E-Series VansTechnical discussion of topics related to vans powered by any of the Navistar engines. This covers a broad number of years, but there isn't enough demand to split it any further.
Recently purchased a nice conversion Diesel Van with 3.55 rear end. It has 132k miles and runs good - but it's lacking in towing power - pulling a toy hauler at approx 5500 lbs. Looking for advice on chips or exhaust mod's, etc. Don't have a ton of cash to throw at this project - just looking for mod's that will give significant boost in power without breaking the bank. Where do I start?
Even if you only get a mild chip, you'll need to open up the exhaust a bit. If you don't want to get a new 4" exhaust, you can get a Walker Big Truck Muffler (BTM) which is a straight thru design (still 3.5 inch) and will help vent heat a lot better - can get them at Napa among other parts stores. Then you'll want a couple of gauges - a Pyrometer to measure exhaust temp and a Transmission temp gauge - at least. That way you'll know where you stand while driving or towing. Then, you can consider a chip (a lot of us like DP-Tuners, not sure if they come for your model year), something mild may make enough of a difference.
You're probably looking at somewhere within or around $1000 for all of that, depending upon how much you do yourself, or have done.
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2001 E350 PSD, Deep Emerald Green, 3.55 LS, Premium package, dual alts, rear A/C. Quigley 4x4, Transfer Flow rear tank (27+26), handicap mods, custom interior, Reunel tire carrier w/ Hi-Lift, Sportsmobile nerf bars (black), Amsoil lubes and Dual-Gard bypass oil filter, Amsoil air filters, Eclipse/JL Audio sound system w/ Sirius & 120GB Neo Car Jukebox (MP3 player), J&J stainless grill, Reunel Stainless bumper, 12000# Warn winch, PIAA lights, Bilstein shocks, Ultra Magnum wheels, Michelin tires (265/75-16), Correctrack rear wheel spacers, Bushwhacker flares (painted), Velvet-Ride spring shackles, p/s filter, external tranny and coolant filters, Wicked Wheel, Autometer gauges(5), 203 thermo, BRV+, removed air intake heater, Optima Yellow Tops, "Harpoon" mod, DP-Tuner, 4" exhaust w/ Aeroturbine, Airdog, HX-mod.
Next on the List: a blown tranny!
Eliminated the muffler and put on a Super Chips Micro Tuner on my bus. 4:10's on mine, but it also weighs a bit more than a van. 203* thermostat is nice too.
You might even consider getting the gauges first (something I wish I did) to see where things stand now, esp as far as exhaust temp goes. Then you'll see how much difference your exhaust mods make as you drive at different speeds, etc. It would also be good to know how much difference it makes with a chip already installed, but I would not recommend running any chip without exhaust mods, and certainly not without a pyro.
You'll be surprised how much more quickly it will build heat, and how much more power it will make, and how much more fun it will be to drive, and how much more you'll want to race around, and how much more quickly it will build heat.... you get the idea.
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2001 E350 PSD, Deep Emerald Green, 3.55 LS, Premium package, dual alts, rear A/C. Quigley 4x4, Transfer Flow rear tank (27+26), handicap mods, custom interior, Reunel tire carrier w/ Hi-Lift, Sportsmobile nerf bars (black), Amsoil lubes and Dual-Gard bypass oil filter, Amsoil air filters, Eclipse/JL Audio sound system w/ Sirius & 120GB Neo Car Jukebox (MP3 player), J&J stainless grill, Reunel Stainless bumper, 12000# Warn winch, PIAA lights, Bilstein shocks, Ultra Magnum wheels, Michelin tires (265/75-16), Correctrack rear wheel spacers, Bushwhacker flares (painted), Velvet-Ride spring shackles, p/s filter, external tranny and coolant filters, Wicked Wheel, Autometer gauges(5), 203 thermo, BRV+, removed air intake heater, Optima Yellow Tops, "Harpoon" mod, DP-Tuner, 4" exhaust w/ Aeroturbine, Airdog, HX-mod.
Next on the List: a blown tranny!
Just got back from a 600 mile road trip - had recently had the exhaust cut from the converter back (they would not remove the cat.) only muffler I could find locally was a dynomax 3" straight thru race series. May have made a slight difference, but in a head wind I was not able to run in overdrive which really sucked - made for a very long trip, on the way home with out a head wind, I was able to run between 62-70 mph, but could not set the cruise control - that would instantly drop it out of overdrive. I GIVE UP, I'm going for a full 4" exhaust, gauges and some type of adjustable chip.
I'm going to search this forum for suppliers and recommendations - as well as a local shop here in West Michigan that can get this stuff installed before my next trip in 2 weeks! if that's possible?
I'm not sure about the difference in the year models, but I have a 2000 E350 PSD that I ordered new. It also has a 3:55 rear and the towing package and I tow a 24' enclosed car trailer that weighs about 9500# when loaded. I've been from Maine to South Dakota to Florida to Louisiana with it and run a steady 72 to 75 mph with it on the interstate. My van has no modifications and I've been real happy with the towing power. One thing that I did which really makes a difference is to use a wing on the rear roof of the van. It fastens to the gutter with nylon straps and suction cups on the base. It adds to the towing power and adds about 2 mpg to the mileage. I ordered it from J C Whitney about 12 years ago.
I'm not sure about the difference in the year models, but I have a 2000 E350 PSD that I ordered new. It also has a 3:55 rear and the towing package and I tow a 24' enclosed car trailer that weighs about 9500# when loaded. I've been from Maine to South Dakota to Florida to Louisiana with it and run a steady 72 to 75 mph with it on the interstate. My van has no modifications and I've been real happy with the towing power. One thing that I did which really makes a difference is to use a wing on the rear roof of the van. It fastens to the gutter with nylon straps and suction cups on the base. It adds to the towing power and adds about 2 mpg to the mileage. I ordered it from J C Whitney about 12 years ago.
That's odd, I have the same 3.55 rear end and this thing is a dog in overdrive, I'm ordering a DP-tuner tomorrow. I've checked the intake, changed exhaust from the cat back, can't find anything wrong with the van, runs fine unloaded- just not much towing power?
Maybe I should have it plugged in and diagnosis done?
You have to send the feline on a one way trip to Paradise which we don't speak of . . . Have you changed your MAP sensor ? Are there any Codes present? Is your fuel pump making the correct pressure?
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95 E350 PSD HD Cargo , BB shim , E4OD , B&M aluminium Trans pan , HD cooler , 3:55 D70FF, Michelin LTX " E "
Not installed yet DP flashed PCM (60 Tow )Autometer Triple Pillar Guage pod ,New Injector O-rings /IPR /lift pump /filterbowl @ 235K
1977 F350 Dually Dump , 460 , 429 POLICE heads , 4:56 D70FF, Edelbrock Intake , Holley 850 dbl pmper ,MSD IGN , Custom HiPo C-6 Trans , Dual Exhausts , Bridgestone "E" Tires
1983 KZ1000R , Yoshimura Stage I
1982 KZ1000 , 1045 Wiseco , Turbo ready
1990 KX500
That's odd, I have the same 3.55 rear end and this thing is a dog in overdrive, I'm ordering a DP-tuner tomorrow. I've checked the intake, changed exhaust from the cat back, can't find anything wrong with the van, runs fine unloaded- just not much towing power?
Maybe I should have it plugged in and diagnosis done?
The other poster is not running in OD, I can guarantee it, well maybe downhill, maybe on a perfect flat road, any incline is gonna kick him out of OD.
75 MPH is too fast to be towing a 9,500 # trailer anyway.
My 99 has a 3:55, I had a 35' TT, I don't care what anyone says, you are not gonna be running in OD.
My 02 has a 4:10, that thing will go up the side of a mountain in OD towing my TT.
My 3.55 van happily tows a 8,000lb trailers on flat roads in OD. Check this out Hutch. I dyno'd my DP-TUNER
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2001 E-350 ext 15 passenger. 7.3L psd, DP-Tuner 20, 60, 80, 80E, 120race, Overboost Annihilator, Turbonetics BB, 4" WarpSpeed turbo-back exhaust, custom fabricated 4" intake, Gold Line rebuilt powder coated calipers, braided stainless soft lines, Precision torque converter, TransGo shift kit, ATS Deep Sump trans pan, AutoMeter Ultralite Boost, Trans temp, EGT and in a three pod pillar and fuel pressure, DP-selector and oil temp in an over head console.
Awesome - I ordered my DP tuner yesterday!! no gauges yet, but exhaust is 3" open from the cat back (3" dynomax muffler) guess I will take it easy to try to keep egt temp down.
guess I will take it easy to try to keep egt temp down.
It will be hard to do with that chip. You're going to have a substantial increase in EGT's, I highly recommend the 4" exhaust and I wouldn't even run the chip with out at least a EGT and Trans temp gauge. AutoMeter is where I got mine along with the factory looking a-pillar pod for them. As you saw on my dyno charts, you're going be to running a hell of a lot more power than what the factory sent it on its way with, which in turn generates a lot more heat in the motor and the transmission via the wonderful factory torque converter.
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2001 E-350 ext 15 passenger. 7.3L psd, DP-Tuner 20, 60, 80, 80E, 120race, Overboost Annihilator, Turbonetics BB, 4" WarpSpeed turbo-back exhaust, custom fabricated 4" intake, Gold Line rebuilt powder coated calipers, braided stainless soft lines, Precision torque converter, TransGo shift kit, ATS Deep Sump trans pan, AutoMeter Ultralite Boost, Trans temp, EGT and in a three pod pillar and fuel pressure, DP-selector and oil temp in an over head console.
Please don't disagree with people you don't know. I have a Hi-Top '99 PowerStroke with 3.55's and tow a 10k TT. On open Interstates, I towed in OD with cruise control engaged with no problem. I used to tow @ ~ 75mph but have slowed down to ~65 mph to get better fuel economy. Even at 65, I still tow in OD and cruise unless I'm in hills/mountains. I have no reason to lie!
Quote:
Originally Posted by HeyBob
The other poster is not running in OD, I can guarantee it, well maybe downhill, maybe on a perfect flat road, any incline is gonna kick him out of OD.
75 MPH is too fast to be towing a 9,500 # trailer anyway.
My 99 has a 3:55, I had a 35' TT, I don't care what anyone says, you are not gonna be running in OD.
My 02 has a 4:10, that thing will go up the side of a mountain in OD towing my TT.
factory torque converter.
Linear Mode
