well, what you get by stacking the VA C3.2 with a strong pressure box like EZ, Quadzilla, or BullyDog is the low end grunt of the VA and the high end grunt of the pressure box.

The better matches for the VA will be ones that don't fuel very aggressively at the low end. you don't too much down low or you risk hitting the turbo too hard.

I personally prefer a box that doesn't announce its presence very loudly unless you get on it. jumpy = no good.

 

Perhaps . . . but from what I've been gathering from other posts, it may also be time to upgrade that tranny to handle that kind of power.

Doug,

The info I'm reading is a bit conflicting. For strictly getting some safe, additional low-end towing grunt that can be easily installed/removed and not traceable by dealer after removal, would the best solution be the VA pressure box or the VA duration box on the mid setting? It sounds like the duration box might give a bit more even at this setting - plus offer the potential to "dial it up" in the future when warranty concerns are out of the way and other infrastructure upgrades are in place. And, this is independent of any advantages a possible timing upgrade would offer. Any thoughts?

Neil

 

One note to remember...the duration box will at some future date be able to have timing added to it. I would vote duration all the way. You can always stack the pressure box too!

 

well, we should be careful about predicting that the VA duration box will be upgradable with timing. That is likely, and even the objective, from what I know, but lets not count on that until it happens. that said I took that gamble myself, expecting that this will be the case and that my VA duration box will be upgraded with a programing change. But if VA discovers that they can't acheive their objective without a hardware change, then no such luck.

Neil: I view the VA duration box as fulfilling the goals you mention and I personally believe you are on the mark with your comments. Just don't assume that the C3.2 (duration) box on level 1 won't require gauges. duration without timing is hot, and I'm getting the sense that the pressure boxes may be running cooler than the VA at the same power level. But I look for the disparity to go away when VA adds timing.

We still dont know what the dealer can and cannot detect, nor can we predict with certainty if a pressure box or a digital duration box leaves an electronic signature. I can't prove this, but I don't think the ECM carries around that much history, so (except for engine codes upon catestrophic failure) I'm not yet convinced that there will be an electronic signature signaling the presence of a box. I think the evidence will be physical, not electronic, barring of course an involved inquiry at the DC zone/regional level and some geek failure analysis engineer who is really passionate about finding such evidence.

I hope that helps. what info did you find conflicting?

 

Doug,

Thanks. It helps a lot. I understood about the gauges. I promise I won't even change out the tailpipe without adding gauges

Actually, "conflicting" was a poor choice of words. "Overlapping" might have been better. It had to do with choice between the VA pressure box and the VA duration box on low. I sort of perceived an implied recommendation of the pressure box for "light duty" towing applications. Then discussion shifted to the duration box on the low setting to suit the same purpose. Your recent answer clarified that. The heat issue is not insignificant to me. My PSD's Hypertech programmer caused higher EGTs and I hated having to back off the go pedal just when things were getting interesting. Given the lower price of the pressure box and the lower temps, it might still be an option worthy of consideration. Plus, I can stack it with a duration box later (after they add the timing), right?

I don't think I'll do anything until I try towing stock. Who knows? Maybe it will be good enough as it is.

Thanks for all your contributions. I'm sure everyone here appreciates them.

Neil

 

In a few more days I'm hoping to have some data on the EGT issue -- driving empty that is. I'll run both VA boxes in various combinations and report on the seat-o-pants and EGT results.

It is looking (to me) like the VA pressure box runs the coolest of any box out there, but it is also the weakest. You have to come to terms with the whole pressure issue, i.e. how high you want to go and all of that. I'm pretty conservative when it comes to pressure but I also note that there are lots of guys running the EZ on level 4 and haven't yet blown anything up .

Another option would be to consider a more aggressive fueling box (Quazilla, EZ, bullydog) and run it on a lower setting. that might give a bit more oomph than the VA pressure box. The simpler pressure boxes as mentioned are best in this case if you plan to add the VA duration box later. Any of these will stack easily with the VA C3.2 and should work off the shelf w/o modification. Don't choose a pressure/timing box like Volumizer or Banks. Because of the Ramifier's very agressive low-end fueling I'm suspicous that (without modification) it would not be a good match for the VA C3.2 if EGT and turbocharger life are important considerations.

ON EDIT: oops I just noticed that you truck is an 04.5, and my comments above are targeted at the 305. The more agressive pressure boxes I mentioned don't work well on the 600, but the VA pressure box will. The 600 has new logic that detects the very method that pressure boxes use to make power -- error in the pressure feedback loop. So far the VA mild pressure box is the only one I'm aware of that works off the shelf with the 600. I thought a modified Ramifier had been tried too, but not sure about that.

There's a gentleman over on the TDR that just put a VA duration box on his 600 and he's tickled to pieces. The TST has also been validated to work on the 600, and if you use it on its lower settings, this one is a good choice too.