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The "restification" of a 98 6.5 TD...

Popped my new PCM in yesterday.

Took it for a burn and hit 18 psi on hard accell before I caught it and let off.

I would have keep going had I not been watching the gauge. It hammered up so fast my boost warning light (set at 13 PSI) barely had a chance to fire off....yipe!

Too much for my old block.

So, got up this morning and fired it up for the trip to work planing to go light on the throttle until I could sort it out.

Pull out, tickle the throttle.

O boost.

Nada.

????

I give it a good tromp.

Nada. 0 boost and a big black cloud behind me. The gauge actually shows vacuum instead of boost.

Pop the hood and there it is, wastegate is wide open and no vacuum at the pot.

Swap my original PCM back in and the vac system works fine.

In all fairness, this PCM might have been setup to work specifically with a TM since they were both bought from the same source. The behavior might be because I was still running the vac system with a PCM with boost tables not built for it.

So, I installed the turbo master after work to go with the tuned PCM and we'll see how that goes.

I also removed the Vac pump and installed the short belt.

Well, shorter than the stock belt but not short enough. It's tensioned, but the tensioner is hard over against it's stop.

That just won't do. Once this belt gets a few miles on it, the tensioner won't have anything left to take up slack.

I'm off to the parts store to source another belt. There goes another 40 bucks.

On another note, the transmission tables are......interesting.

Shifts are held longer (something my 300M special does factory compared to a regular 300M, so I'm familiar with the concept and reasons for it) and the torque converter lockup behavior is also something to will take some getting used to.

Oddly, the trans shudders on hard acceleration now. Something not present in the stock PCM. I need to figure out if it's the trans tables, or if the stock PCm was masking a mechanical failure waiting to happen.

maybe the torque management tables have been adjusted.

There's just no way to know since I can only tune and upload.

I don't have downloading capability and I have no interest in ruining a PCM to brute force the bin off the chip.

If it doesn't work for me, I'll just pull it out and flash one of my other PCM's for my uses and consider it a learning experience...
 
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Well, I should have known better.......

Oil pressure took a dive today and started a steady march downward even while ripping down the highway.

Was down to just below 30 psi by the end of it.

Same kind of foolishness last time I tried "Restore" in an engine.

That bloody jeebus crap is coming out!

Stop by the store on the way home for a couple fresh jugs of Rotella, a filter and a bottle of engine flush.

Dump the flush in, idle/fast idle it for 10 mins, let it sit for 20 mins, then another 10 min idle/fast idle.

Dump the crankcase and pull the filter.

On goes the new filter and in goes the fresh Rotella.

Sure enough, right back up to 35-40 psi as soon as she catches.





Yup, I shoulda known better...........
 
On another note;

the pcm seems to be learning the truck and my driving style a bit better. I guess it does have "adaptive learn".

A 2 hr run on the highway seems to have sorted it out a bit.

The truck is a bit more "comfortable" at highway speeds and passing, and anything off idle seems just as smooth as the factory PCM was. On ramps seem to be a bit more enjoyable now also....

The idle is still a bit rougher than the factory or my self tuned PCM and the after glow function doesn't seem to be present in the new PCM.

I can also tell the timing has been adjusted as well. Much more "clatter" than the stock PCM with the same IP settings. Not objectionable, but noticeable. Maybe it's pre programmed to -1.94. I just don't know as I haven't even scanned it yet. Maybe an offset relearn is in order....

The glow time and lift pump pre prime is much shorter, but it's pretty warm here right now and the short glow and prime may be a function of the higher ambient and temp sensor right now. Not to mention, my raptor primes the system in the first fraction of a second. well, maybe two fractions of a second.....;)

The transmission tuning is still......interesting.........but it seems to be none the worse for wear.

The convertor lockup behavior is still taking some getting used to, but unlocking it by tapping on the brakes works fine. It is a benefit having it on off ramps, but is a bit odd when it unlocks itself at 40 mph and lets everything freewheel. You have to watch for it and be ready for brakes after you get used to it being there. Hopefully it will be effective when towing the trailer down the backside of the divide.

The shudder is much less pronounced than it was, but still more than stock. I've got a fluid and filter change on the books for the next few weeks, we'll see if that fixes 'er up.

A bright note is EGTs. I have to absolutely, positively make a deliberate effort to get the sucker into the 1000+ range. This is unloaded and I'm not near the floor yet, but it's also hauling it's 7000 odd pounds up a "hill" that climbs 450 feet in 1/2 mile. Yup, steep is the operative word here...

The turbo master seems to be doing it's job there as it holds more boost, longer than the stock vacuum system. The jury is still out on whether holding boost on all the time is better or worse. I could have done the same with the stock system by messing with the tables, but this is a nice, simple, fast, stone axe reliable way to do it. Plus, I was able to remove the vacuum pump. One less rotating component to go bad and maybe an incremental MPG gain since she's not exerting hp to spin it.

You can tell some time and attention went into the TM construction. It looks much better than a gutted vacuum pot and threaded rod would and it installs nicely with no muss or fuss. Probably works the same as a gutted pot, but the gutted pot would look buck-shee and this "looks the business".

The PCM may be part of it too, but it's hard to tell when you change more than one variable at a time.

Once I get the water injection going, the trip should at least be bearable and survivable....

Will I stick with the TM after the trip? I don't know yet. Maybe, maybe not. I still like he idea of a tunable wastegate. As in; tuneable across the entire range, not just "blow off" pressure.
 
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Found another 16216588 today.

Called the gent and he said 150 bucks over the phone. When I got there, he asks me where I came from. I said an hour up the highway.

He looked at my truck, paused for a moment and says;

"I'll cut you a break, 100 bucks cash and it's yours since that beast must have eaten a fair bit of gas just getting here".

Nice guy.

100 bucks and I've got another PCM to work with. That's 6 now, but my stock PCM will stay unmolested.

100 bucks is a good deal around these parts, if you can find them at all.

So, one for stock - one for towing - one for performance - one to go back as core - two for spares as I'll probably end up "bricking" one or two over time.

Always on the prowl for more at a good price though......

:)
 
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Well, the 16216588 PCM must be more of a learning PCM than I originally thought.

Little bit smoother today and the transmission shudder is very much reduced.

I had the new windshield installed this morning. dropped it off and went walk about since it was going to be a couple hours.

Dropped into the local tool store and they're got 4 and 5 "D" cell mag lights on sale at 15 bucks a piece!

I grab two and head out, happy that I'd found a good deal since the rest of the day was going to be much more expensive.

I pick up a diesel mag and a coffee at the local convenience store and head back to the glass shop.

It's not done yet, so I drink my coffee, read the mag and then go on walkabout again to Lordco (local parts store) to pick up a shorter belt.

Pick up a k60990 and a K60100 belt, both Dayco, and then walk back to the glass shop.

The truck is done, but when I walk out to the truck there's a big knife slash in the dash! :eek:

Seems the owner of the shop decided to help his employee out and dropped his open Olfa knife on the passenger side dash but didn't notice the cut.

Yup, nice 3/4 inch slash right in the plastic and that's a fact. It's right at the edge where you look out so there's no missing it :banghead:

After we worked the plastic down flat again (it was a slash and the piece popped up but didn't detach) and used a special two part plastic cement (it's obviously happened before) he gave me 100 bucks off the price of the job.

:eek:

I told him I know the truck is old and isn't perfect and that was too much. If he wanted to do 40-50 bucks I was OK with that.

Well, he was having none of it and gave me the 100 bucks off. He also said that if it bothered me looking at it after a day or two to bring it back and he'd have the dash professionally repaired.

It's not often you find someone willing to make things right like that. I offered once again to take less, but he was still having none of that. I thanked him for being a professional and an outstandingly ethical businessman and went my way.

Now, looking at that nice clean sheet of glass got me to thinking;

I sure don't want to take a rock on the way across country and it would be nice to keep the bugs off it as much as possible.

So I stop into Lordco and slip the 99 inch belt on the pulleys in the parking lot. Just slipped on the idler and the adjustment marks are just a wee bit into the "tight" range on the tensioner.

The K601000 that came with the TM was waaaaay too long. I'll chuck it in the back as a "git back" spare since I've been running it for a day and it's unlikely it is "returnable". Hopefully, this belt will relax after a bit of run in to bring it nicely into the "proper" range.

I grab the 100 inch belt to return it (wasn't Installed) and inquire on a bug deflector/air deflector.

Turns out, they've got two AVS bugflector II's on the shelf. The gent says they've been there forever and he'll cut me a great deal on one.

40 bucks later (taxes in), I'm walking out with a new 85 dollar retail bugflector II.

It's been a decent day after all.

Live right and it all comes around sooner or later.

:)
 
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Sounds like you got a heck of a deal BJ. Refresh my memory, you can just pull the Vac pump and install a shorter belt correct? I'll have to get around to that.
 
Sounds like you got a heck of a deal BJ. Refresh my memory, you can just pull the Vac pump and install a shorter belt correct? I'll have to get around to that.

Yup.

Three 10 mm bolts in the bracket, pull the vacuum lines and disconnect the wastegate actuator over the drivers valve cover for your ATT install.

I just left my actuator hooked up but it will also go, eventually. Or I may go back to the vac setup in the future. Just too early to say....

My 1998 took a 99" belt (it's pretty much stretched down to proper tension already today), but guys have used everything from a 101, 100 and a 99.5 belt.

You just have to see what fits your particular truck...
 
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I removed vac pump on the 96. I ran into problems getting the exact right tension. Cant remember what length belt I wound up using, but you can try different ideler pulleys of different diameters. I wound up with a pulley for the dual altenator set up.

Sound like you had a fun day.
 
Awwww farfegnugen me up the......

My dampr wobble has turned into full on rubber chunking.

I NEED that fluidampr right now.

I've got one on order with Heath, but he's backordered like everyone else. Mike at Harbour City Diesel in Naniamo called fluidampr directly for me. Yup, nothing until end Jun.

They tell him they are waiting for enough orders to spool up another production run. :eek5:

It doesn't take a crystal ball to see what might happen if they don't get enough orders. :skep:

And that's only when the factory SHIPS....I'll be halfway to the east coast by the middle of July. :banghead:

So, not looking forward to buying a stock damper to only take it off and chuck it in a month, I started "beating the internet bushes".

Nada, zip, no hombre, nien, do not pass go do not collect 2 hundred dollars.

Only one to be found was on ebay in Jegs ebay store and they only ship continental US.























Waitaminute; it says two in stock and it's JEGS.......

Over I go to the JEGS web site and get the 1-800 contact number.

Call the order desk and yup, they have two in stock. Plus, phone orders will ship cross border!

Smiley_Misc-MonkeyDance.gif


Well, I'm into "beggars can't be choosers" zone here, so I order one up. Gent on the phone tells me it will ship tomorrow and be here by Friday (FEDEX). I'm still getting dinged with brokerage, but this time the guy tells me over the phone and I get to pay it up front instead of a nice surprise at the door. It's also much less than UPS fees. He also tells me the taxes and other misc costs up front. No COD charges from the carrier either since I pay JEGS up front. He gives me a total to pay and I'm on my way.

Not great and I'm still paying a fair bit for it at the end of the day, but waaay better than the way UPS does it. UPS nickles and dimes you to death on the buyers end when cross border. Plus, I now know when it shows up, it's not like a lottery on what I'm have to pay the guy.....

So, now I have to cancel my order with Heath and look for a refund since I've already paid.

I hope that goes over OK........last time, not so much.................

Well, at least I'll get my dampr by Friday and I'll have it hanging off the crank snout for the cross continent haul.....

:)
 
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I just responded to your last question and you go order one :p glad to hear you got one coming without a huge hassle.
 
:lol: it's all good. Let me know what you want to do with the replacement steeringwheel (ship or just pick it up).
 
:lol: it's all good. Let me know what you want to do with the replacement steeringwheel (ship or just pick it up).

How far away from the highway are you again?

15-20 mins?

I'll have teh car and the truck, maybe I'll be able to just side route from the highway with the car and we can meet up.

I don't know if it will be morning noon or night though.

Most likely lunch/afternoon..
 
My house is about 10-15 mins off of I90 down HWY 18. My work is in south Seattle (about 10 mins south of I90). It's up to you. All I really need to know if a few days in advance around what time so I can plan for it. I have no problem taking an afternoon off work either to BS awhile with a fellow 6.5er.
 
My house is about 10-15 mins off of I90 down HWY 18. My work is in south Seattle (about 10 mins south of I90). It's up to you. All I really need to know if a few days in advance around what time so I can plan for it. I have no problem taking an afternoon off work either to BS awhile with a fellow 6.5er.

Right no, I'll be passing by on the 7th.

Time, not sure.

Unfortunately, I won't have much time for socializing. It's work and not vaca, so we're making time on the trip.

I'l try and nail down a time once we get a bit closer.

Given the recent "expenditures", I wouldn't mind saving a couple bucks and not shipping....

;)
 
Let me know. If for whatever reason if I can't catch ya, I can leave it at my place in the back of a truck and you can swing by and pick it up. My house is right off the freeway anyway, probably take you 20 mins round trip from I90.
 
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