Supercharger tuning + what gauges to run

88GMCtruck

88GMCtruck

Woooo Boost!
Nov 4, 2015
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Auburn, Wa
I'm hoping someone might have some input, as this is the first boosted truck I've ran.

For those who know, I have a Whipple supercharger on my 98 K3500 with a 454. The current setup is 42lb injectors and a tuned Blackbox PCM by Westers in order to run the whipple on my truck. It's a canned tune at this point.

1: I've been reading a BUNCH of things, and am considering a 0411 swap, but i'm getting conflicting information from Westers saying it's not necessary and won't give me any benefit. My understanding is the 0411 will be able to read boost where the black box can't (above atmostphere), as well as be overall quicker / smoother. Tow/Haul isn't useful to me as I have the NV4500. I've been looking into EFI-Live through Blackbear Performance. Mostly curious what other boosted guys have done or opinions if the blackbox can be tuned properly for this.

2: Another question is what gauges should I be monitoring with the supercharger. Keep in mind, I'm using this at 6PSI of boost, hauling roughly 14,000-16,000 LBS up over the cascade mountains regularly. I have a wideband controller i'm going to log (no gauge currently). I've been thinking of running the following 4 gauges:
- Wideband Air Fuel - Can be useful to determine what conditions I may see lean/rich mixture in the varying driving I do, without having to log or try and remember what I was doing at the time.
- Pyrometer - Read about gas trucks boosted & towing, same setup as the diesel guys where you can just worried about being able to tell if i'm going to melt things down.... Wanted thoughts on this.
- Boost/Vac - Boost is more of a novelty, but can be useful in determining where to set my foot on the highway.
- Transmission Temp - Probably the least useful of the 4, but with the weight I tow I've heard people overheating them...

I'm not typically the one to ask these types of questions, but there is most a ton of people running setups like mine these days....
 
88GMCtruck said:
I'm hoping someone might have some input, as this is the first boosted truck I've ran.

For those who know, I have a Whipple supercharger on my 98 K3500 with a 454. The current setup is 42lb injectors and a tuned Blackbox PCM by Westers in order to run the whipple on my truck. It's a canned tune at this point.

1: I've been reading a BUNCH of things, and am considering a 0411 swap, but i'm getting conflicting information from Westers saying it's not necessary and won't give me any benefit. My understanding is the 0411 will be able to read boost where the black box can't (above atmostphere), as well as be overall quicker / smoother. Tow/Haul isn't useful to me as I have the NV4500. I've been looking into EFI-Live through Blackbear Performance. Mostly curious what other boosted guys have done or opinions if the blackbox can be tuned properly for this.

I have not much imput on this, except i have EFI live, and justin has done 13-14 tunes for me. Always been great, boosted or NA, all works flawless

2: Another question is what gauges should I be monitoring with the supercharger. Keep in mind, I'm using this at 6PSI of boost, hauling roughly 14,000-16,000 LBS up over the cascade mountains regularly. I have a wideband controller i'm going to log (no gauge currently). I've been thinking of running the following 4 gauges:
- Wideband Air Fuel - Can be useful to determine what conditions I may see lean/rich mixture in the varying driving I do, without having to log or try and remember what I was doing at the time.

I use a AEM Wideband, works awesome and interfaces to EFI live while logging. Had to make a custom harness and stand alone power setup for it, but it works great.

- Pyrometer - Read about gas trucks boosted & towing, same setup as the diesel guys where you can just worried about being able to tell if i'm going to melt things down.... Wanted thoughts on this.

I dont think youll really find that a nessesity, but just like anything the more knowledge the better

- Boost/Vac - Boost is more of a novelty, but can be useful in determining where to set my foot on the highway.
Get a mechnical one, I find them useful to try and get better mpg
- Transmission Temp - Probably the least useful of the 4, but with the weight I tow I've heard people overheating them...
probably 110% not needed lol

Considering both AFR and Pyro, im not 100% sure, but the Aeroforce Interceptor does take 2 mechnical inputs along with ob data. IF that doest work, maybe you can find a gauge that will do both, or even all 3


I'm not typically the one to ask these types of questions, but there is most a ton of people running setups like mine these days....
Click to expand...


I typed it in bold
 
Thanks guys.

The reason for the pyrometer is the biggest question for me - if it would be useful for me or not. The biggest thing about my setup VS most people with a S/C is i'm using it to haul a good amount of weight. I'm running around 16k loaded and crossing the mountain pass, which is 30+ miles of uphill grade. The worry I had was I've already burnt out a set of manifold donuts, in about 2,000 miles. I've never seen that happen.

I do realize trans temp is kinda moot on a manual, just something I think monitoring would be good considering I tow in OD a decent amount.
 
88GMCtruck said:
Thanks guys.

The reason for the pyrometer is the biggest question for me - if it would be useful for me or not. The biggest thing about my setup VS most people with a S/C is i'm using it to haul a good amount of weight. I'm running around 16k loaded and crossing the mountain pass, which is 30+ miles of uphill grade. The worry I had was I've already burnt out a set of manifold donuts, in about 2,000 miles. I've never seen that happen.

I do realize trans temp is kinda moot on a manual, just something I think monitoring would be good considering I tow in OD a decent amount.
Click to expand...
wot is manifold donut?
 
88GMCtruck said:
Thanks guys.

The reason for the pyrometer is the biggest question for me - if it would be useful for me or not. The biggest thing about my setup VS most people with a S/C is i'm using it to haul a good amount of weight. I'm running around 16k loaded and crossing the mountain pass, which is 30+ miles of uphill grade. The worry I had was I've already burnt out a set of manifold donuts, in about 2,000 miles. I've never seen that happen.

I do realize trans temp is kinda moot on a manual, just something I think monitoring would be good considering I tow in OD a decent amount.
Click to expand...

I've never actually seen or heard of anyone with a manual trans using a temp gauge. Nor would I know the heat range a manual trans can safely operate it.


I'd be more concerned with how hot your whipple will get and how hard it is on the internals. Guys over at PT.net love their PD blowers but i dont think they recommend doing those long pulls with them.

Running meth pre-rotors would probably be be more worth while then a pyrometer by all means.
 
HackMcMaster said:
wot is manifold donut?
Click to expand...
It's a graphite/metal round seal that goes between the exhaust manifold and pipe.

wretched73 said:
I've never actually seen or heard of anyone with a manual trans using a temp gauge. Nor would I know the heat range a manual trans can safely operate it.


I'd be more concerned with how hot your whipple will get and how hard it is on the internals. Guys over at PT.net love their PD blowers but i dont think they recommend doing those long pulls with them.

Running meth pre-rotors would probably be be more worth while then a pyrometer by all means.
Click to expand...
Well, I do know whipple toted these as being great for towing. Never thought about running meth on it, might not be a bad idea.

I think i'm going to purchase a aeroforce intercepter gauge, i can monitor the IAT/Boost etc with it, and i can run a OEM sensor to the 0411 transmission temp circuit for about $20 and have trans temp. Only big cost adder is pyro if i get one which i could at a later date.
 
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