I feel I should give a thorough breakdown of the Sidekick and it's operating components and functions.
#1 - The Boondocker Sidekick is the "next gen" technology in Turbo application for our sleds. We finally have up to date, 21st century technology available!
ECU - , The OEM , ECU's are the result of thousands of hours of perfection by the manufacturer to accomplish the amazing, "perfect" operation we see today in these new sleds. Boondocker has realized this fact and therefore does not touch the OEM's ECU. The ECU is not sent in and "re-programmed" or altered. It controls and performs all of the functions intended by the manufacturer. Having that gives the Sled the amazing grunt and throttle response this engine has. The Sidekick Auto simply lays in fuel over top of the stock ECU as needed for boost. You then have the stock, excellent ECU functioning as normal "plus" boost and additional fuel. The result is amazing. If you have receive an ECU update from the manufacturer, you simply take it to your dealer, update as per normal, then continue riding! No down time. Then down the road when you want to sell your sled and upgrade, you simply unplug the Sidekick Auto electronics, remove the turbo and reassemble to stock and sell your sled. No need for an expensive new ECU replacement. Very nice.
#2 - Electronic Boost Control, "EBC". This technology is amazing. No more manual boost control or the need to "turn it up a little" when at altitude. EBC is more of a "horsepower setting" than a boost setting. With the old technology we had, we used to manually set a "target boost value". With Boondockers EBC, we are essentially setting a target "Horsepower value". The Sidekick Auto begins at approximately 5 pounds of boost. That equates to about 200 HP. The EBC then monitors the atmospheric values and proportionately adjusts boost accordingly, maintaining the 200HP.
At high elevations, the Sidekick Auto will be pumping out 7,8,9, pounds of boost required to maintain that constant 200HP. Then as you head back down the mountain, the EBC is protecting you from over-boosting by reducing boost until it is back at that beginning value of approx 5PSI. You can start to see this is not a "boost setting" but a HP setting. EBC is controlling boost throughout the day. All of this is done electronically and automatically! Then to top it off, there is also TPS, "throttle position sensing" incorporated into the application of boost. The result is a seamless, smooth and progressive power application. You can carefully hold a sketchy sidehill, smoothly and continuously. If you want to stand it on the rear bumper, just push your thumb a little farther. Very "ride-able" and smooth.
The EBC and TPS functions remind me of my new Ford Eco-Boost truck. Like all of our modern turboed cars and trucks. There is EBC and TPS working to give us consistent HP in all temperatures and elevations. What that does for our sleds is give us HP consistency which eliminates the need for any clutch tuning! Once the Boondocker clutching is installed, there is no need for adjustments because the HP to the track is always consistent! Super cool.
#3 - The turbo itself is a Garrett 2860. Excellent all around choice. The Cold air intake is accomplished through the OEM's air box and a cold air plenum feeding the turbo. The charge tube and air box, "charge box" are aluminum for quick heat transfer and flow efficiency.
#4 - I have to put this one out there for specific attention. The muffler. Haaha, yep! It deserves attention. It is a very precisely designed and built piece. Stainless steel and designed specifically for this kit. Beautiful to look at, amazingly engineered and built and a custom , stainless "Boondocker Logo" tagged on. The sound is the big bonus. It is not that empty "tuna can", mod sled noise we all loved in the past. It has a deeper rumble and crack. Not much louder that stock, but definitely the sound that advertises to everyone around there's something special under the hood. Most excellent !
#5 - Clutching. The clutch upgrades were very simple. You simply install the included clutch components and go. The secondary spring and helix remain. The great point in clutching is that with EBC keeping your HP consistent, you are no longer making those little clutch adjustments. It stays spot on.
Well everyone, I tried to be as informative as possible to the Side Kick Auto's technical pieces and their function. I hope this was helpful and if you have any questions, you are always welcome to give me a shout.
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