Pros/Cons of Vortec w/ drive by wire

[Lil'John]

Title mostly states it.

I'm looking at purchasing a 6.0L in the next week or two. Both styles are available. Either way purchased will include all the parts needed (aka pedal assembly for the drive by wire) Installing the pedal isn't an issue.

I'm suspecting that the newer(aka drive by wire) engines will have lower mileage.

What I'm trying to figure out is there any reason to go with one way or the other.

Is the pedal assembly known for going bad?

What about the drive by wire throttle body?

[chevyfiedRAT]

the pedal assembly sometimes screws up, most of the time it will just idle, and the fix is to clean it, and if that doesn't work the potientimeter inside is burnt so you replace the assembly

[Lil'John]

Originally Posted by chevyfiedRAT

the pedal assembly sometimes screws up, most of the time it will just idle, and the fix is to clean it, and if that doesn't work the potientimeter inside is burnt so you replace the assembly

How much of a concern is this? Anything that can be done to prevent it from being an issue?

[MadRam]

I had a 8.1 in my last jeep that was Drive By wire. I never had any problems with it, but it did have a slight hesitation in it. It was really only noticeable if I matted it from a dead stand still.

With that said I got an 06 6.0 that is drive by wire that I am converting to Manual throttle Body for my new buggy.

[Lil'John]

Originally Posted by MadRam

I had a 8.1 in my last jeep that was Drive By wire. I never had any problems with it, but it did have a slight hesitation in it. It was really only noticeable if I matted it from a dead stand still.

With that said I got an 06 6.0 that is drive by wire that I am converting to Manual throttle Body for my new buggy.

Do you think the hesitation was just in your setup? Or is it something all drive by wire have?

The only reason I'm really leaning toward drive by wire is for less mileage on the donor engine. Although the rumored " just add a switch cruise control" sounds nice too

[J Bruce]

It's easy to convert the drive by wire motors to a standard throttle cable control if you want to go that route. All you need to do is swap throttle bodies.

FWIW - I'm in the process of swapping an 8.1L into my Jeep. I'm staying with the drive by wire. I haven't had a problem with the setup on my Duramax.

[Lil'John]

Originally Posted by J Bruce

It's easy to convert the drive by wire motors to a standard throttle cable control if you want to go that route. All you need to do is swap throttle bodies.

That was my understanding... but I'd rather save the $100 and get the right motor the first shot

[J Bruce]

Originally Posted by MadRam

I had a 8.1 in my last jeep that was Drive By wire. I never had any problems with it, but it did have a slight hesitation in it. It was really only noticeable if I matted it from a dead stand still.

Did you ever try recalibrating it? The factory manuals have a step by step process you're supposed to follow when components are changed etc. Kinda like setting up a new TPS sensor on a TBI motor.

[HerronPerformance]

Originally Posted by J Bruce

It's easy to convert the drive by wire motors to a standard throttle cable control if you want to go that route. All you need to do is swap throttle bodies.

Have you seen this work in someone's rig? I am wondering how the VCM understands the fueling requirement that are related to 'TPS' when the DbW are not set up for a throttle cable.
I do believe it can be done but it is not a simple TB swap.....but if people know different, I would like to see it b/c I may be going this route in the future...

[Bo185]

Originally Posted by HerronPerformance

Have you seen this work in someone's rig? I am wondering how the VCM understands the fueling requirement that are related to 'TPS' when the DbW are not set up for a throttle cable.
I do believe it can be done but it is not a simple TB swap.....but if people know different, I would like to see it b/c I may be going this route in the future...

Depending on the year of the DBW the early ones 03-04 had a control box. The later 05 ups I believe it was just wired in. You just need to swap the TB, add wires or box and Tune the PCM to see the DBW. Plus you have alot of choices for a pedal assy if one won't fit your vehicle.

I think with HP tuners you can tune it to remove some of the hesitation from it. Some of it might be Torque management as well. Personally I like the cable, because its simple and one less thing to fail. Plus it seems more real LOL... THe DBW just feels different to me. But it is easy to add Curise Control with the DBW.

[HerronPerformance]

TQ management is a bitch.

[J Bruce]

Originally Posted by HerronPerformance

Have you seen this work in someone's rig? I am wondering how the VCM understands the fueling requirement that are related to 'TPS' when the DbW are not set up for a throttle cable.
I do believe it can be done but it is not a simple TB swap.....but if people know different, I would like to see it b/c I may be going this route in the future...

You're right - I oversimplified and skipped a step or two.

The easiest way I know of is to run a MEFI-4 setup. Then it's a simple throttle body swap.

On a 6.0 it's also fairly straight forward (they came with and without DBW). The 8.1L would be tricky using stock components.

TQ management is a bitch.

Why?

[HerronPerformance]

TQ Management is not really a bitch for everyday use but for getting the most HP/TQ out of a VCM it is one of those things we delete.
based on many factors (TPS being one of them) it will cut back the timing and it really cuts timing during the shifts.
We can take TQ Mgmt out and with no other changes run 1-2 tenths quicker that at the drag strip (same day, same track).
For you offroad guys I can see it being unuseful b/c you guys want the most HP/TQ in your RPM range and not to mention the abuse mode settings which does the same thing, cuts timing and a few other things, the computer thinks you guys are going 'slow' and just hammering the throttle, perfect recipe for abuse mode and TQ mgmt. And even though many of you are not running the electronic transmission it affects the engine side.

[J Bruce]

Ah OK. I know what it is and the impact it has. I also know how easy it is to remove so I wasn't sure what you meant by "it's a bitch"

[HerronPerformance]

Originally Posted by J Bruce

Ah OK. I know what it is and the impact it has. I also know how easy it is to remove so I wasn't sure what you meant by "it's a bitch"

More less a bitch in a stock VCM and most people will not even know it is there until it is gone.

[Bo185]

TQ mant. was meant to help save the 4l60! GM was spending billions on watt. the 4l60! Lol...

Yet it still blows up!

[HerronPerformance]

Originally Posted by Bo185

TQ mant. was meant to help save the 4l60! GM was spending billions on watt. the 4l60! Lol...

Yet it still blows up!

TRUE, but they have it in everything, even my 99 LeSabre has it...
With or without the TQ mgmt, the A4s are glass.

[Bo185]

Originally Posted by HerronPerformance

TRUE, but they have it in everything, even my 99 LeSabre has it...
With or without the TQ mgmt, the A4s are glass.

Thats why I am looking for a 6l80 right now!

[J Bruce]

Originally Posted by Lil'John

Although the rumored " just add a switch cruise control" sounds nice too

I've been researching that and it sounds promising (and simple to do).

http://ls1tech.com/forums/showthread...e+cruise+drive

[Lil'John]

Originally Posted by Bo185

Depending on the year of the DBW the early ones 03-04 had a control box. The later 05 ups I believe it was just wired in.

Thought I'd bring this up again now that I've got an engine on the way and wanted to see if I could get a little more info on the two versions of the DBW. Hopefully I will pick it up next week sometime.

My engine is 2004 from 2500 and is coming "beyond" complete. They are including the DBW pedal and related stuff.

A quick "part lookup" showed the DBW box being the same from 2001 to 2005.

What I'm a bit curious about is whether the newer ones (2006ish) don't have a control box and if not, how difficult is it to change over to them?

I'd rather not spend money converting over to cable since I'm getting the DBW stuff for free.

[Bo185]

Originally Posted by Lil'John

Thought I'd bring this up again now that I've got an engine on the way and wanted to see if I could get a little more info on the two versions of the DBW. Hopefully I will pick it up next week sometime.

My engine is 2004 from 2500 and is coming "beyond" complete. They are including the DBW pedal and related stuff.

A quick "part lookup" showed the DBW box being the same from 2001 to 2005.

What I'm a bit curious about is whether the newer ones (2006ish) don't have a control box and if not, how difficult is it to change over to them?

I'd rather not spend money converting over to cable since I'm getting the DBW stuff for free.

The 06 and up (i think) don't have the TAC module control box.

TAC module has two connections, one for the pedal harness..other hooks into main engine harness this is all you need it should have the 9-pin connector the later ones are 6-pin.

AC modules have to match up to the year range of the PCM AND the throttle body.

03-05 TAC module works with 03-05 truck TB and 03-05 PCM (BLUE/GREEN connectors)

01-02 TAC module works with 01-02 truck TB, 97-04 Vette TB, and 01-02 PCM (BLUE/RED connectors).

03-05 TAC modules have an aluminum mounting base, 01-02 TAC modules are all black plastic including the mounting base.

It would be a pain to not use the TAC.