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Intercooler with GMx vs. ATT-no cooler

5

540s10

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Shrewsbury,MA
I have an un-used intercooler sitting on my shelf that would fit my truck, would it be worth going through the trouble of rigging it up to work? How would it compare to running the ATT with no intercooler (or with one for that matter). The truck has a diamond eye exhaust.

Would it be better to install the intercooler and get a re-flash? vs the ATT with no reflash (think bang for the buck here) I won't be doing any heavy towing, nothing over 6k lbs.

Also planning on swapping to a Nv4500 5speed with a Gearvendors over drive behind it. Don't know if having 10 speeds be happier with the stock turbo or th ATT.
 
I would stick with the GM8 with a reflash and the intercooler, it would be way more bang for your buck. Although for the cost of the gearvendors theres a lot that could be done. The gearvendors will keep you in lower RPMs so I would stick with the GM8.
 
buddy said:
I would stick with the GM8 with a reflash and the intercooler, it would be way more bang for your buck. Although for the cost of the gearvendors theres a lot that could be done. The gearvendors will keep you in lower RPMs so I would stick with the GM8.
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And how is a gm 8 with an intercooler and a reflash more bang for your buck? Maybe clarification would be best.
 
buddy said:
I would stick with the GM8 with a reflash and the intercooler, it would be way more bang for your buck. Although for the cost of the gearvendors theres a lot that could be done. The gearvendors will keep you in lower RPMs so I would stick with the GM8.
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I should have also mentioned the gearvendors is sitting on the floor of my garage too, only need to buy the adapter for the t-case.
 
540s10 said:
I should have also mentioned the gearvendors is sitting on the floor of my garage too, only need to buy the adapter for the t-case.
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A lot depends on your final drive ratio, If you are using the truck for pulling all of the time, not much of the time where you live and the final most important how you drive. If you are looking for the most cost effective. then you need to way the costs.

You can get an ATT and a KOJO reflash and use the intercooler, sell the intercooler and pay for most of your ATT purchase or all of the reflash price of a KOJO chip. Lots of what ifs, one opinion is just that, one opinion, you need to figure out what is best for you.

Dam a man can't even get a break, around here.

Slim
 
Slim Shady said:
And how is a gm 8 with an intercooler and a reflash more bang for your buck? Maybe clarification would be best.
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Well, intercooler is on shelf. reflash costs $350-500, puts out 30% more fuel than stock L65 program for more power and can provide improved timing curve, can tweak TCC lock up and shifting parameters, disable boost faults.

ATT is $800 and with no reflash is still a lot less power and none of the other computer controlled advantages. If you live in a non-rural area, going to need a better or another muffler to keep the noise down too :)

You can do the math ;)

Plus add in the fact the intercooler increases air density (one advatage of ATT is met), and gear vendors will keep RPM lower for better economy(another advantage of ATT met).

Now the ATT + reflash would have been best bang for the buck if not already have intercooler or getting gear vendors unit.
 
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Buddy I have seen multiple references in some of your posts to excessive noise with ATT, I live & work in the city, have not yet had one complaint about noise, gassers with aftermarket mufflers/exhaust are far more noisy than mine with a Heath exhaust. If I romp on it and open it up yes it's far more throaty than a stock GM turbo/exhaust combo but no unbearibly so.

Now I do have some hearing loss from years around turbines & other large machinery so maybe that is why I'm not bothered, but my burb has same set up at my truck and my wife who drives it does not complain about excessive noise, our pastor does not make note of it when I pull up to the church when day care, sunday school or church services are is in session.

Is your Aero-Turbine 440 muffler which is listed in your signature the source of the extra nosie you are reporting out on, multiple ATT owners are not reporting noise issues, which IMO is a important data point as exhaust type does matter with ATT; as you & both can attest Bank's exhaust is not to be used with the ATT, possibly Aero-Turbine is not as "noise-friendly" as one might need.

As far as mpg with the IC, I never noticed any significant gain in mpg with the IC with either the GM turbo or the ATT, more power with IC but not mpg. The ATT has upped my mpg 1-3 mpg depending how hard & fast I drive, in this case I'd say sell the IC and old turbo, he says he's not going to be hauling much, so probably he's 3:73 as a 2500 (540s10 update sig with more info please) which gives good towing ratio & mpg for his needs.

10 psi boost will get him to 100 mph running empty IAT on most days does not really get hot until running 10+ boost depending what is behind the truck without IC he'll drive a little slower but still should be able to maintain 65-70 without an IC even on hills, or add in WMI a bought or home built kit.

So IMO and opinion is what is being asked I think, in long run bang for buck is ATT, take some of the mpg savings and get a reflash, KOJO tune tweaked for ATT use looks very promising. FWIW member Buck-Buck tows daily 30k# of pipe loads on average, with ATT no IC in South Louisiana 90+F summer temps, no reflash, dually 4500 series truck in oil fields 4:63 ratio IIRC.

Now an unknown is the gear vendors with ATT, nobody has tried that, so possibly with such low gearing with a GV the GM turbo may be preferable as it will have slight edge in lower rpm, so that is a whole new configuration that hasn't been evaluated yet. If you go ATT with the GV keep good notes as I'm considering this myself.

I'd also surmise a GV with the 6.2 would be all one would need, think about the many cube vans, trucks, etc. with 6.2 that are able to do economical work with the right gearing, such as a GV would bring to the table.
 
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I have to say my ATT made my exhaust noticeably(sp?) louder but not obnoxious. I also agree with TurbineDoc about the increase in mileage. But if 540s10 has all of the stuff already on his garage floor, I would be doing all of the above!!
 
well, the question was either
1) reflash + already acquired IC
or
2) ATT

not reflash + ATT, so actually advising on that question, you have to provide an accurate answer.

Also, the gear vendors would provide better economy, not the IC. And knowing what kind of boost is created at low RPM by the ATT without being loaded down, the GMx would provide better throttle response.

If you have exhaust and gauges done already, then a reflash is ALWAYS the best next step IMO.

The ATT makes it sound really awesome, but its loud, rumbles against all the houses and I live in a culdesac. I have two aeroturbine mufflers, and I tried putting a muffler tip on it as well. Its still very much so loud at idle and low rpm. Its not obnoxious loud, because it is in the very low frequency register that its loud, so hearing being affected could make a difference. If its not bouncing off a nearby structure its also not as noticeable.
 
I would think with the GV unit you could control your rpm range even better, meaning you could take advantage of the ATT's sweet spot even more so than a standard truck??

Cool stuff Simon... You seem like the type of guy whose never going to be 'done', so if you don't replace the turbo now, I have a feeling you will eventually!

Truck's running well I take it! Most people get tired of shifting, and a few never have enough gears!
 
Personally I don't notice any turbo lag with the ATT, maybe that is because of 4.10 gears. I will be getting another when I get around to that dang 98 in my sig.
 
When your truck weighs 3000lbs more empty and has a lot more static and kinetic friction with 2 more tires it takes more RPMs to get it going and cruises at any speed higher RPM with 4.10 gearing it would always have the turbo spooling more. perfect application for an ATT, well maybe Matt's truck would be perfect application, we should take up a collection for him.
 
buddy said:
When your truck weighs 3000lbs more empty and has a lot more static and kinetic friction with 2 more tires it takes more RPMs to get it going and cruises at any speed higher RPM with 4.10 gearing it would always have the turbo spooling more. perfect application for an ATT, well maybe Matt's truck would be perfect application, we should take up a collection for him.
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Summer time :) No thanks on the collection :) I'm good. Few more months...

I have had the same thoughts about the ATT. Engine is always loaded, meaning its creating boost. 4.10 gears are great until you want to go fast. If you set your max speed at 65, average cruising at 60, they are great.

Even thought I'm TM'd set at 2 1/4 inches, I'm often times creating 3-4-5 psi of boost, while on flat, even downhill highway runs. Seems like a lot? I think I'll notice great MPG gains as its 20 mile highway shots (hilly) that chew my fuel up fast. City driving it seems to last forever.

Wish I could find a IAT guage to install first though.
 
My '99 with ATT is much more throatier in the cabin than my '95 with GM 4. Exhaust? I don't hear it. I'm talking engine sound and it's definitely louder.
 
540s10 said:
I should have also mentioned the gearvendors is sitting on the floor of my garage too, only need to buy the adapter for the t-case.
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So ive got to ask...where in the hell did you get that?? Ive been drooling over one for a long time, but i just cant seem to cough up all the money for the unit.

As for the ATT discussion here......540s10 is talking about swaping over to a manual trans. Now in my truck with the GMX and the 5spd, i can use all the low end boost and power I can get. Quite a few att owners claim some lag over the factory turbo settup, which in a manual trans aplication, is exactally what we dont need.

Now slim shady, i know you have the 5spd in your truck. What are your thoughts on this?

And i think it should be noted that If someone goes the ATT route with no re-flash, they should at least be setting -1.94. Correct?
 
HighSierra86 said:
So ive got to ask...where in the hell did you get that?? Ive been drooling over one for a long time, but i just cant seem to cough up all the money for the unit.
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I bought 2 of them from Summit racing 8 years ago when they decided to stop stocking them, got them at 1/2 off retail price. :thumbsup:
 
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