Van Aaken Smart Box C3.2 Review

[GWBourne]

So I won’t the VAC3. 2 on TowRig.com a while back and have been SLACKING on the review...



There is a big reason for that... I FINALY finished the gauge install.



Install was SIMPLE. Unplug the ECM harness, plug in the Van Aaken harness, and plug the ECM harness into the VA harness. Route the switch wire how you see fit and install the switch where you see fit. Mount the box and call it done. The box comes with 3M "Velcro" and fits nicely on top of the fuse box on the driver’s side. I chose to route the wire through the fender then into the door molding. I used some high grade aviation electrical tape that doesn’t come off of anything it seems like to keep it in place.



I then mounted the switch on the top of my 3 gauge pillar. It looks like it belongs there.



Now, without gauges installed... WOW seat of the pants dyno says OH WOW!! The box has three setting. Off, low and high. On off the box is boost fooling only. On stock fuel you can hit 35lbs of boost with a nice load. On low you can hit 39 to 41lbs of boost and on high you can hit 44 to 46lbs of boost. This is all I knew until I finished the fuel pressure and pyro on my truck... here is the rest...



Fuel pressure drops JUST like stock. The C3. 2 ONLY does fuel duration, not pressure. I am not sure, but I think in a pressure box the pre filter pressure SHOULD drop a bit faster...



EGT... well... I need a larger turbo, that is for sure. On low it will peg to 1300 degrees but I have not been able to push it farther unless towing. When towing I can get to 1400 and I back off it. Low with towing and the cruise set to 59mph (on the GPS) mileage came up by . 8 on the overhead, by . 3 hand calc. The engine works more efficiently with the box on low.



On high... well, high stands for high EGT in this case. If I am playing around town I can run through 3 gears before I have to back down. The good thing is it is a "Switch on the go" deal and you can switch around as needed/wanted. High ALSO stand for HIGH smoke!! I can smoke a lot like a 12 valve on high till I hit about 40lbs of boost. Then it clears up.



Again, I need a larger turbo, and that will come soon. I am VERY happy with the Van Aaken Smart Box C3. 2.



BIG thanks to Dominator Performance Diesel!!

Grant Bourne

 

[Diesel Power]

good write up. alot of people dont realize that the van aaken is as good as it is. i reccomend it, but on a stock charged truck egt's are very high. Oo.

 

[GWBourne]

yeah... i dont want ANY boxes that do anything to increas fuel pressure. Bryan recomended the C3. 1, but i wouldnt have it... lol



i am going to do the tone ring mod some day to help a little bit... .



and i would like to run twins with some 50hp injectors... should be a nice combo then. and a new clutch to go with that extra power... lol

 

[SLJolley]

Grant,

I'm glad it is working good for you so far. Using the Rokktech Sensor (or doing the tone ring mod) works really well to lower the EGT's and boost power a bit more with the C3. 2. We have a stack of Rokktechs here if you would like to get one.

 

[GWBourne]

SL,

I need to keep the little bit of cash in pocket i have right now. i will be doing the tone ring mod tomorrow i think. since this is the first time in 2+ years i have had all of my tools and toys in one city im going to take advantage of it.



i also have not been happy with the mixed reviews of the rokktech sensor to be honest. i think they need to put it on a dyno with 6 or 8 different trucks and see what it does. . but thats just me.



thanks again, and sorry it took so long for the review, but i couldnt post it up with limited answers to questions i KNOW would get asked. the gauge install took so long due to my tools being in AZ and be being in cali. i installed the pyro and the fule pressure at a friend shop, then hooked up the trailer and was on the road. again, ZERO problems with the setup.



im going to send you a PM reguarding something we had talked about in the past as well...

Grant

 

[MR.K]

Does the Van Akken C3. 2 help or hurt fuel milage with rokk sensor over stock ?

 

[SLJolley]

We have had good results with the Rokktech/C3. 2 stack and mileage. Alot of it just depends on driving habits.

 

[MR.K]

better than??

Do you think better than a Bully dog pup on #2 setting... I have an 03 HO auto.

 

[Buffalo]

I have the VA-C3. 2 on my '03, HO along woth the "tone ring mod". It works pretty well other than I get a "miss" in the engine, that lasts for just a second, & only during 3/4 to full throttle, on the HIGH level, only. This occurs at about the 2200 rpm range.



I thought the engine was running out of fuel but, after the miss, it keeps running fine right up to redline.



Anyone else experiencing this problem?



I'm not noticing extremely high EGT's, even when towing on HIGH. I do have to watch it, a bit, when towing in the mountains, though. If it starts to get warm, I just switch to the LOW level.



I was told by VAN AAKEN that the OFF level was stock. The LOW level was 65 HP. & the HIGH level was 130 HP. , all measured "at the rear wheels".



At May Madness, this year, I put the truck on the dyno & on the LOW level did 341. 92 HP. The HIGH level only produced 347. 55 HP. So, the HIGH level only produced 5. 63 more HP than the LOW level. I wonder where my other 59. 37 HP. went? Both runs were in fifth gear with the pedal to the floor. I, also, have an AFE PG-7 Intake System & Magnaflow 24" muffler, on the truck. No other performance products.



I must say that the High level "feels" quite a bit more powerful than the LOW level (seat of the pants). Definately more than a 5. 37 HP. difference. I imagine that it's possible that my dyno run may have been off.



Other than the "miss", I really like the VA-C3. 2. I chose it because I didn't want the raised fuel preassure-type boxes.



Would appreciate any thoughts & experiences regarding this problem.



Joe F. (Buffalo)

 

[MR.K]

What kinda mileage do you get??

 

[GWBourne]

I have the VA-C3. 2 on my '03, HO along woth the "tone ring mod". It works pretty well other than I get a "miss" in the engine, that lasts for just a second, & only during 3/4 to full throttle, on the HIGH level, only. This occurs at about the 2200 rpm range.



I thought the engine was running out of fuel but, after the miss, it keeps running fine right up to redline.



Anyone else experiencing this problem?



I'm not noticing extremely high EGT's, even when towing on HIGH. I do have to watch it, a bit, when towing in the mountains, though. If it starts to get warm, I just switch to the LOW level.



I was told by VAN AAKEN that the OFF level was stock. The LOW level was 65 HP. & the HIGH level was 130 HP. , all measured "at the rear wheels".



At May Madness, this year, I put the truck on the dyno & on the LOW level did 341. 92 HP. The HIGH level only produced 347. 55 HP. So, the HIGH level only produced 5. 63 more HP than the LOW level. I wonder where my other 59. 37 HP. went? Both runs were in fifth gear with the pedal to the floor. I, also, have an AFE PG-7 Intake System & Magnaflow 24" muffler, on the truck. No other performance products.



I must say that the High level "feels" quite a bit more powerful than the LOW level (seat of the pants). Definately more than a 5. 37 HP. difference. I imagine that it's possible that my dyno run may have been off.



Other than the "miss", I really like the VA-C3. 2. I chose it because I didn't want the raised fuel preassure-type boxes.



Would appreciate any thoughts & experiences regarding this problem.



Joe F. (Buffalo)

Joe, i get the "miss" now and then, BUT its only when i switch from mid to high durring a half to full throttle run... . i just adjusted myself a bit so i try not to do this. after it "misses" everything is fine.



i still need to do the tone ring, but work keeps me busy, so it will come in time.



i laid down 385 horses and 691lbs of torque on the high setting. didnt test the low setting, the mid setting put 360 hp and 640 tq down.



all other mods to my truck are BASIC. 4040 aero turbine and swis cheese airbox. on the dyno i had a DIRTY airfilter, and this may have done some differeance, as with Hercules130's truck his stocker put down a nice number with just a hole in the airbox. but only another dyno run would prove anything.



i know i need some timing and i know i need a larger turbo... but i also know how much money is in my bank account... lol

Grant

 

[Buffalo]

Mr. K,



The best I've gotten was 21. 47 mpg. on a 400+ mile drive into CA. right after installing the VA. Very strong head wind, & was driving 62-65 mph. (trying for economy). I also had about 75 gals. of fuel in my aux. fuel tank & my stock tank was full. Quite a bit of extra weight.



GWBourne,



Your box is doing quite a bit better than mine. About 38 more HP than mine on the HIGH level. Thats not bad, at all.



From what I understand, your '04. 5 stock turbo performs better than my '03 stock turbo. That may be a difference.



My miss is on the HIGH level, at 3/4 to full throttle & at 2200 rpm's. Lasts for about a second & then takes off again until redline.



Yours is definately running better than mine. Congratulations!



Joe F. (Buffalo)

 

[rhino_50]

I have a 3. 2 stacked with an edge ez. I put my truck on a dyno and got 423hp and 777ft or torque. I had the edge set on the 65 horse setting, and the 3. 2 set on the highest. But I also have a aftermarket turbo and a fass. Rhino 50

 

[GWBourne]

im thinking a VA 3. 1 and some 50hp injectors with a SPS66 should do what i want it to do... .

a grand at the wheels...