Power & Control

The first thing that John scheduled to have replaced on me was my rear tires.  There was just barely enough tread to get us home from Texas but the tires were unsafe for continuous use let alone road trips or towing a 5th wheel camper.  Once the tires were replaced John wanted to increase my engine output while still conserving fuel.

After lots of research (John reads a lot websites to learn stuff) he decided on a engine control system from Banks Engineering.  http://www.bankspower.com/  Choosing the Banks Economind and IQ monitor I have increased engine power, control and monitoring all at my drivers fingertips.

Banks Economind Module

Banks IQ touchscreen

Banks Ram Air Box - K&N Filter

He installed it fairly quickly with few tools and John is just blown away with the features and detail this system provides.  Details such as my coolant temp; which he was concerned about because my LLY engine is noted for over-heating problems.  John noted that my coolant temp was always at the upper limit according to the temp gauge on the dashboard.  Once he had the Banks IQ system plugged in he noticed that the dash temp gauge was almost 40 degrees in error (too high)!

In addition to the Banks IQ system John installed a Banks Cold Air Intake and a Super Scoop in order to move the air intake from inside my engine bay to outside the engine bay and lower.  This allows for cooler, denser air to enter my turbocharger thus keeping engine temps lower.  The IQ system reports an 80 degree difference between engine bay air temp and outside air temp which again helps prevent over-heating problems.

The last modification John wanted to complete on my engine to make sure I'm running at top power yet not creeping towards over-heating was changing out my turbo mouthpiece.  This is a acknowledged design error on the part of GM when they switched from the LB7 to the LLY engine.  This mouthpiece is too small and restrictive thus another possible cause for over-heating.  So he ordered a larger cleaner flowing mouthpiece fro AFE and installed at the same time as the Banks CAI.  He also removed the plastic resinator and the rerouted the pcv system so that oil vapor is not routed into the turbo.Thus keeping the vanes and inner workings clean and oil free.



Stock Turbo Mouthpiece



Side by Side Comparison



So far according to the notes John has made during each of these changes there has been a small gain in MPG (1-2 at most) but my engine is definently running cooler and there is no sign of over-heating or the thermal run away.

The cooling fan does still run when needed but not as often and for shorter durations.  My large Texas bumper may be causing lower airflow issues so a chin deflector or air dam may need to be fabricated but that is another days project.

 



Mouthpiece Installed (Resinator removed)



Introductions

Well this is my first Blog entry since the idea came to me.  At the time I thought it was a good idea and so many other people who travel have blogs detailing all the places they have gone.  I wanted to do this as well be but from the a different perspective; that of the tow vehicle.

So without any fanfare let's put this blog into 5th gear and see where it takes us.

This is a photo taken by Rana (one of my owners) of me the day after arriving from Texas where John (my other owner) found me on EBay.  The drive North was uneventful and really didn't seem much different from Texas except cooler in the evenings.  But I was in for a surprise as my first Minnesota winter took hold.

I have never been so cold in my life!  John did keep my engine warm using my block heater on the nights he was going to drive me to his work the next morning.  Otherwise it would be days of just sitting while the snow drifted around me.

 

Now you may realize that this posting is dated 11/6/11 and the photos are going from Fall to Winter of 2010, I assure you that is not my intent.  What really is happening is John has been fitting me with all the accessories that will be required to tow and travel with a 5th wheel trailer.  John has been more focused on that aspect of me and not helping me set up this blog; so I am a number of months behind.

I'll close out this entry and then enter more in the coming days detailing these accessories and my first road trips with John & Rana.