December 2010 - Performance Zone
NEW MANIFOLDS & MORE
By Performance Specialist Bruce C. Mallinson
Many exciting things are happening at Pittsburgh Power! Not only have we introduced new items to our line of performance diesel engine parts, but we are also preparing for the Annual Owner-Operator Snowmobile Conference, coming this February. After suffering through a terribly hot summer, winter is finally on the way. Soon it will be time to embrace the beautiful white snow that falls from the heavens. But, we’ll talk about that a little later – first, let’s discuss a few of our newest items that can improve the power and efficiency of your big rig.
We now have high-performance camshafts, injectors, turbos and ported-coated exhaust manifolds for Cat 3406E and single turbo C-15 engines (these parts will give your Cat an additional 150-200 horses). Now, keep in mind that these kinds of upgrades are mechanical and don’t run as smooth as electronic upgrades, like the Pittsburgh Power computer. You must control this power with your brain and right foot. If you’ve always driven stock engines and insist on using the cruise control most of the time, this type of power might not be for you.
High horsepower diesel engines must be driven by the driver. This means that YOU must watch your gauges – the engine computer will not take care of everything for you. If you want horsepower that is adjustable, the Pittsburgh Power computer is still the best way to go. As a bonus, our computer watches the exhaust gas temperature and will cut the truck back before you overheat the engine (your truck’s stock computer will not do this).
If you truck pull or drag race your rig, you can combine both the mechanical upgrades with a Pittsburgh Powerbox and produce over 1,000 horsepower. You can still haul freight with this setup, you will just have to turn off the Pittsburgh Power computer or set it on Power Level 1. By the way, some people think that our computer retards the engine’s timing, but that is not true. We keep the timing at factory specs. From there, we lengthen the signal waves to the fuel injector solenoids and increase the fuel flow. Horsepower is a wonderful thing, but if you are a company driver and just want to hold the steering wheel and let the truck drive itself, than “extra” horsepower is not for you.
You may have noticed that “Made in China” is stamped on your Detroit Diesel exhaust manifold. Unfortunately, a great deal of industry has left the United States in favor of cheaper parts made in China. The larger corporations, usually ran by a board of shareholders, push for big profits. Quality parts are a distant second to profits. The integrity of these parts suffers, as do the people who rely on them. It costs more to manufacture in America, but the quality is worth the price. The 60 Series Detroit exhaust manifolds have a tremendous leaking problem between the joints. It appears that the people casting and machining these parts need to learn how to read a micrometer. Some of these new manifolds, right from the factory, have a .009 clearance between the center and end sections. No wonder they leak! To solve this problem, we had to make and cast our own exhaust manifold for the Series 60 Detroit engine (see photos).
It is very time-consuming and expensive to mold, cast and machine the first manifold (about $28,000), but we think it will be worth the investment. And yes, they are made in the USA. The following is a list of the CFMs (cubic feet of air per minute) that the three current manifold options available flow. These measurements were all done on the same day on a Seanz 600 flow bench at 28 inches of water. The stock Series 60 manifold, after being ported and polished, flows at a rate of 1917.14 CFMs, while a competitor’s Series 60 manifold (which uses OEM ends) flows at 1851.81 CFMs. The new Pittsburgh Power Series 60 manifold flows at a rate of 2080.45 CFMs. As you can see, ours has the highest rate of flow – and the more air the better!
I know you don’t like to drive your beautiful semi-truck in the snow, however many of us love to ride our snowmobiles in it. With that said, start making plans to join us for the Annual Owner-Operator Snowmobile Conference (OOSC) in Stanley, Idaho. The conference starts on February 26 and goes for three days, but you can stay as long as you want. The town of Stanley sits at the base of the Sawtooth Mountains, which have 42 peaks over 10,000 feet and more than 300 crystal-clear high mountain lakes. This fun and educational event will create lifelong memories that you will never forget.
We will be staying at the Mountain Village Resort, and machine rentals are available just across the street. Stanley is a snowmobile community, so once you are there, your snowmobile becomes your main mode of transportation. Reservations cannot be made until after January 1, 2011. The phone number is (208) 774-3661. The Mountain Village Resort has natural hot springs, so remember to bring your swim suit. After riding all day, we get together to discuss the current topics surrounding the trucking industry, and have a little fun, too. At last year’s event, one of the single owner-operators was seen in the hot tub with the female owner of the hotel until 2:00 a.m. But hey, what happened in Grand Lake (Colorado) stayed in Grand Lake!
There are 185 miles of groomed trails right outside the hotel door, so even if you are from the East and have a short track sled, there will still be plenty of riding available for you. Stanley, Idaho is where SnoWest Snowmobile Magazine and the Ski-Doo snowmobile factory go to test their new winter sleds. But even if you have never ridden a snowmobile before, come and join us for three days and you will fall in love with this sport and enjoy the camaraderie.
If you would like more information about any of our latest new products or about the upcoming snowmobile conference, please do not hesitate to contact me at Pittsburgh Power Inc. in Saxonburg, PA at (724) 360-4080 or via e-mail at bruce@pittsburghpower.com. I hope to see many of my 10-4 Magazine readers out there. And, in the meantime, have a wonderful holiday season!