Haymaker

Archive for March, 2010

Phillips elected to improve engine air intake by reducing exhaust back pressure. (The more efficiently an engine “breathes,” the more power it can produce.) The obvious way to do this was to install headers as well as a cat-back exhaust, which would increase the truck’s low- and mid-rpm torque output—the “grunt” power needed to get through mud, over rocks, and up steep boat ramps. To really maximize the benefits, Stamper also recommended installation of a Hypertech performance chip to create a complete hardware-software package. To maximize power from the increased air flow that the headers provide, Hypertech provided PowerTuning.This program has been designed specifically to complement the air flow changes of the headers and adjusts ignition spark and fuel delivery throughout the engine’s power band.
The result? The power levels obtainable with the headers alone were roughly doubled through the addition of the Hypertech chip. The Chevy now boasts an additional 34 horsepower, achieved without a sacrifice in fuel economy.Also important, the power gains come in the low- to mid-rpm range, where it’s needed most.

Like millions of other truck-owning hunters and fishermen, Phillips drives a truck that has been compromised. By necessity truck manufacturers design pickups to appeal to a broad range of users. As a result, outdoorsmen often gripe that stock pickups don’t deliver optimum towing and offroad performance. This is not a new complaint, and ibr years the automotive aftermarket has provided bolt-on products designed to improve engine efficiency.
What has changed over the past 20 years is the addition of on- board computers.And what we are learning fast is that bolt-on performance products (hardware) now need to work In tandem with the computer (software) in order to achieve optimum results.

Keith Phillips had a problem.At 126,000 miles, his 1991 Chevy K1500 4×4 pickup was beginning to show its age.Though the truck was basically in good shape, the 5.7-liter VS engine seemed to lack the power needed to tow his bass boat, drive offroad while deer hunting, and haul loads for his home improvement business. He wanted to upgrade the engine’s performance, but he also wanted the truck to run cooler and get a boost in fuel economy as well.
Fortunately, one of Phillips hunting partners is Keith Stamper, owner of Pro-Motion Auto Machine, a Round Rock, Texas, performance shop. As a hunter, Stamper knows the kinds of performance that outdoorsmen want. “We’re not talking drag-strip speed he told me. “We’re talking improvements in low-end torque for towing and offroad use without a penalty in fuel economy. Specifically, the trend in 4×4s seems to be leading toward exhaust and air intake systems, computer chips, and transmission upgrades. And since a lot of this stuff is computer controlled, we’re doing a lot with the computer controls for both engines and transmissions.”

In the cargo bed, Charley stayed with his Can-Back top. On top of that he installed a custom roof rack with towers made from heavy- gauge steel that won’t bend, flex, loosen, or rattle under severe offroad use; onto the rack went outsized Expedition Ballistic and heavy canvas gear bags sourced from Cabela’s. On the inside frame he hung a custom rod rack of his own design. The full-size rack holds nine rigged rods and is made from heavy-duty aluminum and stainless steel. Each rod butt fits into closed-cell foam, while each tip is held in place by foam and elk hide.
Next in line was the Annadillo Truck Vault.This innovative slide-in plywood storage compartment features two long locking drawers suitable for stowing expensive two-piece graphite rods as well as seven other storage boxes situated on the deck that can hold a variety of gear and tackle.When the vault is in place and the tailgate up, no one walking past will know your gear is even on board.
On top of the vault, Charley installed a ilvewell that consisted of a 48-quart marine cooler and a Super Fish Saver 12-volt aerator from Cabela’s. When I kidded him about his passion for live bait, he said, “Sure, I still love fishing with live bait.You know why it’s so important to start kids off this way? Because when they fish with live bait, they’ll learn where the fish are—and that’s information that stays with you for life, no matter how you fish later on.”
Charley also went with a thermoelectric cooler from Coleman. The 32-volt unit plugs into the vehicle’s cigarette lighter or any other 12-volt power outlet. It can cool without ice to 40 degrees below the ambient air temperature.
In the cab, Charley opted for a deluxe overhead console, Tough Guy cab organizer, and a deluxe car seat organizer—all from Cabela’s. “I’m a very organized guy, and I hate climbing into messy trucks. It probably stems from my days as a pilot. Believe me, in an emergency you want to be able to find stuff in a hun’y,” he said.
Given the wide range of terrain and individual demands of hunters and fishermen, you may want to customize your truck in a different way. Fine. Just keep in mind that the “ultimate” truck does not require a quest that rivals the search for El Dorado. All you have to do is pick up the phone and ask for a catalog.