New Gears.... now what???

lawrosa wrote:
From gear vendors...


WHAT ABOUT OTHER PERFORMANCE MODIFICATIONS?

Exhaust Systems, and Performance Chips, etc.?

These components are actually our #1 competitor. We at GEAR VENDORS are quite honestly gearheads. We are definitely biased towards performance through GearSplitting. We believe the best way for any vehicle which works hard (trucks and RV’s) to increase performance is by leaving the engine factory stock and increasing the torque multiplier (gears) and the time you’ll spend in the rpm where the engine was designed to make great power.

Every vehicle does need a quality exhaust system. In fact, most new vehicles come with 7 to 10 years warranted systems tied to emissions compliance. All these new vehicles have exhaust systems of much higher quality than what were available 10-years ago. Having said that, there are some aftermarket exhaust companies making some outlandish claims. If you are looking to replace a rotted out exhaust system and pick up 10-20hp you might find it here. Maybe even 30hp if you go for an aggressively loud system. But some manufactures are claiming 60+. One or more claim 80hp. The only way to get this hp change (assuming the stock system is in good condition) is by either putting in more fuel or revving the engine harder. This is why many of these supposed exhaust systems include alterations to the fuel pump or the addition of intercoolers (diesels) or fuel mapping (gas) and/or shift program changes to the transmission. But at what cost? These are not the primitive 2-barrel carburetors or outdated point ignition systems we had in our old cars. Today’s engines have the best of everything. Modifying the engine to make the output higher can definitely reduce engine life.

If you own a truck and never tow you are the most reasonable candidate for this kind of power modification because you are never really working the truck against a load that the truck rating assumes. You will make more power off the line but during most of your use you are just cruising and not making additional power.

However, for those who do tow, you vehicle is working significantly harder for long periods of time. The more aerodynamic load you have and the harder you push against either a weight load or speed (aerodynamics) the less you can afford engine type modifications.

Ford, Dodge and GM have to assume you are at the full gross vehicle rating all the time and set the engine accordingly. If you set up your power for running empty and then occasionally weight the truck, many components will be at higher stress than intended. This is why the GEAR VENDORS is such a great way to make power, because it takes the conservative settings the manufacturer intended for the engine and multiplies torque and your ability to stay in the designed power without over-revving or lugging the engine. Increased performance that is actually better for the vehicles. This is the same reason you would find that the big 18 wheelers like Peterbuilts and Kenworths have large conservative output engines with 5 & 6 speed manuals and 2 or 3 speed auxiliary transmissions for 10 to 15 or more forward ratios.

There is simply no better way to make conservative gains in horsepower and torque than a GEAR VENDORS UNDER/OVERDRIVE™.

Typical claims of a manuf trying to sell their product. However these are 2 very different products. The gear vendors is an excellent product and works great! So does a quality custom tune. To say the manuf has an optimum tune in the pcm is a stretch. They build the trucks for a wide range of people and uses. So what works ok for a grocery getter will not work ok for a person who tows heavy all the time. As for performance exhaust systems. I do agree to a point there. You will not gain any noticeable HP, but the engine will breathe better allowing a bit more HP. You have to be realistic in your expectations!

I still say through experience, that a quality custom tune will noticeably help a vehicle perform.