Tow Monster

[ScottS]

Well I am in the planning stages of setting up my 98 AWD as the Tow Monster-basically want to upgrade all sytems to improve towing performance- any tips or ideas are welcome. Will be towing my race car on an open trailer about 4k lbs.

Here is what I have so far


Transmission cooler - which one ?

Trans mods - shift kts etc ? suggestions ?

Thicker radiator - for better cooling

Gearing 4:11 ?

New bigger throttle body ( more torque) he V8 will have to wait but will go in eventually , so my mods need to keep this in mind
Exhaust - cat back - any suggestions ?


Front brakes- upgrade to bigger truck brakes ? Which ones

Rear brakes- same issue

Prodigy brake controller

Engine montoring system in pillar pod

Timbren load helpers front and rear ( are they available for front on AWD ?)

New shocks ( which ones ?)

Sway bars

Weight distributing and anti sway hitch ( on the way, my FIRST purchase)

When I get the diff back n the 97 I will take the 98 off the road and start disassembling. It nneds some drivetrain components anyways so as I go through the van I will be upgrading

Help me fill out this list with part numbers etc

Thanks

Scott

[LiftedAWDAstro]

Well I am in the planning stages of setting up my 98 AWD as the Tow Monster-basically want to upgrade all sytems to improve towing performance- any tips or ideas are welcome. Will be towing my race car on an open trailer about 4k lbs.

Here is what I have so far


Transmission cooler - which one ? Tru-cool

Trans mods - shift kts etc ? suggestions ? Transgo 4L60E-HD2 Also add in a corvette servo

Thicker radiator - for better coolingSee dragonvan's rad post

New bigger throttle body ( more torque) he V8 will have to wait but will go in eventually , so my mods need to keep this in mind
Exhaust - cat back - any suggestions ?Skip these and do 4.10 gears!


Front brakes- upgrade to bigger truck brakes ? Which onesUse 3/4 ton GM calipers from a late 70's - 80's K20 truck

Rear brakes- same issue

Prodigy brake controller Excellent choice

Engine montoring system in pillar pod Go with at least a tranny temp gauge.

Timbren load helpers front and rear ( are they available for front on AWD ?)

New shocks ( which ones ?) Rancho, Bilsteins etc.

Weight distributing and anti sway hitch ( on the way, my FIRST purchase)

When I get the diff back n the 97 I will take the 98 off the road and start disassembling. It nneds some drivetrain components anyways so as I go through the van I will be upgrading

Help me fill out this list with part numbers etc

Thanks

Scott

[rlsllc]

On the Tru Cool tranny cooler, go with the largest physical size or highest GVW rating if they are listed that way. Bigger is better in this application. I put the new one in line before the factory cooler to drop the temp, and then run through the factory cooler in the radiator. This keeps the fluid from being too cold in the winter, which can cause some drivability issues.

I think the radiator is fine, but if you're worried, get a heavy-duty thermal clutch for your fan. The factory radiators are really good, IMO.

I double agree on skipping the throttle body/muffler and going with 4.10 gears. you will see more improvement with a gear change than any other mod, and lower gears can ease many other problems by decreasing the load on the drive train. Your tranny will thank you. Absolutely the best bang for the buck.

For the rear brakes, the 11" caprice police car swap is the best deal going.

There are no helper springs for the front of an AWD that I know of. You should be fine with just better shocks, since very little additional load is carried on the front when towing, even with the WD hitch.

If you're serious about the rear springs, take it to a spring shop and have a leaf added right below the main leaf, not at the bottom like an "add-a-leaf". Much more effective and not nearly as harsh riding. A rear sway bar will do wonders when towing.

My $.02

[ScottS]

Aha - sway bars forgot about those !

[SoCalli V8]

As rlsllc said, he is dead on......

[LiftedAWDAstro]

If you order the Hellwig through Summit Racing...you may have to wait a while. Mine has been on order for almost 2 months.

[SoCalli V8]

Plus a shift kit, and a Corvette servo, this will make your trans shift crisper / sharper, creating less heat.

[ScottS]

in the interests of reliablity, I am going to put on a new water pump, serp belt, idler, probably the egr valve, and upgrade the alternator to somthing with more amps . THis can all be done when teh radiator is out.

I want to get where I am going . If I go to 4:11,s I will also replace the bearings in both dfs etc. When I upgrade the rear brakes I can replace the wheel bearings. Will probaby put Moog dlers and ball joints on the frnt as well as new hubs and halfshafts. ( I have to replace a cv joint anyways )

Hopefully I can pile up all the parts as funds allow and then do this all at once.

[ScottS]

Wen I get achance tonight or tomorow I wil consolidat ethe list and get part numbers etc, maybe even put soe prices to keep a running total

Keep the good ideas coming !

[SoCalli V8]

in the interests of reliablity, I am going to put on a new water pump, serp belt, idler, probably the egr valve, and upgrade the alternator to somthing with more amps . THis can all be done when teh radiator is out.

I want to get where I am going . If I go to 4:11,s I will also replace the bearings in both dfs etc. When I upgrade the rear brakes I can replace the wheel bearings. Will probaby put Moog dlers and ball joints on the frnt as well as new hubs and halfshafts. ( I have to replace a cv joint anyways )

Hopefully I can pile up all the parts as funds allow and then do this all at once.

Good choices...... Here is my W-pump disc, which increases flow...... You can easily make one from a Stainless steel disc (doesn`t corrode)

[SoCalli V8]

I forgot to post http://www.flowkooler.com/home.php for a great waterpump cooling site.

[SafariRob]

Thanks for the link, Darren. I added it to my bookmarks.

[ScottS]

Good info ! I am getting a lift or my garage so this winter I should be able to do this stuff