Randee of the Redwoods
08-24-2003, 12:18
If you don't recall, I mentioned a while back when I got my truck that it was gutless going up hills, almost to the point it would slow. By the time I reached the top, I could easily be 10mph slower then what I was at the bottom, the tranny would NOT downshift, and the pedal would be a good halfway to the floor. As per someone's suggestion, I disconnected the downpipe from the cat and went for a drive.
Wow.
Aside from the noise, this truck did something it has not done in the month or so since I've had it: rev to 3000rpm. Doing 70mph on the interstate, I can make 2500 rpm, but going up a hill at slow speed, I'd be LUCKY to hit 2100 and that's giving it a lot of effort. With the exhuast opened, I had no problem maintaining not only 2500rpm+going up a steep grade, but my speed stayed consistant and looked to be increasing. The biggest noticable difference was the engine's willingness to rev. 2500rpm and even 2700rpm shifts were easy and smooth as butter(the low fat kind) and didn't take any more pedal than usual. On a flat grade, I experienced "scoot". You know...when the vehicle gets up and just goes. I'm tearing at the walls now for that Heath exhaust now. Gotta pay them bills so I can play.
I'm also sure this little experiment worked wonders for the egt's, too.
I also noticed something else: turbo whine. Sweet sounding whistles and screams of the rumored GM4 turbo which I had never heard before and was beginning to wonder if it was even really installed. For the brief moments I rode around the block, my truck finally sounded like a truck.
I also found something very interesting of note. While inspecting the downtube, I saw the many kinks and bends that are normal. But one bend seemed a bit strange to me. I pulled my other downtube out of the closet(the one I bought off ebay for the 6.2). It's the later model with the 2 bolt ball style flange on it. It's bends and kinks are minor compared to what I found on my 94. On the 94, next to the frame rail where the downtube passes by, it is kinked so bad that the airway has to be less than 1" tall. It just doesn't look right compared to the other tube or even just looking at it. I'm under speculation that something happened to it but may never know. But what I do know now is there is muscle in that engine begging me to let it out.
Wow.
Aside from the noise, this truck did something it has not done in the month or so since I've had it: rev to 3000rpm. Doing 70mph on the interstate, I can make 2500 rpm, but going up a hill at slow speed, I'd be LUCKY to hit 2100 and that's giving it a lot of effort. With the exhuast opened, I had no problem maintaining not only 2500rpm+going up a steep grade, but my speed stayed consistant and looked to be increasing. The biggest noticable difference was the engine's willingness to rev. 2500rpm and even 2700rpm shifts were easy and smooth as butter(the low fat kind) and didn't take any more pedal than usual. On a flat grade, I experienced "scoot". You know...when the vehicle gets up and just goes. I'm tearing at the walls now for that Heath exhaust now. Gotta pay them bills so I can play.
I'm also sure this little experiment worked wonders for the egt's, too.
I also noticed something else: turbo whine. Sweet sounding whistles and screams of the rumored GM4 turbo which I had never heard before and was beginning to wonder if it was even really installed. For the brief moments I rode around the block, my truck finally sounded like a truck.
I also found something very interesting of note. While inspecting the downtube, I saw the many kinks and bends that are normal. But one bend seemed a bit strange to me. I pulled my other downtube out of the closet(the one I bought off ebay for the 6.2). It's the later model with the 2 bolt ball style flange on it. It's bends and kinks are minor compared to what I found on my 94. On the 94, next to the frame rail where the downtube passes by, it is kinked so bad that the airway has to be less than 1" tall. It just doesn't look right compared to the other tube or even just looking at it. I'm under speculation that something happened to it but may never know. But what I do know now is there is muscle in that engine begging me to let it out.