Okay I need some advice/opinions about what to do. I have an '01 6 speed dually, the engine is stock except for a 4" exhaust turbo back, and an old Superchip box that was on the truck when I bought it three years ago. 90% of this truck's use is to pull our 14,000 lb fifth wheel. Our last trip to North Carolina and back netted us 11.9 mpg overall.

My stock(on the block) lift pump died last week and I have a AirDog Raptor 100 to replace it with. I'm going to also replace the banjo bolts from the fuel filter to the VP 44. I don't know if the pump is shot but it probably is. I've been looking at replacement VP44 and found one at DieselAutoPower.com. He has the stocker for $1000, +40 HP for $1500, and +100 HP for $1800. I'm thinking of going with the +40 Horsepower.

My question/s:

1. Will +40 HP be noticeable? And will it actually be +40 with stock injectors and stock turbo?
2. Will I still be able to use the Superchip? It really helps when pulling.
3. Will I lose my 11-12 mpg?
4. Is +40 HP putting much stress on the engine? I really don't think so, but no such thing as a stupid question.

I'm not looking for a huge power increase, but a little more poop up the hills and mountains would be nice.

FWIW I'm also posting this over at the Cummins forum. The more input the better. I hope.

Any and all opinions, facts, wild theories, and advice are heartily welcomed.

Thanks to all who respond.

Howard

PS Mods, if this belongs in the Performance... thread, please move. Thanks.

 

buy a stock pump, and put the 500$-800& you would have spent towards a good box/chip,or injectors

I believe you have a HO engine, I have heard that boxes dont net a huge gain like they do on a SO engine.
you might want to do a little more research I believe you can instal a SO pump and have the ECM reflashed (or replace it).

other option is to keep the HO stock pump and add injectors...again more research required.

My experience is with a SO truck and an automatic tranny, 40hp is a huge gain (from stock)

I have edgeJ/A (advertized at 120hp) and a set of 80hp injectors, my power has increased drastically, I cannot say for certain I got a mileage increase, but its definitately no worses than stock, and I have a ton of more power! and the J/A monitors egts/fuel pressure etc and sets a warning or defuels the truck to keep everything within safe parameters, as you can tell I'm bias, I could vent all day on why a J/A or ADR is better than stand alone gauges and a performance box... but I'll let it go...for now (LOL)

I used to haul my 5000# 5th wheel and only had an EZ (60hp box) where it used to struggle on a hill, it would have more than enough to overtake and pass cars up the same hill with just an EZ.

I believe common opinion is with a HO you will max out at approx 500hp (not that you are likely to go that far, just pointing it out)

just pointing out options, but from what I have read, your better choice, or bang for the buck would be a HO pump and a set of 40-80hp injectors, that being 1000$ for the pump and injectors run around the 370$ for 80hp (depending upon brand), leaving a couple dollars left over for a fuel pressure gauge!!

 

Thanks Nick, that will give me even more options. I hadn't considered changing the injectors but certainly adds more choices.

Thanks again.

Howard

 

Definitely stick with the stock pump, and put your saved money elsewhere. You will be happy you did in the long run.

 

this will be interesting reading............ see my mod's $$$$$ spent

 

I have never actually purchased one of the "improved" VP44's only been in trucks that have them. May I ask how long you've had your pump, and what your honest thoughts are of it? Thanks.

 

1000 miles and there Rep. brought me to them. Only wanted to do a v.p change 1ce as I did the work myself. As far as it sits right now..... my mpg have gone down. The vp is a X and is said to give you more hp+ more mpg this has not happened IMO.I have never drove a "NEW" truck in my year so I can only say that hp has inproved but as far over stock I cannot say.as far as mpg winter fuel more idle time ????? Last tank 13.5 avg. perv. v.p on its last leg 16. I get 400miles to 30 gal this has me really ??? a buddy of mine gets 600 to a tank same truck. Go figure. As far as updating to a none stck L.P.. if you don't want to do it fine but I think its a good idea... or atleast move stock 1 closer to tank off block(o1 might have intank pump?) these are just my opinons hope this helps,Nate

 

Thanks for the input. The consensus seems to be that the stock pump performs best when all is said and done. I concur about the usefulness of an aftermarket lift pump. To the OP, sorry to have derailed your thread.

 

Mishkaya, not a problem. It's all info that I wanted and any is welcome.

So far the opinions I've been reading is to stick with the stock VP44 and chip it. I'm going to put the Raptor100 and fuel pressure gauge on tomorrow and see how things look.

Thanks to all who have offered opinions.

Howard

 

My last truck was a 2000 3500 3:55 gears and NV5600. Towing the fifth wheel it averaged right at 10 mpg running at 65mph in sixth gear. So your doing better than I was. I bought a HyperPac and installed the level 2. (40hp)

What a differance in towing. Mileage did not pick up, but you could feel the difference especially when the wind was on the front of the trailer. I was going to install 275hp RV Injectors. I called HyperTech and they said not to do it as it would mess it up. So you should check with the manufacturer before you buy the set up pump and use the Superchips.

I would run the stock VP44 and the Superchips. Don't know want you have for rear gears, sounds like 4:10's with the mileage your getting, but if its
3:55's I'd go with the 4:10's. Thats the best thing you can do for towing and mileage. It also makes the truck feel like its got another 50hp.

My VP44 had 203,000 on it when I sold the truck in June.

Dave

 

I just put in a HRVP from Industrial Injection. I think it's rated at +70HP. I've been really happy with it for the most part. I definitely think the power is there. With the Juice turned off, just seat of the pants, it feels about the same as the Juice set on level 3. The only problem I have with it is it starts a lot harder in cold weather. I haven't run a whole tank through it yet empty to see if the mileage changed at all, but I wasn't real impressed with the mileage I got towing my TT. That was the first time I'd took it on a long trip though, so I didn't have a baseline to compare to.

As far as whether it's worth the extra money, I don't know. I found this one used cheaper than I could buy a new standard output VP, so I decided to give it a try. Guess time will tell...

 

Thanks for the input.

I think I will stick to the stock VP44, at least for the time being.

Dave, I have the 3.55 gears, which is one of the reasons I would like a bit more HP for steeper hills/mountains. I was getting about 11 mpg but before this last trip I pulled the K & N filter to clean it and found it so gunked up that it was uncleanable so I put in a stock Fleetguard that I had laying around. Also I had installed an auxiliary 40 gallon fuel tank that my wife had bought me for Christmas, so I was keeping a close eye on fuel usage. I usually pull around 63-65 mph and the last trip was probably 90% interstate which sure helps the mileage. Here's what it all looks like:


Thanks.

Howard

 

Good looking set up Howard.

I can't pull a trailer behind the Carriage in Florida. DOT will write you up as its against the law in Florida unless your a Commercial Vehicle with a permit.

Looks like your truck sits a little better in the rear than mine did. My truck was dependalbe and pulled great. I think I should have kept it. I used two stroke oil in the fuel at 1/2oz per gallon and before that Power Service. I really believe that VP44 needs a little more lube in the fuel as does the LP, both being rotary pumps with bearing surfaces.

The 06 pulls good, but I have no faith in the auto tranny, yet, after driving the NV5600 for 9 years. I took the Juice and Attitude out when I had the tranny serviced. Have not put it back in yet. I might just get the Edge Insight which is only a monitor and not a programer. I really liked being able to see the tranny temp, EGT's, water temp, and boost all in one place. It had alarms settings, for various things and a record section that remembered the highest points of all it monitored.

Pictures of the 06 are in the photo section "coastaldav".

I'll be headed for Morgan City La for Mardi Gras in 2010.

Dave

 

Thanks Dave. The truck does sit level and before I put the trailer on the back the hitch weight was 2400 lbs. The trailer takes about 200 lbs off the hitch weight and actually seems to pull a bit better.

I have seen it posted that air bags will make the rig ride a bit better because the truck won't be sitting down on the overload springs. Mine does ride a bit harshly, but I just figure it's part of the deal. I don't need the bags for ride height, but if it makes it ride a bit smoother... Have you heard this?

I've been through several states that don't allow trailers behind a fifth wheel and have never been stopped. I've been through Virginia, and North Carolina and never even looked at twice. But it may have to do with the type of trailer it is. I really like it since I can back up with it attached and it moves with the 5er instead of like a regular trailer.

Have a good time at Mardi Gras. Watch those bead catchers.

Howard

 

I have a friend that pulls a 36ft Travel Supreme (2001 model, bad heavy) with a 01 Dodge. He put air bags on. I asked him about the ride a few minutes ago. He said it rides good with the trailer. He forgets to let them down after he's light and told me he almost hit the ceiling one time on a bump.

Your pin weight is close to mine. You must have a washer/dryer up front like I do allow with the extra A/C unit. That adds up to 300 extra pounds over the pin. I'll bet I have another 100lbs under the bed. Interesting the trailer takes some of that off. I have a storage compartment in the rear of the trailer
that I don't use it for heavy stuff because of the bouncing it see's on the road.

Forgot to mention in the previous posts that the RV Injectors (275HP) are supposed to increase torque to 660ftlbs. Thats what I was told. I don't know if that requires a computer change. I never went that way because I had the smaller imput shaft on my NV5600. Yours should have the 1.375" imput shaft which is the larger one. There is a tread going on now talking about these injectors in the 2nd gen performance section.

Dave