With the installation of a...
With the installation of a Stage I JET Power Package, a 19hp increase was realized at the rear wheels of a bone-stock 1997 Chevy equipped with a Vortec 5.7L V-8. Once the Stage II kit was installed the truck saw an additional 9hp increase. If that isn’t enough to whet your appetite, maybe it’s time to also increase the transmission&8217s shifting capabilities. With a JET Performance Products Shift Command (see sidebar), those extra ponies should be felt.
The Stage I JET Power Package...
The Stage I JET Power Package (PN29705K) is designed to fit all 1996-1997 Chevy C/K Vortec 5000 and 5700 engines. In the kit are the Power Control Module (a 20MHz RISC microprocessor that monitors and adjusts the truck&8217s stock air/fuel ratio and ignition spark and slightly raises transmission shift points), a Powr-Flo lifetime air filter, and a Powertech thermostat.
For greater power gains,...
For greater power gains, the Stage II (PN90105) kit contains a set of power pulleys designed to slow the engine accessories that can rob the engine of horsepower.
Prior to installation of the...
Prior to installation of the Stage I JET Power Package, a stock 1997 Vortec-equipped 5.7L V-8 was run on JET’s chassis dynamometer to determine baseline horsepower figures to use as a reference point from which to build some additional horsepower using only emissions-friendly bolt-on power products. With the Stage I kit installed, the truck went from a baseline of 180 rear-wheel horsepower to a high of 199 ponies. Not satisfied with those power increases, we installed JET&8217s Stage II Power Package, which includes all of the goodies from the Stage I kit and a set of power pulleys. When all was said and done, the horsepower ultimately realized was 208. From a peak baseline of 180, we built an additional 28 hp into the truck by simply using off-the-shelf OBD-II-compatible parts.
To begin the installation...
To begin the installation of the Stage I Power Package, removal of the stock and restricting air filter is required. Replace it with the JET Performance Powr-Flo air filter. Unsnap the metal clips that attach the plastic throttle body silencer lid to the air cleaner base. Remove the factory air cleaner from the throttle body ducting and attach the Power-Flo filter by snapping it onto the end of the ducting base. Fit the filter back into the silencer base and reconnect the plastic lid to the base.
Unlike 1988-1995 Chevy trucks...
Unlike 1988-1995 Chevy trucks where the factory electronic control module (ECM) is stored behind the glovebox liner, the computer in 1996-1997 trucks is under the hood. To install the Power Control Module, unhook the factory retaining clips from the stock computer to access the factory ECM.
Unplug the red side of the...
Unplug the red side of the ECM. You may have to use a small screwdriver to loosen the plug from its female counterpart. Take precaution and work slowly to avoid damaging any of the factory electrical wires with the screwdriver.
The Power Control Module plugs...
The Power Control Module plugs into the red female connection of the ECM. Once you make the connection, reconnect the male OEM ECM connection with the backside of the JET Power Control Module.
After all of the electrical...
After all of the electrical connections have been made on the Power Control Module, attach it to the lid of the underhood fuse box. Fit the back of the Power Control Module with the provided heavy-duty double-sided tape. Peel the backing off the tape and attach. Once it&8217s fully secure, reinstall the factory ECM (now fit with the Power Control Module connections) into its original location.
Installing the Powertech thermostat...
Installing the Powertech thermostat is a simple remove-and-replace operation. On all 1996-1997 Chevy trucks, the factory thermostat housing contains a rubber O-ring that requires no gasket or silicone between the housing base and intake manifold. The rubber O-ring is a permanent seal that prevents leaks. Drain a few inches of the radiator coolant to prevent any spilling when you remove the OEM thermostat housing. Remove the two bolts that hold the housing in place.
Replace the factory thermostat...
Replace the factory thermostat with the new Powertech 180-degree piece. The factory thermostat is rated at 195 degrees so it may take a few extra minutes to warm up the engine in the morning when the heater is in use, but the additional ponies under the hood will be well worth the minor discomfort. Also, take care to not damage the additional rubber O-ring around the thermostat. Both O-rings on the thermostat housing and the thermostat itself are designed to prevent leaks without the use of messy silicone-based leak-prevention products.
With the installation of a...
With the installation of a complete Stage I Power Package, an additional 19 proud ponies were realized. Since we wanted to up the power ante even more, a Stage II kit was next in line. Underdrive pulleys are designed to add horsepower by reducing the drag being placed on the engine under normal operating circumstances. The differences between the stock pulleys and the new power pulleys is readily apparent here. The JET crankshaft power pulley is smaller than stock while the new alternator pulley is significantly larger than its OEM counterpart. Once installed, there will be less engine drag on the engine&8217s beltdriven accessories which translates into an additional 9 hp.
Installing the power pulleys...
Installing the power pulleys requires removing the existing factory pieces. Remove the OEM alternator pulley by loosening the nut. To do this, keep the tension on the factory serpentine belt, and with an air ratchet or heavy-duty breaker bar, release the tension on the alternator nut. You may also want to loosen the bolts that hold the crankshaft pulley in place. Do not remove them completely, just loosen them. Once all of the respective nuts have been loosened, only then should you remove the serpentine belt. This can be done by using a ratchet on the end of the idler pulley and pushing it forward until the tension is light enough for you to remove the belt with your other hand. After the belt has been removed, disengage the nut holding the alternator pulley and remove it. Reinstall the new JET Performance Stage II alternator power pulley.
Insert the factory retaining...
Insert the factory retaining nut onto the new alternator power pulley and handtighten as much as possible. Remove the factory lower crankshaft pulley by dropping it out from under the fan shroud and reinstall the new small-diameter JET crankshaft pulley in its place. Once all of the bolts have been handtightened, reinstall the serpentine belt and apply the proper belt tension. These additional power items help net us another 9 hp.
Bolt-on power comes in all shapes, sizes, and costs. Sport truck owners who've recently dropped the fat green for their rides now find themselves at a distinct disadvantage. Having spent the money it cost to give their truck the required altitude adjustment, they find they've gone to the well once too often; it's run dry, leaving them without the funds to quench their thirst for engine power.
JET Performance Products comes to the rescue. The company offers a complete line of entry-level performance parts with several new computer-controlled components that interface with a truck's OBD-II onboard diagnostics system. For those who don't know what OBD-II is or how it works, picture this scenario: You've just installed some fly-by-night performance parts on your brand new sport truck. The family is loaded up in the vehicle and you're happily motoring along the road. Suddenly the Check Engine light flashes on and the truck's computer initiates its procedure leading to complete engine shutdown. That, folks, is OBD-II at work.
It's not all bad news since you can gain a bunch of ponies with OBD-II's assistance. For the money-conscious, JET offers an entry-level Stage I Power Package that's compatible with OBD-II emission systems. If the horsepower tweaks in that package aren't enough, you can step up to the slightly higher-priced Stage II Package for even more power.
Come along as we demonstrate an installation of both the Stage I and Stage II JET Power Packages. We'll give you JET Performance's figures on rear- wheel horsepower that will show all the power-starved truck owners out there what gains they can expect.