computer won't talk to it.

Be sides, are you familar with the size of injectors I am running? With the Drag Comp On my truck like I said I laid down 485hp/1205fpt on a Mustang 250 dyno. I had no issues at all with fuel, look in my gallery and find the dyno pic, there is plenty of fuel going into my small injected HO. To the point where I am putting a set of twins on my truck.

 

[Hohn]

I am aware of the power output of the H. O. versus the S. O. It has nothing to do with my injectors. It all lies in the small VP plunggers, and the stroke the H. O. uses. That is why I will be playing with a ETC computer on my HO and with a ETC VP44. Because if you just stick a ETC VP44 on a ETH the computer won't talk to it.

Be sides, are you familar with the size of injectors I am running? With the Drag Comp On my truck like I said I laid down 485hp/1205fpt on a Mustang 250 dyno. I had no issues at all with fuel, look in my gallery and find the dyno pic, there is plenty of fuel going into my small injected HO. To the point where I am putting a set of twins on my truck.

I guess I missed something... . I was just sharing what Mark told me and posing a few curious questions of my own... sorry if not directly on topic... .



Justin

 

[Andy Redmond]

On the stumble move the ground to the loom harness near the ps pump. Look for an 18-22 ga wire that is black with a tan stripe, use it for your ground. I've found this has cured the stumble on several 2001 auto trans trucks. .



I've seen a HO 6 spd 4x4 dyno 330 hp consistently with the PM 3.

 

[SpicyJam]

That was the place I put it to start with. I am now in the process of putting on a P-pump, so away with the electric gizmos, and pour on the fuel... ... ... ...