Pilgrimage

[Paveltolz]

I posted this in performance because it will quickly move from "Pilgrimage" to "Post 350HP build update"

Having been in communication with Ted (635) through the build up and let down of his 350 HP project, I decided to make a pilgrimage an link up with him at Heath's while they undid some more damage to his truck.

Make it a surprise for Bill too, having members of last year's "Team 6265" show up for an impromptu get together.

That was a lot of fun. Todd kept it quiet as my schedule is very much in flux and the surprise was complete. Bill is, as always, as friendly and gracious in person as he is on the phone.

Ted and had the run of the place which was very busy with the influx of calls, work being performed on Ted's truck inside the shop, others working on their trucks outside the shop and having to ride herd on me picking my way around used parts/bolts bins while installing upgrades outside.

If you haven't made the trip or are just postponing it for no real good reason; make the time and go. Save yourself a core charge and treat yourself. If you've never met another 6.5 er on the road and experienced that instant camaraderie that comes with these trucks, you'll defiantly experience it at HDP.

People come and go through there like a kitchen during a summer family reunion and it's a blast. I felt like a Wal Mart greeter as I was outside working on the truck and got to meet all the locals and travelers like me who came in to pick up orders, buy stuff, install stuff on site w/ adult supervision (like what I was doing), ask questions or stop in to just chat...regardless, everyone was treated like family.

Todd, Thanks for everything. You're a heck of a guy and balancing work, home and issues is not easy. I pray you enjoy your beautiful young family to the fullest as you all grow through life's challenges.

John, I love the Maverick and appreciate your youth an energy and none ridicule of my "youth" of wrenching and mistakes made. "Paul's Puddle" will hang over my head for the rest of my life. Too funny.

Bill, as always, thanks for everything. You're a great guy and your concern for others inside and outside of the 6.5 community is a treat to observe and I appreciate your generosity of time and effort as well as your trust and friendship.

On the way home I tried to link up with Veg_Out of Walking J Designs but settled for a great phone conversation instead. Maybe next time.

Ok...I'll post up a few pictures and give you a short update as Ted mentioned I could do but first, a little thread etiquette that I ask us all to observe...THIS IS NOT AN IAN BASH.

That being said - All, fell free to remind ME of the requested etiquette too.


Ian, if you're reading this, I don't know you or your issues (we all have them) so I'm not making this personal.

BUT, with that out of the way, you might want to stop at the end of this paragraph cause you're probably going to get your feelings hurt....

 

[Paveltolz]

The Shop

Outside shots of the shop and "yard art" in front.

Gassers on one side, diesels on the other is the unofficial practice for parking.
New projects are Todd's fathers and son 96 which needs an IP to get running. Should be fun for them both.

Bill's racer tow truck (Red). Tow truck needs a new motor. The previous owner was, understandably, emotional watching Bill haul it away.

 

[Paveltolz]

Rodd's Truck

Rodd is a local and is a model for 'adapt and overcome.' With a shattered knee and an infection that has left his body allergic to metals, he's facing amputation rather than replacement. He is optimistic anyway and has made some improvements to the rig to help him in the mean time. I love the "Man Step" he's got installed on the tailgate as, the way I'm headed, I'll need one soon. He also designed and built an awesome tool box that he had powder coated to compliment the truck's color. He also installed the hitch-mounted work lights and designed a very clean dash toggle switch set up that, unfortunately, I didn't photograph.

 

[Paveltolz]

Ted's Truck Photo's

The truck hadn't been washed since he got the salt off from Bonneville last SEP.
So, along with pre and post wash shots, please note the WMI, Nitrous, and Propane ducting at the "Rooter" and the duel exhaust at the "Tooter." Of additional interest are the vents cut into the hood to help get the heat out of the engine bay, right side fender vent to enhance the stock opening in the grill to the AFE 'cooler air' intake, spare tire side mount, "4X6" Decals, Semi Truck tires etc.

 

[Paveltolz]

The issue(s)

The current trip was to replace the injectors. The 350 hp project called for Bosch HO units which were destroyed by the propane injection system. Nothing wrong with the system except for the way it was set up after install. Tank angle was wrong causing the propane to inject as liquid vs misting. In a moment of anticipation, a test run was made without proofing the install. The program was set to trigger at a set boost PSI, which given the efficiency of the ATT, happens at a higher engine RPM. Anyway, instead of a misting the propane, the set up sent a straight shot of liquid into the motor, through the ATT (also toasted). As the theory goes, this resulted in a detonation of enough force to back pressure through the injectors and kill several. Tests of the removed injectors revealed pop pressures as low as 1200 with 1500 being the highest and significantly reduced or non-existent spray patterns.
Bad news: Ted drove the truck for quite a few miles with these injectors.
Good news: One of the drives was to Heath's and Ted followed Bill's advice and parked it permanently until he could get time and parts to do the repairs. The truck was then towed back to Heath's for this round of fixes.
Bad news: Ted got used to driving his neighbor's M Class Mercedes in the mean time.
Good news: So far as could be ascertained there is no damage to the engine.
With new stock injectors the truck gets 23 mpg with the WMI engaged and cruise set at a steady 62 mph. The propane wasn't used on this trip as the tank is empty pending install of a larger capacity unit (23 vs 8 gal).
While 'the thrill' is gone, the knowledge that his engine is OK, the injectors are now safe, the WMI is now correct and working and the mileage is great puts everything in balance.
Road ahead:
The 350HP goal is for someone else to reach.
GM8 replaces the damaged ATT which is making an office call to Tim (Turbine Doc), GL4 is coming out for the GLE program, Nitrous is coming out; Propane system has been corrected for spray and trigger settings but a road trip to the manufacturer is on as they have invited Ted out there so they can ensure the system is un-@#$%^ ed and tuned / optimized for his utilization.

 

[Paveltolz]

Ok, that's it except to say I'm enjoying the GLE, TM, new injectors, vaccume pump deletion and the little extras (ok, bling) to have any observations as to new MPG numbers. I fought a big headwind all the way home and my 'foot to fun' setting needs adjustment. I did climb effortlessly up every grade where the truck would normally warm up to 210 empty and never saw anything over 195. So, with the previously installed 4" exhaust, the S-F conversion and these upgrades, "I'm lovin' it."
Paul

 

[Matt Bachand]

Great to hear the truck is in good hands and on its way to being Ted's dream ride...

The cost of Ian has just begun it seems. What a shame...

What a nice looking truck Ted!!!

 

[buddy]

That really sucks about the propane. I have an 8 gallon tank too, mounted horizontally inside my tool box. It is obviously not a liquid propane tank, but just to be safe I ran the heater core coolant return through my regulator inside the engine bay. The heat from the coolant would vaporize any liquid that could possibly have formed.

I like the vented hood.

I threw my GM4 back on just to compare the feeling again. It snaps the boost up to 15 psi in an instant, and with a mechanical wastegate I can make it feel like too much boost all the time. Have it set with the right spring tension and it does alright, however still not the same good feeling as with the ATT. Although with the GM4 I can smoke the tires! And no black exhaust smoke. Spinning my tall tires with the 3.42 gears isnt that easy. ATT going back on next weekend.

Sounds like a great trip and good time. Maybe Heath can offer big discounts to people that come see him personally at the salt flats, and draw a crowd.

 

[635]

Matt, thanks for the compliment on my pickup, I didn't have any pictures to post!

Paul, thanks for the story and pictures.

After a lot of time and more money spent than I had planned, and a little more things to do, this is almost done. Stock injectors, AFE intake, and Timing set at -1.67. Bill took it for a drive and said it felt very strong. I didn't like the way it pulled. I told him it felt like a dog now with the smaller injectors. I feel as if it lost over 100hp. I can't boil the duals now even if I power brake it and it won't bark the tires when it shifts into second gear, a dog. Paul and I took the pickup for a drive up that little 5 mile grade and the pickup would only hit 85 and not make it into 4th gear, overdrive. It would get way over the 95 mark before, way over. So now, in my own way, it feels like a dog. I turned the turbomaster down to where it only get 15 pounds of boost with the right air temperature, 23 pounds showed up before on the Heath/Snow digital WMI gauge. But in the long run the milage is great. 62mph, with just WMI and 'NO' propane, and some hills got a very nice 23mpg (158 miles took 6.8 gallons).

This pickup is a great tow rig and that is what I plan on doing with it. Doing some towing with my fifth wheel car trailer and seeing the country with my big fifth wheel travel trailer.

The 7 gallon water tank comes out and a 32 gallon tank goes in and a 23 gallon propane tank takes place of the 8 gallon propane tank on top of the water tank.

635/Ted

 

[buddy]

Someone else that likes high output injectors

You probably have more fuel being recycled within the IP than you did before, probably get better mileage that way.

Your travels should be nice and comfy in your 6.5.

 

[Sunshine]

Thanks for the info and pictures, if all goes well Bill has invited me over to the salt flats this year and it will be nice to meet some of you guys....and I hope like wise....

 

[635]

Hey guys, if Paul can get to the Salt Flats from Oslo, Norway, then it shouldn't be too hard for the western part of the United States to get to the Salt flats for support!!

 

[Matt Bachand]

Hey guys, if Paul can get to the Salt Flats from Oslo, Norway, then it shouldn't be too hard for the western part of the United States to get to the Salt flats for support!!

I'll feel really bad if he shows up with his 6.5

 

[JiFaire]

Paul, great pics and thanks so much for the update! It's great to hear (and see) that Ted's truck is A-OK again; looking forward to further updates... I'm sure there is more good stuff to come!

As for the trip to Ellensburg, yeah, that's a blast - Bill and Todd are great people, and that's no lie. I hope everybody gets the chance to do what you did for a day or two!

Thanks again... make sure y'all post up Bonneville early... maybe I can make it this time. It ain't the distance, it's the timing.

Jim

 

[Paveltolz]

Paul, great pics and thanks so much for the update! It's great to hear (and see) that Ted's truck is A-OK again; looking forward to further updates... I'm sure there is more good stuff to come!

As for the trip to Ellensburg, yeah, that's a blast - Bill and Todd are great people, and that's no lie. I hope everybody gets the chance to do what you did for a day or two!

Thanks again... make sure y'all post up Bonneville early... maybe I can make it this time. It ain't the distance, it's the timing.

Jim

Yeah, that trip was a blast and worth the time and $. The look on Bill's face as the "Team" showed up was classic. Todd did a great job of keeping the secret.

On edit of the "Issues" post (#5), Ted did not take the truck on the premature 'test run' of the propane system and ATT.
Just wanted to set the record straight on that point. He only drove the truck after the project was obviously not going to get finished and he reclaimed it. Not certain as to why it wasn't running even close to "as advertised" he had to start the long road to recovery through one heart rending discovery after another....Now, just where did those missing turbo fan blades go...hmmm?

As for 'the flats,' I'm planning on being there too as Bill's invited me back to help again. I'm no master at this stuff and I don't stay at Holiday Inns "but I can lift heavy things." At least "Sunshine" and I won't have any trouble remembering each others name. Its going to be fun.

 

[Sunshine]

I'll feel really bad if he shows up with his 6.5

Cool sense of humour Matt..:thumbsup: that's what its all about here the serious & the un-serious parts on this forum... I just rolled up with laughter and still am...):h):h):h

 

[Paveltolz]

Update on my truck. Injectors are still breaking in but the improvements are already manifest so far as mileage goes.
Flat, windless freeway runs are netting 17.9 mpg at 65 mph. Mixed city/highway/freeway commutes to work over 18 miles with a lot of city running around result in 16.5 to 17.3.
Prior to the upgrades, the truck was a pig to drive and was getting 14.9 to 15.5. All this is on winter blend. Before my lift and larger tires I was netting 15.5 to 17.5 on the stock tires burning summer blended fuel. The truck feels lighter with the improved pep and throttle response where before it was sluggish and just 'felt heavy.'

This Summer should be interesting. Heading back up to Heath's while on Gubmint bidness later this month. New IP needed as pulse widths are getting longer...$%^&* Maybe I'll get a look at his new air intake too. If I sacrifice a few meals (and I need to) I could add that to the shopping list too. Why not?

 

[buddy]

Sounds like you were in need of them injectors, how many miles on the last ones and what kind did you put in there?

If youre setting pulse width codes, make sure youre adding oil to every tank of fuel, and try a PMD swap. Could also be a fuel supply issue, if youre not checking lift pump pressure often.

 

[Paveltolz]

Thanks Buddy. There were only 5K miles on the injectors. Rebuilt Bosch units that were suspect as the price was too good. Disasembled one and the internal manufacturing stamps weren't close to the ones on a known 'genuine' Bosch unit. So, pulled them out, put in the new Bosch units and the white cloud at start up is gone. The FSD is two years old and has always been mounted behind the bumper on a large, finned, heat sink. So, it shouldn't be an issue. Then again, you never know. I will probably play it safe and pick up a D-Tech and use the old one as a spare.
Slowing down, letting off the pedal from normal cruising results in sudden silence although the engine doesn't shut down. Just doesn't 'come down' smothely. I get slight surges when on cruise just ideling down the highway and it fails the 2000 RPM test in that reguard too so the IP is definately on the way out.
Since the new IP is going in shortly, I guess I could save $10 and hold off on the oil additives for a couple of weeks.:rolleyes5:

 

[ak diesel driver]

I wouldn't that oil in the fuel will lube more than the IP. LP, injectors