 | | | |  | | ROADTESTS | | SAC Isuzu KB300 conversion |  | Magazine - July 2002 | | | - Get even more power from diesel - | | The Isuzu KB undoubtedly rates as one of the most popular double cabs on the market. | | And in 3,2-litre V6 guise, it has huge performance potential. | | But with a simple SAC conversion, it becomes a thrilling, tar-burning, hot hatch-devouring monster ... and lots of fun to boot! | |  | | | Caravaners the world over are always looking to improve their tow-vehicle's performance. | | At the same time one of their major concerns remains the fuel efficiency of their vehicle. | | The trend in the motor industry over the past couple of years has been a strong swing towards diesel power plants, and today they are highly sophisticated, far removed from the older, noisier smoke-billowing tortoises of early 80's. | |  | | | While the motor industry well in terms of modern engine designs, gaps in aftermarket developments have allowed high tech companies to take diesel technology to a new level. | | One such company is SAC Diesel, the Kyalami based performance company, responsible for the development of the Dastek Power plug. | | We recently tested an Isuzu KB 300 that had been fitted with one of these highly developed and re-programmable microcomputers which works in conjunction with the Engine Management (EMS) fitted to the standard vehicle. | | The EMS on a modern diesel engine consists of various sensors, and electronic control unit (ECU) and actuators. In essence what happens is that the sensors gather information from various sources and relay it to the ECU. | | The ECU than compares this information with the data stored in its memory. | | After this data comparison, the ECU than sends "orders" to the various actuators which, in turn, control things like fuel to the engine and injector opening timing. | | No two vehicles are the same due to production tolerances, the way in which they are operated, climatic conditions, fuel quality and servicing. | | "The Dastek Power intercepts signal vehicle's engine sensors and allows the ECU's original pre-set memory to be altered and enhanced, which intern allows the engine to reach its full potential in terms of power, fuel consumption and driveability" said a company spokesman. | | Fitting a Power Plug is a relatively simple operation that can be under taken by any of the SAC branches situated around the country. | | It is currently the only unit on the market which has the capacity to intercept and change all the sensors and actuator signal. | | For additional performance and fuel economy the unit can be individually tuned to your vehicle on SAC's dynamometer, which means that the memory will be specifically optimised to your vehicle. | | During our time with the vehicle we found that solo driving and towing showed improvements to the available power and torque that the vehicle was delivering and in the overall fuel efficiency of the KB 300. | | Where it really came into its own was in the overtaking department, an area that is one of major concern for caravaners especially when they get caught up behind heavy slow-moving vehicles. | | According to SAC the Power Plug, which can be programmed to meet different parameters, will, on average, improve both the power and torque of the vehicle by around 20 percent, while fuel consumption should come down by about 10 percent. | | When you consider that this relatively easy modification is available for under R5,000, it becomes something worth consideration. | | | | Increased power comes from this add-on "chip" | | | | Isuzu KB300 Performance Figures | | ACCELERATION | | | Standard | SAC | Towing | | 0 - 60 | 5.91 | 5.09 | 6.50 | | 0 - 80 | 9.31 | 7.81 | 11.52 | | 0 - 100 | 14.50 | 11.73 | 16.50 | | OVERTAKING ABILITY | | | Standard Solo | SAC Solo | SAC Towing | | 0 - 100 | 8.72 | 6.97 | 9.28 | | TOP SPEED | | | Standard Solo | SAC Solo | SAC Towing | | | 160.5 | 166.0 | 145 | | | | | | | | | | Click Here to get an SAC consultant to advise you! | | Click here for more about our conversions | | Performance / power conversions, modifications, engine upgrades available for Alfa, Audi, BMW, Chev, Chrysler, Colt, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Isuzu, Jeep, Kia, Mazda, Mercedes, Mini, Nissan, Opel, Toyota, VW and more... | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  | Performance / Power enhancement conversions | | Petrol & Diesel conversions, modifications, engine upgrades available for: | | Alfa, Audi, BMW, Chev, Chrysler, Colt, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Isuzu, Jeep, Kia, Mazda, Mercedes, Mini, Nissan, Opel, Toyota, VW and more... | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
