So I've driven the diesel conversion for about a month... final impressions.

[OrangeCrush]

As ya'll know, I got the H2 back from the diesel conversion about a month ago.

I've had a couple of bugs that needed to be ironed out.... mostly minor but nonetheless, stuff that I needed to do to make the truck as factory as possible.

As of now, the truck is completely in working order.... no lights, no CEL's, absolutely nothing.

With the tuner that I'm using right now (I've been through 4 of them) I'm only averaging about 14 mpg in the city and 17'ish on the highway.

If I use a different tuner, I can increase that by at least 2-3 mpg. (Diablo seems to work the best all around which is what I'll be switching back to shortly)

Anyway, I realize for those of you that already have diesels, I don't need to tell you how happy I am with the pulling power, the ability to drive up hills with a trailer and the general performance of a diesel.

The conversion was well worth the money and if any of you are planning on keeping your H2 indefinitely, it's a worthwhile investment.

Just thought I'd give ya'll an update.

Mark

[twr]

Hi Mark, you have tried 4 programmers! i thought i was bad with 2 programmers. Anyway glad your Dmax Conv works so well.

[OrangeCrush]

Originally Posted by twr

Hi Mark, you have tried 4 programmers! i thought i was bad with 2 programmers. Anyway glad your Dmax Conv works so well.

And more....

I started off with the PPE HOT tuner.... liked it, didn't give me the gas mileage I was looking for. Was able to program gear ratio and tire size.

Sold it to a friend for 400 bucks. (800+ unit) and bought a Diablo T1000. Wasn't overly happy with the quality (seemed cheap plasticy case) but worked well, gave me over 20mpg on the highway. Was not able to program gear ratio or tire size, had my ABS and BRAKE light come on.

Bought an Edge CTV programmer. Basically, in between the first two but the light came on with it also.

Went about bought a economy PPE tuner (only 3 levels cause I was going to trade it to my buddy I sold the HOT unit to since his truck was stock and could only use the first 3 levels anyways)


When I went to reinstall the PPE tuner (economy) I realized I had put the unit "back to stock" meaning it had a stock program, I did not uninstall the economy tuner.

Got it, traded it back for the HOT unit and my brake and aBS light was still on.
Soooo, now, I had to spend another couple of hundred bucks to have the economy tuner reflashed so I could send it back and give it to my buddy.

Turns out, the EBCM went bad in between the first PPE and the Diablo. (who knew?)

I replaced it and while I was doing so, I reprogrammed the ECM to reflect the VIN number from the donor truck.
And now that it's all said and done and I have everything working, I'm going to go back and buy the Trinity again.

I've got more money in shipping and reprogramming than I do in any tuner.

Mark

[kalantar]

Thanks for sharing OC, you have any vids?

edit ( found my response in another thread)...

[o2man98]

Why not go with EFILive?

[OrangeCrush]

Originally Posted by o2man98

Why not go with EFILive?

EFILive is an awesome setup.... however, I just want plug and play. Too many bells and whistles.

In fact, I just got rid of my PPE (AGAIN) and bought another Diablo. The PPE was 10 levels and the Diablo is only 3.

I'm not racing it, I just want to click on a setting and drive the damn thing and when I tow, have the ability to change tunes. Sometimes, too much is just that.... too much.

Also, the diablo gives me the best gas mileage so far. I'm averaging over 19 mpg in the city... at least 6 more than any of the others.


Mark

[tazhog54]

So where did you get the diesel motor put in ? Been off the site for awhile since I moved from Cal. to N.C. now !

[OrangeCrush]

Originally Posted by tazhog54

So where did you get the diesel motor put in ? Been off the site for awhile since I moved from Cal. to N.C. now !

In California...lol. Astacadero, CA.


Mark

[tazhog54]

It Figures ! LOL I think I know of the place now, if they have been doing it for about 4 years ?

[OrangeCrush]

Originally Posted by tazhog54

It Figures ! LOL I think I know of the place now, if they have been doing it for about 4 years ?

Not sure how long they've been doing it. The name of the place is Hollywood Hot Rods.

Mark

[tazhog54]

Nope that's not them . I know the place your talking about now. They are only about 100 miles from my old Hot Rod shop that I owned before I moved.The other place is down in southern cal I think they use to be on here.

[kalantar]

OC how much do you think you can safely tow now?

[OrangeCrush]

Originally Posted by kalantar

OC how much do you think you can safely tow now?

I honestly can't answer that because I'd be guessing but let me tell you this.

My atv trailer with 3 atv's is a hair over 4K lbs. Not only does the truck not struggle at all (I can consistently run 85 without flinching) but I don't even go into tow mode on the tuner.

I'd say if the suspension will carry it, I don't see why the truck can't pull twice that much. Perhaps I'll try to tow some heavy stuff to see how it does.

Mark

[tazhog54]

Got to get to your shop and see your truck one of these days if the weather gets better so I don't have to keep going on the accident calls with people sliding in the ditches from the ice !!! Jeff

[OrangeCrush]

Originally Posted by tazhog54

Got to get to your shop and see your truck one of these days if the weather gets better so I don't have to keep going on the accident calls with people sliding in the ditches from the ice !!! Jeff

Absolutely man, whenever you can, let me know.


Mark

[iwillnc]

Hey Orange, are you still able to lock the rear diff and mid diff through the dash, I assume they put the the regular GMT 800 switch selector into it.

[OrangeCrush]

Originally Posted by iwillnc

Hey Orange, are you still able to lock the rear diff and mid diff through the dash, I assume they put the the regular GMT 800 switch selector into it.

Yup, it's like a normal 4WD from GM.

Mark