Attention: TDR Forum Junkies Last week, I installed my first box, a Van Aaken C 3. 2, on my '03, HO, 6-sp. , 4X4, 3500. At the time, the truck was completely stock other than a 14" Magnaflow muffler with full 4" exhaust piping other than the stock 3-1/2" down pipe.
Due to the fact that dyno runs would have been prohibitively expensive, I decided to break out my old stop watch. I know this is nowhere near as accurate as a dyno run, would be but, I figured the stop watch may show, at least, some differences.
I was interested in the differences in the stock form and the two "power" levels the VA provides while using the stock airbox & filter. My next test was with the stock filter, VA box & the Tone Ring Mod. Then, I wanted to test the AFE ProGuard-7 Air Intake System & Torque Tube, w/ silencer ring removed, VA box & Tone Ring Mod. Lastly, I did a fuel economy run.
My truck isn't used for racing, mostly everyday driving and towing a 25' travel trailer in the mountainous Western States. I was most interested in a bit better performance both for fun, better uphill towing & extra fuel mileage.
I decided on the VA box because it seems to have a following in the "towing crowd". It's, also, a duration-only box & I wanted to stay away from high preasure boxes for fear of harming the "pop valve" in the HPCR or damaging the injectors. I, also, figured I could get a timing advance by doing the Tone Ring Mod (highly recommended by VA, also).
How I did the tests:
On each test, I ran from 40 mph to 65 mph in 5th gear with the accelerator to the floor.
The results are as follows:
In the STOCK setting, I ran 40-65 mph in 8. 5 seconds, on average. The high pyrometer temp was 984 degs. and the high boost was 22. 4 lbs.
With the VA box on the LOW POWER setting, my 40-65 mph average readings dropped to 7. 1 seconds with the pyro at 1096 degs. and the boost at 25. 9 lbs.
With the VA box on the HIGH POWER setting, my 40-65 mph readings dropped to 6. 0 seconds with the pyro at 1237 degs. and the boost at 30lbs. (It, also, sucked the filter minder down about half-way with a fairly new, clean paper filter. )
My next test was with the VA box, on the high setting, the Tone Ring Mod & still the stock air filter. The 40-65mph average dropped to 5. 5 sec. with a pyro reading of 1226 degs. and a boost of 28. 9 lbs.
The next test involved the VA box, on the HIGH POWER setting, Tone Ring Mod & the AFE ProGuard-7 Air Intake System with the Torque Tube & silencer ring removed. The results were, 40-65 mph average readings of 5. 46 sec. , pyro reading of 1226 degs. & boost reading of 30. 5 lbs.
I am pleased with the performance of the VA box. It dropped about 3 sec. off the 40-65 mph times. It feels quite a bit faster, to me & is very driveable. The power is very smooth. Smokes a little bit on the high levels when accelerating hard. Not enough to get you into trouble, though. I'm not interested in a "smoke show", anyway. It's probably just wasted power.
One of the things that really surprised me was the LACK of a performance increase when adding the AFE PG-7 Air Intake System/Torque Tube (the PG-7 is very clean, also). My times for the VA, TR & stock air filter were 5. 3/5. 5/&5. 7 seconds, on three runs. With the same mods plus the AFE PG-7 set-up, my times were 5. 3/5. 5/ &5. 6 seconds. It appears that I only gained a tenth of a second on one of the runs with the aftermarket AF system. In fairness, this was not a scientific test & my stop watch and my timing could have been off. However, I tried to be as accurate as humanly possible. I certainly expected more from the AFE Intake System. It's a hell-uv-a lot of money to spend on 1/10 of a second on just one run.
I think "swiss cheesing" the airbox or trying Performance System Mfg's. cold air Mod might work at least as well, if not better.
Regarding the exhaust sound, it is a BIT louder, expecially in the 2000/2200 rpm range under full acceleration. I've read that boxes will change/enhance the exhaust note & I'm hear to tell you, that is TRUE!!! It really sings, now. Actually, it sounds more like someone BLASTING-AWAY on a tuba. You have to work at it to get it to sound that way, though. Got to have it "floored".
Now, for the mileage. Yesterday, I decided to take a trip to the Imperial Sand Dunes in CA (just west of the Yuma, AZ, area). I wanted to see if the VA box would provide better fuel economy. I drove about 64/65 mph almost the entire way using the cruise control (that's 1900 rpm, on my truck [3. 73 gears]). I filled-up at the Flying J, right to the top of the filler neck & 473. 6 miles later, I refilled at the same station, same pump, again to the top of the filler neck. I got 21. 470 mpg's, hand calculated.
There was a fairly strong head wind coming east out of CA, at the time. Fast enough to cause flags to stand straight out. So I was fighting that for a lot of the trip. On the way back, it was in the evening and the winds had died down, quite a bit so I wasn't able to benefit much from a tail wind. In ideal conditions, I think my mileage would have been even better.
I, also, have a 115 gal. aux. fuel tank in the bed of the truck that is 3/4 full. Along with tools & the weight of the tank, that's probably another 600+lbs. , to haul around.
The reason for this post is to give you folks that have power enhancement needs or wants, similar to mine, an idea as to what you can expect with the mods that I tried.
Many of you members have shared your experiences with us. And, I, for one, really appreciate it. It's, now, my turn.
Joe F. (Buffalo)
Due to the fact that dyno runs would have been prohibitively expensive, I decided to break out my old stop watch. I know this is nowhere near as accurate as a dyno run, would be but, I figured the stop watch may show, at least, some differences.
I was interested in the differences in the stock form and the two "power" levels the VA provides while using the stock airbox & filter. My next test was with the stock filter, VA box & the Tone Ring Mod. Then, I wanted to test the AFE ProGuard-7 Air Intake System & Torque Tube, w/ silencer ring removed, VA box & Tone Ring Mod. Lastly, I did a fuel economy run.
My truck isn't used for racing, mostly everyday driving and towing a 25' travel trailer in the mountainous Western States. I was most interested in a bit better performance both for fun, better uphill towing & extra fuel mileage.
I decided on the VA box because it seems to have a following in the "towing crowd". It's, also, a duration-only box & I wanted to stay away from high preasure boxes for fear of harming the "pop valve" in the HPCR or damaging the injectors. I, also, figured I could get a timing advance by doing the Tone Ring Mod (highly recommended by VA, also).
How I did the tests:
On each test, I ran from 40 mph to 65 mph in 5th gear with the accelerator to the floor.
The results are as follows:
In the STOCK setting, I ran 40-65 mph in 8. 5 seconds, on average. The high pyrometer temp was 984 degs. and the high boost was 22. 4 lbs.
With the VA box on the LOW POWER setting, my 40-65 mph average readings dropped to 7. 1 seconds with the pyro at 1096 degs. and the boost at 25. 9 lbs.
With the VA box on the HIGH POWER setting, my 40-65 mph readings dropped to 6. 0 seconds with the pyro at 1237 degs. and the boost at 30lbs. (It, also, sucked the filter minder down about half-way with a fairly new, clean paper filter. )
My next test was with the VA box, on the high setting, the Tone Ring Mod & still the stock air filter. The 40-65mph average dropped to 5. 5 sec. with a pyro reading of 1226 degs. and a boost of 28. 9 lbs.
The next test involved the VA box, on the HIGH POWER setting, Tone Ring Mod & the AFE ProGuard-7 Air Intake System with the Torque Tube & silencer ring removed. The results were, 40-65 mph average readings of 5. 46 sec. , pyro reading of 1226 degs. & boost reading of 30. 5 lbs.
I am pleased with the performance of the VA box. It dropped about 3 sec. off the 40-65 mph times. It feels quite a bit faster, to me & is very driveable. The power is very smooth. Smokes a little bit on the high levels when accelerating hard. Not enough to get you into trouble, though. I'm not interested in a "smoke show", anyway. It's probably just wasted power.
One of the things that really surprised me was the LACK of a performance increase when adding the AFE PG-7 Air Intake System/Torque Tube (the PG-7 is very clean, also). My times for the VA, TR & stock air filter were 5. 3/5. 5/&5. 7 seconds, on three runs. With the same mods plus the AFE PG-7 set-up, my times were 5. 3/5. 5/ &5. 6 seconds. It appears that I only gained a tenth of a second on one of the runs with the aftermarket AF system. In fairness, this was not a scientific test & my stop watch and my timing could have been off. However, I tried to be as accurate as humanly possible. I certainly expected more from the AFE Intake System. It's a hell-uv-a lot of money to spend on 1/10 of a second on just one run.
I think "swiss cheesing" the airbox or trying Performance System Mfg's. cold air Mod might work at least as well, if not better.
Regarding the exhaust sound, it is a BIT louder, expecially in the 2000/2200 rpm range under full acceleration. I've read that boxes will change/enhance the exhaust note & I'm hear to tell you, that is TRUE!!! It really sings, now. Actually, it sounds more like someone BLASTING-AWAY on a tuba. You have to work at it to get it to sound that way, though. Got to have it "floored".
Now, for the mileage. Yesterday, I decided to take a trip to the Imperial Sand Dunes in CA (just west of the Yuma, AZ, area). I wanted to see if the VA box would provide better fuel economy. I drove about 64/65 mph almost the entire way using the cruise control (that's 1900 rpm, on my truck [3. 73 gears]). I filled-up at the Flying J, right to the top of the filler neck & 473. 6 miles later, I refilled at the same station, same pump, again to the top of the filler neck. I got 21. 470 mpg's, hand calculated.
There was a fairly strong head wind coming east out of CA, at the time. Fast enough to cause flags to stand straight out. So I was fighting that for a lot of the trip. On the way back, it was in the evening and the winds had died down, quite a bit so I wasn't able to benefit much from a tail wind. In ideal conditions, I think my mileage would have been even better.
I, also, have a 115 gal. aux. fuel tank in the bed of the truck that is 3/4 full. Along with tools & the weight of the tank, that's probably another 600+lbs. , to haul around.
The reason for this post is to give you folks that have power enhancement needs or wants, similar to mine, an idea as to what you can expect with the mods that I tried.
Many of you members have shared your experiences with us. And, I, for one, really appreciate it. It's, now, my turn.
Joe F. (Buffalo)
:-laf
And then it is just to see how hard it works to get the load up a good grade! (speed kills!!)
