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Wish me luck

Detroit Dan

Detroit Dan

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Todays the day, big test of the mods done since last year. Pulling the camper up to Mount Washington Valley. Historically the bigger hills would wipe my truck out, be pulling over the top at about 35 mph with the pistons probably getting soft. Last year I did it with the ATT, there was a noticeable improvement but not as good as I hoped, about 45 clearing the top. But then I found when I got home that the turbo clamp was loose so it was sucking air.

This time I'm doing it with the ATT working right, feed-the-beast mod, a new KOJO tune and vssb, fan clutch mod and six brand new tires.

I am expecting to see some improvement, hope the old girl holds together and doesn't let me down. If all goes well I should be able to get up the hills in pretty good shape.

If I can get off the computer and get motivated, I might even have a Walbro frb-5 pushing the fuel. Leaving at 3 today, lots to do yet so I should get going.

Let you know how it went when I get back next week.
 

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I'm not a betting man, but I'll be on pins and needles over the weekend waiting for the report.

Detroit Dan, your rig is set up very similar to mine except I don't have the ATT and KOJO tune and mine is a 3/4T w/singles. I am considering the ATT and KOJO but not sure my tax returns will go that far. I would be very interested in hearing how you do, especially fuel mileage pulling your trailer. Could you describe the elevation change/mountain pass and highway you go over? Where we like to go here in OR is the Metolious River area and is about 100 miles away. Here at home is about 250 ft elevation, to over 4800 Ft at the top of Santiam Pass, and back down to about 3000 ft in the Metolious area. It is a very long and easy climb most of the way going east, but about 5-10 miles on either side of the pass is a stiff climb to the top. I've not had my 6.5 very long and just wondering what a real world example might be. I've pulled the pass many times with a Astro van with 4.3 vortec (20 ft Komfort Lite trailer) and a Ford PU with a 460 and a 29 ft Terry Manor. We still have the 29 Ft Terry and will be pulling it with the 6.5. The 460 did great until you pulled into the gas station, 5-6 mpg hurts.

Don
 
What a nice looking package going down the road! I look forward to reading positive results. Will be some great feedback on the KOJO tune too.

Those are some aggresive tires! That'll hurt MPG a tad I'd think. Look badass!
 
Well, we have wi-fi here and I finally wrestled my wifes laptop away from her. I hate to be the one to tell you this, but I am an IDIOT! Some of you already knew this, but some of you may be hearing it for the first time. I made a very stupid mistake and nearly lost the most reliable motor I've ever owned. Few weeks ago I finally got around to doing the fan clutch mod. Thought I read it carefully and understood what I was doing, but I did it backwards. Pulling the hills the fan didn't come on until ---245---:O I could smell the oil and grease burning off the block. Don't know how it held together, I really had no choice but to push it and pray. I guess maybe GM knew what they were doing setting the redline way up there, because it didn't overheat, or blow a headgasket or anything. I had one eye on the temp gauge and one in the passenger side mirror watching the tailpipe.
I fixed it yesterday, temp-wise should be okay going home. Wish I had gotten the walbro in, because I run zero fuel pressure all the time. Feels strong anyway, whatever that means. Guess it's making good use of what fuel I can get thru it. First big hill I got held up (like I always do) by people who don't know enough to make a run at a hill. I hate that, go 55 until the hill slows you down to 45, then speed up after you ruined it for the truck behind you. In this case it was a Cummins towing a bobcat. Swear I could have passed him, but the left lane was packed with cars passing both of us at 70. Anyway, with absolutely no run at the hill I crested it at 52 mph (good guess Burning Oil) but that got the temp up over 230. Tried to take it easy on the rest of them, ran about 42-45 mph but still saw 245.
If the clutch fan works right this time with it modded in the right direction, I think I'll put the Dmax fan on and maybe look into reshaping the fan shroud to make it more effective. The body lift screws up the fit of the fan shroud, its all still there just bracketed down three inches so theres a three inch gap along the upper side of the fan.
So, on the positive side, my awesome motor once again took a beating and didn't let me down. Another positive: that 4 inch Diamondeye sounds incredible under a load. It just sounds beautiful!
 
Those 97 blocks sure are tough! You're ride home should be alot better! Bring the required tools with you to adjust that clutch on the road. It only takes 15 minutes vs engine gamble.

Love to hear others love the 6.5.

If you think it runs strong now, just imagine how nice it will pull up those hills with good strong fuel PSI. ITS A HUGE DIFFERENCE.

This is why we like the walbro no matter what the stocker is reading. It just has no chance of flow rate. Which is probably another built in engine saver buy design perhaps.
 
Ahhh.... So I'm not the only one who likes to run the fan backwards! :D When I installed the Sanden A/C compressor conversion last summer, I misrouted the belt. Ran it that way for over a week before one of the other instructors noticed it. I never had a problem with it as a daily driver - no overheating or anything. Did notice that the A/C system blew a little colder after I got it on right. And of course, I caught a lot of crap from the other instructors. ):h
 
Pooling our experience?

Detroit Dan said:
Few weeks ago I finally got around to doing the fan clutch mod. Thought I read it carefully and understood what I was doing, but I did it backwards.
Click to expand...

So, I'm doing a lot of mods prepping the 'Burb for a 3,700 mile jaunt, and would like to benefit from your experience. Should I lengthen or shorten the little bent tab in the fan clutch to get it cooler?
 
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