Its time to post a few impressions of the PoweMax CR box. We've been running one on our test truck for about a month now, and have developed a pretty good feel for the box.

Our initial box had some issues with the remote, and for whatever reason the power level and torque enhancement changes did not work at all. So the box was stuck on power level 4 and torque set at 0. In this setting, peak power was a little higher than an Edge EZ in its 80HP mode, however the bottom side was definitely weaker. EGTs were 1150F with the Ram Air III and KSB1B. About 100F lower than the Edge box.

We received our updated box and remote a few days ago, and have now had a chance to do some playing.

Level 9, torque enhancement 9 - unusable with the factory fuel delivery system. Fuel pressure plummets to 0 as soon as the throttle is pressed down. EGTs peak at 1500F with a KSB1B and Ram Air III, however I think they would be higher if the truck wasn't defueling. We've got a 5" exhaust coming in that should give us some better read as to what we'll need to make this box usuable on 9x9. Lots of smoke. 48 PSI of boost, but I think we'll get more once the fuel system is properly set up. I strongly suspect we'll have to step up to a KSB1 or B1B to run this box in full out mode, however I'll know more when the exhaust is put on.

Level 5, TE 9 - no defueling, lots of bottom side power, however the clutch is not holding. EGTs at about 1200F with RA3 and KSB1B.

5x5 - no defueling, and still a rock solid bottom side. Clutch appears to be holding just fine. EGTs the same.

Lower power settings - Yeah right, like I've even though about turning the box down lower.

These are just some initial impressions, with very little scientific evidence to back them up. Overall I prefer PMCR over the Edge, even its 80 HP mode. With the torque enhancement turned up, we get a much better bottom side power with lower EGTs. I expected a bit of timing rattle with the PMCR, but didn't hear anything at all. Just nice smooth power.

Rod

 

Regarding the PoweMax CR box:
How difficult was the install? How long did it take?

 

The install was not tough at all. It took me about an hour at the most. It involves unplugging the injector control harnesses, and plugging the TST into the sockets. The stock lines then get plugged into the TST harness. One connector to the MAP sensor. One connector to the cam sensor (this one is a real bearcat to get to) and one to the crank sensor. Two power wires to the fuse box, and a ground. Route the remote wire through the firewall and plug it into the box which has been velcro'ed to the top of the fusebox.

For those who do not have a thermocouple already installed (I did) it will take you longer as you need to drill and tap the exhaust manifold for the thermcouple.

For me, the remote was a pain in the neck to find a nice spot for. TST recommends mounting it down by the gauges, but it covered the wait to start light. I've currently got the remote velcroed over top of the existing pyrometer gauge, but we need to develop a nice mount for it that keeps the EGT and boost gauges in a spot that we can see.

Rod

 

Rod,

I was planning on making up a little 90° bracket that would screw up into the underside of the dash, to the right of the instrument cluster, and mount the remote there. That would keep it above the gearshift lever (for us slushbox guys), and still be well within view.

For those that don't have a pillar pod, that little doo-hickey from Edge that they use to mount the attitude would seem to work with the TST remote pretty well. Think Edge would sell that separately if they knew it was going to be holding a PowermaxCR?

 

This box sounds like an awesome piece of equipment. I am very anxious to see just exactly what in the way of turbo will be needed to actualy run the box. Thnaks Rod for the new info. Has anybody recieved the production version yet?
Jason

 

Yep. We're currently running the production version, and so is one of my dealers. His results have been very similar to our own, although with he's running the HO/48RE. He's been seeing some aggressive shudder in level 9x9, which we're sure is band slippage (he's got a DTT converter in the tranny, but no valve body), and he can't build above 2200 RPM in 9x9 (again, we believe this to be fuel pressure related). TST started shipping late last week, so there should be a few more comments coming in the next week or two.

Rod

 

Rod,

Does the box have a '0' setting to return to stock fueling?

Also, how does the box monitor boost? Is it taking the reading from the MAP sensor, or does it have a mechanical port that runs to the intake manifold?

See, once I get my box, I can stop bugging you with questions!

 

Setting 0 is stock and level 1 is timing and duration.

John
Floor IT Diesel Performance

 

1) Level 0 is off. Level 1 is a timing-only mode that TST has added strictly for fuel economy purposes.

2) It monitors straight off the MAP sensor. No plumbing required

Rod

 

Absolutely a great box for the tow crowd. Lots of torque, right off the bottom side.

As for the turbo side, you could just keep the box power level turned down so you were running safe. Thats the nice thing about adjustable boxes, especially ones that have bottom side adjustments indepedent of top side power settings: You can set the box up for your truck, not the truck up for the box.

Rod

 

OK, how about doing some long run MPG testing on setting 1? That's probably were I'd run it most of the time for economy. I am interested to see how much the stock timing can be tweaked for better mpg.


Yes, I know it will be painful running it that low ....

 

So it kinda sounds like that unless I am willing to do a turbo and fuel system upgrade that I will not gain much over what my EZ is giving me now.

I strickly want the towing power, not worried about go fast. And as far as the low rpm torque I really don't need much more then I got. I am really interested in the 2100-2500 rpm area as that is where my normal crusing speed is.

It does both me that TST say it will work on a Stock truck, which yes it will but I think they should give a little more info. The fuel system is a big one. On the EGT it can turn itself down atleast, but run out of fuel and the box will keep right on a going. I have been lucky I guess and never been able to get my fuel FSI down to 0 with the EZ.

I am going to play the wait and see on this one, sounds like more then I need, see what EDGE does also.

 

Ugh, yer just gonna make me do it, ain't ya? We likely won't be doing mileage type comparisons for a couple months, at least until our spring blended diesel becomes available. Our winter fuel needs a miracle to get any kind of economy from it.

Mopar,

I don't think the TST is buying us much more than 10 or 20 safe ponies above an Edge box. We'll have a much better idea in a few weeks, and this afternoon we'll have HO on the dyno to look at results. This truck will be dyno'ed beside an Edge EZ in the 80 pony mode as well, just for some additional data to peak at.

Rod

 

For some reason I don't have a TST box yet.

I work on the fuel system and all the other stuff but I don't have the TST CR to really test it. So Rod, send it down to me the R&D guy so we can do this right. Answer some phone calls like yer supposed to. LOL