Cummins ISC 330 Banks Power Pack

lffat0 · 04-26-2009, 05:01 PM

I'm new to motor homes and this site. Just purchased a 2001 Country Coach Allure with Cummins 330 ISC and Allison 3000 6 speed auto (32k miles on it). Acceptable power on the Interstate but slows down considerably on larger hills of 6% or more. I'm considering the Banks Power Pack but wondered if anyone else had installed one. Did you use a dealer or 'do it yourself'? Is it worth the $2500+ bucks in increased power? Planning a 3 month jaunt from Florida to California to Alaska and back.

Bill0828 · 04-27-2009, 03:16 PM

Like you, I have the ISC 330 on my Spartan chassis. I recently considered a Banks pack for my engine. Unfortunaltely, according to the Banks techs, because my system and possibly yours, have a common rail fuel system which won't allow for the installation of the power pack that they presently offer. Call them with your MH engine info and see if anything has recently changed. I'd like to add the system some day myself.

lffat0 · 04-28-2009, 06:17 PM

Mine is a 2001, yours must be 2004 or newer. Just got off the phone with "Mitch" at Bankspower (800)601-8072 and he said the common rail engines started in very late 2003 and up.

Went ahead and ordered mine, will let you know how it runs in a few weeks - I hope

rmmpe · 04-29-2009, 05:43 AM

Iffat0,

I also have a 330 ISC (1999).

Please keep us informed of your progress/opinions.

Thanks.
Bob

H. Miller · 05-07-2009, 08:02 AM

We purchased a used '04 Beaver with ISC330 and full Banks system previously installed.
Left Austin 3 days ago and are now in Sante Fe (600' to 7,000') Can't speak to "pre Banks" operation as this is our first MH however it only slowed once to 55mph (cruise set at 63) coming uphill. Oh, we're pulling a Saturn Vue.
In flat lands of west Tx. we got exactly 7mpg - next partial fill which included some hills it was 7.55mpg - go figure. Did note that hills cause EGT's to ride at max. a lot of the time.
Harold Miller

rmmpe · 05-08-2009, 05:32 AM

7.55 MPG----OUCH!
I keep wondering about increasing power and getting more boost than 23 PSI at full throttle. However, when I see I've consumed only 2,004 gallons to travel 18,847 miles through all states except AL, MS, LA, AZ, CA, NV, OR, AK, HI & WA, all the while towing the 4600# plus Edge, I'm pretty convinced I should just leave well enough alone.

Thanks for the reply.

lffat0 · 05-08-2009, 05:03 PM

Can't get the old turbo off - or back on - there is a welded support member in the way. Gonna have to grind or cut 1/4 " to get clearance. Oh well, something to do on the weekend, right?

lffat0 · 05-27-2009, 09:13 PM

Well, it took several weeks but I got it in and working. This was NOT a plug and play installation. Anyone considering a turbo swap should inspect the available space very carefully. You need the length of the exhaust manifold studs plus at least another 1/4 " in order to get the old unit off - and allow another 1/4" for the new one as it's slightly larger. I had to remove the waste gate arm before I could get the old unit out. Also had to use an angle grinder to remove 3/8" from a corner of a bracket. Had to loosen and tie back most of the air plumbing.

After getting the old turbo out it was a struggle to separate the turbine from the compressor/bearing. Soaked with Liquid Wrench over night then used a couple hardwood wedges to drive between the two pieces. BE SURE to mark the relative position of turbine to compressor before disassembly - the new one must go back in exactly at the same angle. I used a digital camera a lot during disassembly.

The Banks turbine was about 1/2" larger in diameter than stock so had to grind a little more off that bracket to get it in. And the Banks "Big Head" waste gate diaphragm is really big. The waste gate arm assembly was 1.25" longer and 7/8" larger in diameter than stock. This caused additional clearance problems with the frame rail. Read that as more grinding. A cutting torch would have been very handy. Had to remove and discard the 7/8" spacers on the Banks Big Head (after getting their tech support approval). Apparently, they are needed for some installations to clear the compressor. Had to readjust the arm length per instructions.

Had to install the new turbo assembly with the waste gate arm removed in order to reinstall on the manifold studs, then reinstall the arm assembly - Ugg. TIP: tie those pesky metal spacers in place with light monofilament fishing line. Have an extra C clip handy, you will loose at least one!

Wiring was pretty straightforward except for the 12v power tap. Boy, did I have a problem finding that one! It was on the passenger side of the engine, below the fuel pump and above the air pump. Virtually impossible to see. You have to get to in from underneath, more feel than visual. There is zero slack in the wires, it's tied directly to the main harness that runs along the pass side of the engine. Cut the tie and pull off the dummy plug. Mine was full of grease to prevent corrosion, I guess. OBTW - I bought a tube of 3M Dielectric grease from the auto parts, used it on all electrical connections. Don't put anti-seize on electrical connections!

Banks does not tell you this but there are two LEDs adjacent to the 8 pin Ethernet jack on the Ottomind. The jack is not used so put something over it to keep trash out. They should ship a dummy plug. When Ign is ON but engine NOT running the Red LED will be on. Once the engine starts the Green LED will come on and after a few seconds the Red will fade out. The Red is for power on and the Green is fuel pump pressure.

Test drive gave me about 1300 deg on the EGT at foot-to-the floor with 30 lbs of boost. At 55mph cruise on flat ground, had 800 deg and 10 lbs boost. At 35 mph in town, 400 deg and less than 3 lbs boost. Accelerates nice.

Would I do it again? Probably not considering the cost and hell I went through getting clearance. Took me 2 weeks to find that damn 12v plug. Heading to the Rocky Mountains in the fall so may change my mind. Will be towing a Jeep. Sometimes pull the Jeep, sometimes the ATV trailer and sometimes the 20ft boat.

June 12, is my last day to work - RETIRING! after 45 years in Telecom. See you guys on the road.