No worries - take your time. You may need break after that one
Brent, you are so lucky you don't have the 4.5 / 6 ton "FG VS anything" option in the US. My brain hurts. Got a spare room?
After reading the Isuzu thread, the obvious question (which may have been answered already) is why does ATW choose the Canter for most of their builds?
Actually , Brent I did a rough count and it's about 50:50 . Since I started we've done only 1 more NPS camper than FG and with the buses it would be very close ratio too. You see, we always leave the decision up to the owners as we aren't locked in to buying from one manufacturer. We don't buy a packet of trucks to get a bulk discount and then try and flog them regardless. Sure we offer advice either way, but it really depends on very specific end user needs.
As an example, you wouldn't have seen any of these before, I don't think. The last white one is for one of the remote Aboriginal communities. We've done a few for them now. This first pic is one of my favourite NPS's.
BTW We are looking at some big mining jobs and now that we are getting airbags on all the FG's , most of those will likely be FG's to due to the price. The mine vehicles get abused like you would not believe and as a result they will change the cab chassis and swap the bodies over every 2 years probably. So that's quite a saving with that sort of turnover.
Now about your chip question.
John, do you put the DP chip on all your conversions?
No. The decision is left up to the owner and they may have them retro fitted although some of the dealers will fit DP Chips as a sort of dealer option before it leaves the yard so they may already have them before we start a build.
Plenty more acceleration, especially if you have a good exhaust to go with it. "Do you need the power?" That's the question. I don't have an oponion either way. Everyone I ask who has one says "it was worth it...like an extra gear...better on the hills" etc. I'd do your exhaust before anything else IF (note the capital letters) you were looking for a power mod. 3"mandrill bent. The FG exhaust is virtually the same as it was in the beginning even though the engine capacity has greatly increased and they added a turbo. One of the Chip specialists here does an awesome exhaust and matching chip package for the FG's. TaipanXp. Google them. Very trick but more bucks.
Plenty of different chips here. DP is the most common and the one our Fuso dealer carries. "Steinbauer" is another. "Chiptorque" guy's are very helpful (and must drink too much caffiene). Many of them (on the FG84 anyway, ) just raise the pressure in the fuel rail to trick the computer. Some go as far as altering air flow as well but I'm no expert in this and you really need to talk to one to get it right. With the 649's the process is different but the end result is the same. More fuel so more accelleration /power.
Does it really improve fuel economy?
Debatable. Sure that's what they claim but more power comes from using more fuel and if you have it you'll probably use it faster. Again I'm not an expert. Also alot depends on how well it's dialed in. Most of the guys run dynos for that or there are some good 'ol boys who just drive them and know how to tweak by ear.
Warranty. You need to make sure you cover yourself. Here if the delaers won't cover the engine under warranty some of the Power chip guys will take over the warranty. Talk to "Ozzyfishaman". John's a wealth of info regarding chips.
. . . . and most importantly will it work on my California truck??
I'd be trying to get a chip guy in Cal to start with. I'm sure there would be something there already that could be adapted.
Brent, really like the way your truck is starting to look. It's quite different, heh?
Ciao for now. John.
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