Hohn,

I have heard others say the Smarty kills the top end power. I do not know if it does or not as my truck will not continue to make power past 2600 rpm no matter what box I use.

That said, I think the midrange hit is so strong, the top end feels lackluster in comparison.

FWIW, I have dyno'd the same HP with the Smarty/ TST stack as the Drag Comp.

Dave

 

Did you install your cam advanced? What do you suspect is causing the 2600 rpm wall? Maybe ye olde pump is a trifle fatigued?

 

Nope, cam is installed straight up. Even pulled the cover and double checked it. And confirmed the VP gear was aligned.

I am running a 12Valve lift pump. Pressure and volume is not an issue. Without the regulator, I am pushing 45 psi at idle and 37psi WOT. Right now, it' regulated to 20 psi.

I am trying to get Cummins to plug into the ECm and check it out. Hopefully in the next few weeks.

Dave

 

Like I said... I never heard another word. Not to quote Paul Harvey, but thanks for filling me in on the rest of the story.

 

Dave, I was wondering about your "other" pump. Can't really see a reason to doubt the trusty 12V delivery setup...

jh

 

I think what most of us are asking for is some fine tuning on
some of the programs. There is way too much fuel being added
on #5,#7,and #9 Smarty programs at off/low boost levels. He
could fine tune the programs to bring in the fuel at a less agressive
rate to prevent the huge smoke cloud and bog off the line . Thats
all I want anyway.

 

Please do this guys. I liked the Smarty when I tried one but I dont need all of the extra features and would like tune on the fly. I know there is only so much to do without tapping the pump.

 

Doing this would make the Smarty into something less than what it is.

Love it or hate it, the Smarty specifically tries to avoid doing exactly what you describe.

Smarty puts the fueling control in your right foot- not the MAP sensor or the trucks tq mgmt program or all those "govern-by-committee" type sensors.

If the fueling is too aggressive on the bottom, you use less skinny pedal. It's that simple. Simple, but not easy.

I was able to drive my truck with very little to no smoke with smarty on "kung fu" and M4 injectors in hot summer air at over 6K elevation. Density altitude was over 9000ft! Yes, it was tricky and took a gentle touch, but it can be done (manual trans).

A lower sw number will make the pedal a little less touchy, but the overall fueling is the same. #5 is the same as #9, it's just that it takes more pedal on #5 to do what #9 does-- at least as far as I can tell.

Smarty relies on the ultimate engine computer-- the driver's brain. If you decide to just stand on the loud pedal, then you are counting on the truck to make the fueling calculations that Smarty is expect you, the driver, to make. Hence, lots of smoke and boggy starts.

Smarty is very demanding of the driver. But also very rewarding when those demands are met.

Marco recognized that you simply can't design a perfect software for every possible combination-- different injector sizes, different turbos, etc make the number of variables infinite. So rather than ask a computer to work a miracle, Marco gave the driver full control over fueling decisions, figuring that our brains are better than any computer.

Quad's different XZT softwares for different injector sizes are an improvement if you want the computer in the truck to exercise more control. This is similar to what Edge had in mind when they gave us three different jumper settings for the EZ. With larger injectors, the milder EZ settings work much better overall if you just "step on it." If you control the loud pedal, then the jumper settings don't matter.

The Smarty isn't for everyone-- the downside to the improved driver control is that it's more demanding to drive. Some people enjoy this, others may be annoyed by it because sometimes you just want to relax and not have to concentrate on skinny pedal management.

Personally, the Smarty gets out of the way enough to where it doesn't bother me when I'm laying low, and when I want a little more, it responds instantly and brutally

 

If what you say is true, Justin... Then why does Marco have time to build new programs for large injectors, non-stock turbos etc. for the 3rd gen guys and not us????

 

What's the use of having a USB port on the 2nd Gen models at all? Wasn't it a big selling point early on, to have the ability to download new programs as they come out. No need to take the MAD ECM off and send it to Italy... Just get the Smarty and you'll be able to download the new software as it comes out straight from the website...

 

Hohn, I have tried 3 VPs. HP is within 5HP.

And good post about the Smarty.

I have always said if I had a manual, didn't use cruise or mind blacking out the neighborhood, it would be great!

The automatic brings with it a complete set of issues that no one has addressed. There's a few, but almost all have to do with aggressive fueling at low throttle position. Since you use less throttle to get and stay moving, the pressure rise associated with a deeper throttle setting is reduced. Yes, you do get some back based on speed. But largely, it is reduced at low speeds.

Also, the elevated lockup point because of the reason listed above is maddening. Many of the surface streets here are 45mph. If I do the speed limit, I will not get lockup. Speed up to 50mph and it will lock, but unlocks as soon as I have to lift off the pedal to maintain speed.

Obviously, this does not affect all trucks. I was told it was just mine that did this. I was also told that no one was having the original surge problems and I was told that it didn't do it in Bob's truck. One short ride later, I was able to show him how to reproduce it in his truck. Now, what does that prove? Nothing. But, different drivers have different styles of doing the same job. Not to mention all the various fueling and gearing options. This is what creates the issues to me. Don't forget the neck breaking boost- no boost surge that would chug smoke like a guy with emphysema. No smoke- smoke. Repeat until you turn off the cruise control.

Since no one has taken a truck that has these problems and tried to find a fix, everyone may be waiting a while. And to repeat what has been said, if there was no intention to modify and update the programming, why bother selling this "service" function? That's why people are so chaffed. The MAD ECM is what it is. Non adjustable. If you don't like it, sell it. The Smarty PROMISED to do so much more!

I have built a device that helps with lockup issues. But does absolutely nothing to help with the other issues.


Bottom line is it will work the way it is for a lot of guys. And guys with looser autos may have more luck. Well, at least until they hit lockup. So, if you like it, run it. It just was not for me.


Dave

 

Agreed. Not all of us want to blast out of the hole from every stop. Im looking for a mellow bottom end with a progressive ramp up to WOT, not WOT at 1/3 pedal.

The box is supposed to give variety.

Some want responsiveness, some want smoothness. Im for having the putt putt, grandma & mileage pgms on the low numbers with the performance stuff on the high number SW's. And have several different downloadable combos..

That may be because Im in an area where there is alot of stop & go traffic and its nice to be able to have a smooth roll off the bottom end to deal with traffic, but still have max VP44 power when you mash it.

Again, Smarty is a great concept, if we can just use it more to its full potential.

 

I had a Van Aaken V5 ,that pulled just as hard as the Smarty , but
with 75% less smoke. So I know the Smarty can be set up to give
as much timming as the Van Aaken with fueling somewhere between the
Van Aaken and Smarty #5 . That would be perfect.

 

And for those who are wondering why I switched. It's because everyone
was saying the Smarty was soooooo much better than the other "boxes"
out there like the Van Aaken and Edge EZ. I also wanted a programmer
so I would be "Stealthy" with no plug-in box under the hood That way
I could run someone down and lift the hood and say "look it's completely
stock"

 

The SW he's making for the newer trucks is not perfect-- just better. The perfect SW can't be done. You can make sw a little better for a certain set of circumstances.

JH