Making the Fleece 2nd gen swap exhaust brake work
When you're planning the fleece 2nd gen swap exhaust brake functionality is possibly the biggest poser on your listing. It's one of those things where you really want the particular reliability and sound of a fixed-geometry turbocharged, however you don't desire to quit the particular stopping power that will makes towing having a Cummins so significantly easier. When you ditch the stock Variable Geometry Turbocharged (VGT) for any even more robust S300 or S400 setup, you're essentially tossing the particular mechanism that offers your exhaust braking out your window.
The great news is that you aren't trapped choosing between a cool-sounding truck and a safe-towing truck. You can possess both, but you've got to be smart about how you piece the particular kit together.
Why we do the swap within the first location
Most guys look into the Fleece 2nd gen swap because they're tired of the VGT acting upward. Those factory turbos are clever, sure, but they're prone to soot buildup and the actuators fail more usually than most associated with us care to admit. By shifting to a 2nd gen style question in which the turbo rests "center-mounted" and straight, you open upward the engine gulf and let that 6. 7L inhale and exhale like it had been meant to.
Requirements change is definitely the first thing you'll notice. It will get rid of that weird "hairdryer" hiss at idle plus replaces it along with a deep, throaty growl that reminds you las vegas dui attorney bought a diesel in the first place. But once the particular excitement of the new turbo whistle wears off plus you hook up a 15, 000-pound trailer, that's whenever you realize your fleece 2nd gen swap exhaust brake solution demands to be solid.
The reduction of the manufacturing plant VGT brake
On a share 2007. 5 to 2018 Ram, the exhaust brake isn't a separate part; it's only the VGT turbo sliding its internal vanes to create backpressure. Once you swap to a fixed-geometry turbo—which is exactly what the Fleece package is designed for—those vanes have passed away. There's nothing at all there to limit the airflow and slow the engine down.
If you just do the swap and ignore the particular brake, you're depending entirely in your assistance brakes. That might be good for a street truck that never hauls anything weightier than a dirt bike, but in the event that you're actually using the truck for work, it's the recipe for bended rotors and white-knuckle descents. This will be why most people look for an inline exhaust brake in order to pair with their own Fleece kit.
Choosing an inline brake for the particular Fleece kit
Since the turbo itself isn't likely to do the brake anymore, you require a dedicated valve in the exhaust stream. There are usually a few heavy hitters in this particular space, like Pacbrake and BD Diesel-powered. These units are usually usually installed in the downpipe or further back in the exhaust system.
When you're running a fleece 2nd gen swap exhaust brake setup, you would like a brake that plays nice with the factory electronics. The goal would be to make it therefore that once you hit that exhaust brake button on your dash, the aftermarket control device closes similar to the stock one used to.
Air-actuated vs. Electronic brakes
Most of the particular high-end inline brakes use compressed air flow to snap the particular valve shut. This means you'll require a small compressor and a tank mounted somewhere on the frame. It sounds like a lot of extra work, but the braking force you obtain is incredible. It's usually much stronger than the factory VGT brake ever was.
There are some electronic versions out there, but in the diesel world, air is generally king for dependability. If you're currently running air luggage for towing, you might already have half the system installed anyway.
Integration using the Fleece kit components
The Fleece 2nd gen swap kit is known for being extremely clean. They provide the manifold, the oil lines, and everything the little parts which make the set up look professional. Whenever adding the brake, you have to consider the downpipe.
Most 2nd gen swap downpipes are usually 4 inches or even even 5 ins. You'll need to make sure the inline brake you buy matches that size. If you're tight on space—which can happen with the way the 2nd gen manifold positions the turbo—you might have got to get innovative with in which the brake sits. Usually, there's plenty of area right after the particular downpipe levels away underneath the truck.
The tuning part of things
You can't simply bolt all this on and wish for the very best. Since you're removing the VGT, your truck's computer will probably be very confused. It's going to look regarding an actuator that isn't there plus probably throw the handful of codes.
You'll need custom fine tuning (like EFI Live or EZ LYNK) to tell the ECM that it's now running a fixed turbo. When you get your tunes, you particularly need to tell your own tuner that you're adding an aftermarket fleece 2nd gen swap exhaust brake setup. These people can map the factory exhaust brake signal to a wire that triggers your new in-line brake. It's pretty slick when it's done right—you strike the button, the pc sends the transmission, the air solenoid clicks, and the truck decelerates.
Performance advantages of the particular swap
Once you've got the exhaust brake situation figured out, the advantages of the Fleece swap really start in order to shine. Because the 2nd gen a lot more is shaped more efficiently than the 3rd or 4th gen "log" style manifolds, your EGTs (Exhaust Gas Temperatures) will often drop.
The temperature is distributed even more evenly across the cylinders, which is massive for the durability from the head seal. Plus, fixed-geometry turbos are generally tougher. They will don't have the moving parts within the exhaust housing that can get stuck or heat-cycle themselves into failure. It's an easier, more "set it and forget it" type of performance.
Installation hurdles to watch out there for
Carrying out a fleece 2nd gen swap exhaust brake install isn't exactly a thirty-minute job. It's a "clear the weekend and buy a case of beer" kind of task. You'll be pulling the factory manifold, which is well known for achieveing stubborn bolts.
1 thing to help keep a good eye on is the clearance near the firewall. Fleece will a great job with their manifold design to keep items tucked in, but every truck is a little different. When you add the inline brake, you'll furthermore be doing some wiring and plumbing for the air outlines. Take your period with the routing—keep those air ranges away from the hot exhaust piping. There's nothing worse than losing your own exhaust brake halfway down a hill because a plastic air line dissolved.
Is it worth the purchase?
Let's end up being real: this isn't an inexpensive upgrade. Between the Fleece kit, the turbo, the inline brake, as well as the tuning, you're looking at a decent chunk of change. Nevertheless, if you plan on keeping your Cummins for the long carry, it's one of the best techniques you may make.
You're basically taking the best components of the modern 6. 7L motor (the displacement, the block strength, the fueling) and integrating associated with the greatest parts of the older trucks (the turbo simplicity as well as the manifold flow). Incorporating the exhaust brake back into the particular mix just completes the package. It turns the truck into a reliable, predictable towing machine that will doesn't feel like it's constantly upon the edge of the sensor failure.
Final thoughts upon the setup
At the end of the time, a fleece 2nd gen swap exhaust brake construction will be the gold regular for many Cummins proprietors. It fixes the particular inherent flaws associated with the VGT system without sacrificing the particular utility of the particular truck.
If you're upon the fence, just think about the last time you heard a 2nd gen Cummins screaming throughout the highway. That sound is well-known to get a reason. With the right inline brake and also a solid Fleece kit, your own 6. 7L may have that same soul, along along with the reassurance that will comes with understanding you are able to stop that heavy load whenever you have to. It's the kind of modification that can make you love your truck all over again.