This is just my honest opinion of the Catcher (MAD ECM) on a basically stock truck. The only mods are gauges and an Amsoil air filter. I installed the ECM saturday night. I tried moving the fuel filter out of the way as suggested, but the metal fuel line made that difficult. I did get it moved enough to get to the bolts. I managed to got the old one out and the new one in within a one hour time period. I turned the truck to 'on' pushed the pedal to the floor and released and I repeated that step again to get the APPS set. I turned the key off then back to on, everything worked exactly as before, the wait to start light went out within a couple of seconds and she fired right up. Same idle RPM, same everything. I went for the original test drive......and here are my findings.

The driveability is still there. If you control your foot, it will be no problem to control the power. It does take far less throttle to move the beast than before. Slightly more throttle and WOW. At about 1/8th throttle night and day difference. 1/4 throttle and Oh MY GOD. Raw power and acceleration and plenty of it. At this point my fuel pressure gauge is blinking at me letting me know I am below my specified minimum fuel pressure. I glance at the gauges and see 4.5 psi of pressure and about 28 lbs of boost. I have not yet installed the boost elbow, it still the stock setup at the wastegate. I get back home and install the boost elbow and go for test drive number 2. Same Oh my God result but I now see 30 lbs boost and 4.5 psi of fuel pressure. With stock ETH injectors there is a slight moment of smoke until the boost comes up but then it's just power. As for the cruise control, honestly works better than before. Only a 2 to 3 mph drop before coming right back up to where you had it set. It does not go past the set point like I have read other people were having problems with. Before this ECM change, when pulling a load up a slight grade in 6th with the cruise it would just continue to fall off until I was forced to shift to 5th. Now, its just cruises right along with no complaints.

Sunday I towed a 4,000 lb trailer out of WV on 460 back to VA and I hardly noticed the trailer was there. Again, I set the cruise, left it in 6th and no problems what so ever. Pulling out from a dead stop was much better than ever before. You can actual get moving much quicker. I am looking forward to towing our 9,500lb 5er later this year.

Fuel mileage: I tracked my mileage on Saturday morning on the exact path I was to travel on Sunday. I only used the overhead readout using the average setting. I was seeing 18 to 19 mpg on a regular basis. On Sunday with the Catcher installed, the same area of the road, I was seeing 20 to 21 mpg. Both of these readings were with the cruise set to the same speeds. This thing just needs less throttle to maintain speed. I am a conservative driver so I do expect more mpg with it, we shall see.

My conclusion is that this ECM is definetly worth the money and is exactly what I was hoping for. I have a 4" exhaust waiting to be installed this week and a lift pump on order. I will be saving up for larger injectors. I wanted to post my results of a stock truck with just this one modification so many other people with stock setups would know exactly what to expect. Many thanks to Bob and Marco for this excellent product. If you are still undecided, all I can say is the same as all other Catcher owners....just do it. Yeah it cost the same as a Edge Comp, but it seems to be better suited for ETH engines.

 

love that throttle response!
i didn't notice any cruise control change until i ran the comp. i got some surging on anything higher that level 2x2, and i get the same reaction with the edm3 injectors now - with or without the comp. i don't think it's a problem, the cc controller is adding fuel at what should be the stock rate, but between the box and/or the injectors it's getting a bit more fuel.
the overhead display will lose accuracy with any mods (injectors, boxes, etc). not sure if the display changes with the MadECM, it'll be interesting to find out. have you compared your overhead results with hand calculated results when stock? how about speedo accuracy to gps? this will be good info to test in your otherwise stock setup.

 

I have monitored every tank of fuel since day one. The overhead seems to be pretty accurate. Unfortunately, I do not have any data with the MAD installed because its only been a couple of days. However, I will keep an eye on it.

 

Once you put those injectors in your gonna have to start looking for a new clutch.

 

What's the effect of the Catcher on the VP44? I noticed he was drawing down his fp. I assume the catcher works the VP44 plungers harder?

 

Lift pump has been weak before the catcher install. I could pull it down to 5 to 5.5 with the stock ECM. Took it to the dealer and they said they didn't notice any problems. I asked if they did the flow test and they said they didn't need to do the test as their was no reason to flow test it. The guage was right there saying 5.5 at WOT. I was planning on changing it anyway.

Idles 12.4 to 13
Cruise 10 to 11
WOT 5 to 5.5

Same after catcher except 1/4 throttle : 4.2 to 5.5 psi

 

It really doesn't matter where the demand for extra fuel is coming from....if the demand is from larger injectors, a Comp running the solenoids for longer duration or the MAD working the VP directly - the fuel pressure will drop when the demand for more fuel flow is created if the LP does not generate the desired flow to meet the minimum pressure requirements.

B2B,

Do you have the MAD designed to run with the Comp?.....the surging might be coming from too much fueling duration.....

 

Hey latitud_rt,
What Mad model did you get? I have been sitting on the fence about to get one of these things once I get the money. I want one right now but will have to wait a bit longer. Keep us up to date with the mods. I looks like your truck is just like mine so I want to see how yours does.

 

Originally I wanted to get the EDGE Comp. but due the additional timing it adds over and above the ETH timing, I waited for something else. The Catcher is exactly what I had been waiting for. I got the standard version as I have no plans to add a comp. I know it's a lot of money, but it is well worth it. You will not be disappointed. Give Bob a call at 1 888 225 7637. He will answer all your questions.

Currently the truck is down. I was trying to get the stock exhaust off to install the 4" and I ran out of saw blades...man the stock tubing is thick. Today I am going by Harbor Freight to get an air powered cut off saw. Tha should do the trick. I will report back if there is any differences with the new exhaust installed.

 

were do you get this Mad ECM?

Dan

 

phox