Banks Power System

[VANN]

I own a 2001 Monaco Dynasty with a 350 hp Cumming-It runs great until I get out west- Going up the mountains is a nightmare I slow down to 20 to 30mph on the steep hills- I think the engine is too small for the weight of the coach- They should have put at least a 400hp engine in it- Which is what they did latter-
My question is will a Banks power pack really help- If so will it be noticable Or just a little help- That is a lot of money for just a little help-

thanks
vann

[Gary RVRoamer]

Talk to Banks about how much torque and horsepower boost you will get in your specific engine - they have all the figures.

It's mostly more torque that you want - that's why the 400 hp engine is so much stronger. The 400 is the ISL, which has 1200 ft lbs of torque vs the 860 ft lb in your 350 ISC.

[Gary RVRoamer]

Also, see this thread for some further input on the Banks with your engine - The ISC 330 is the same engine with slightly differnt tuning.
Cummins ISC 330 Banks Power Pack

[beaverjim]

i think the stated torque for a 330 isc is 950lbs 350 isc is 1050lbs. jim

[Gary RVRoamer]

Quote:

i think the stated torque for a 330 isc is 950lbs 350 isc is 1050lbs.

You are right, at least for the current versions, and I stand corrected.

[Jeff tidmore]

Quote:

Originally Posted by VANN I own a 2001 Monaco Dynasty with a 350 hp Cumming-It runs great until I get out west- Going up the mountains is a nightmare I slow down to 20 to 30mph on the steep hills- I think the engine is too small for the weight of the coach- They should have put at least a 400hp engine in it- Which is what they did latter- My question is will a Banks power pack really help- If so will it be noticable Or just a little help- That is a lot of money for just a little help- thanks vann

I have a American tradition 2003 with banks system an it runs circles around the guys I run with, in moves the 350 to 435hp

[HeapBigEngin]

I also have the Banks PowerPack system on the 2003 ISC in our FWood Revolution. I have run it stock as well as Banks-equipped, so I have a good comparative experience with both setups. The difference in performance with the Banks system is exceptional....especially in the torque dept. I live in the West (with all of its mountains, curves and grades), and generally I can accelerate briskly up a 4% grade, acclerate some on a 6% grade....and hold resonably decent speed on 7% & 8% grades....all pulling our Ford Excape on a dolly. Not even close in the stock configuration. Believe me, I understand your concern....

Is it worth it? How safe is 30 MPH and holding on a 4%-5% grade on a busy Sunday afternoon going through the Sierras? (Not to mention the frequent 6%+ grades we get out here.) Your call, but I would not have my coach without the Banks system out here. Please let us know what you decide...

[Mr_D]

YEP, makes a HUGE difference. The torque curve is much longer. The stock 350 ISC has 950 at 1200 rising to 1050 ft lbs at 1400, then it trails off to 700 at 2200 rpm. With the Banks it starts with 1100 ft lbs at 1200 rpm goes to 1200 ft lbs at 1400 and STAYS at 1200 ft lbs through 1700 rpm falling off to the old peak of 1050 at 2100 rpm. So it has more torque than the stock engine from 1200 to 2100 rpm! That's a higher, longer curve than the ISL 400.

Here is a chart that shows it:


Green is the stock ISC
Blue is the ISC with the Banks Stinger
Red is the ISC with the Power Pack
The ISL curves (in black) are from the published Cummins chart.

The ISC 330 output is lower and has it's own chart from Banks.

As far as hill climbing my experience is pretty much the same as heapbigengin.
One hill on I-5 that I used to start at 65 in 6th and crest at 50 in 4th at WOT I now start at 65 in 6th on cruise control and end up at 65 in 6th still on cruise control. I also use the "econ" setting almost 100% of the time rather than just on the freeways.

I installed the kit myself, it's not hard and the instructions are good.

[Dave MN]

Great to have the better prefomance in power. What about milage impovement?

Dave MN

[Mr_D]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave MN Great to have the better prefomance in power. What about milage impovement? Dave MN

None noted on either MH, but I didn't buy them for fuel mileage, I got them for the performance.
Since Banks is noted for underrating their improvements I expect that if I drove EXACTLY like like I did before the upgrade I would see an improvement. But I don't, and neither do most people.
Banks uses a fuel measuring set up that measures to the .01 gallon, far more precise than I can!

[vito.a]

Any over heating problems with the Banks kit out west during the summer?

[HeapBigEngin]

RE engine overheating, have not had any issues...and that includes pulling though the hills/mountains out West here with air temps in the 90's. Like most, I keep the radiator clean, and I keep the revs up a bit to keep the coolant flowling faster when pulling the grades.

Just for info purposes, the Banks system comes with 2 gauges....one for turbo boost and one for exhaust temp. While the boost info is great, the exhaust temp is critical. The Banks computer (OttoMind) which operates the sytem has a built in exhaust temp limit of 1,300 degrees F. The temp can exceed that slightly for very short durations, but the system is calibrated to "dial things back" until the temp falls below that limit to avoid engine damage. To date, the highest temp I have seen pulling through the mountains here has been around 1,200 degrees or so. Easing back on the throttle slightly drops the temp immediately. Normally on a long pull, the temp sits around 1,100 or so. In any event, it has not been a problem and has not caused any engine overheating... at least that what my gauge says!! Hope this helps...

[Mr_D]

Quote:

Originally Posted by vito.a Any over heating problems with the Banks kit out west during the summer?

None that I have noted and I have had it dial the power back when the EGT hit 1,300°.

[a k]

What comes with the Banks kit? New Turbo and exhaust?