Another Turbo recommendation, with towing/EGTs in mind

[Froadin]

Turbo recommendation, with towing/EGTs in mind (HTT stage III)

Well, I am researching turbo upgrades for my current setup.

I haven't tapped the pump wire yet, but I was hoping to be about to tow on level 3 if/when needed.

I know that my exhaust brake caused me two issues right now, but I want to keep it unless it just becomes too big of a restriction.

I am posting here because the MAIN thing I worry about is keeping the EGTs in check while towing. I want to actually use as much power as possible, otherwise I am wasting my time (not building a hotrod, but a powerful towing truck).

I was thinking that getting the Stage III(http://www.htturbo.com/dodge/index.html) compressor upgrade from HTTurbo would probably give me enough air for my needs, but I question whether the stock 12cm exhaust will be too restrictive.

I wouldn't mind porting the exhaust if this would make everything happy. But I will upgrade to the 14cm if I really need to.



So, what do you guys run for a turbo that have a setup similair to mine?

And how well does it do for keeping your EGTs in check while towing? And how heavy and what altitude are you towing at?

I typically tow with a GCWR of between 14k to 19k, and from sea level to around 5,000 ish ft.

 

[nutter3]

Stage III hybrid/14, 2000 Dodge Ram, Auto 4x4

>> > ATS Stage IV (triple lock, ATS commander, Valve body)

>> > ATS 4" SS Exhaust

>> > Elbow mounted Pacbrake. ( I think I have a 3" downpipe, but not

>> sure)> TST powermax 3

>> > DD 2 Jammer injectors.

>> > BHAF

 

[nutter3]

Paul at HTT suggested I get the Stage III hybrid/14.



I have the follwoing

>> 2000 Dodge Ram, Auto 4x4

>> ATS Stage IV (triple lock, ATS commander, Valve body)

>> ATS 4" SS Exhaust

>> Elbow mounted Pacbrake.

>> TST powermax 3

>> DD 2 Jammer injectors.

>> BHAF



So I guess thats what I'll try. The good thing about HTT is the ability to upgrade the turbo (cheaply) as you need more air/power.

 

[Froadin]

Yeah, they told me that the stage III would be a good setup for what I have.

What I am really after are what people are seeing that have setups like this. Putting the stage III on it pretty much makes it the same as most hybrid turbos, depending on whether they have a 12cm or 14cm exhaust housing.

 

[Froadin]

Anyone running the stage III with a setup like mine?

Or any other turbo with a similiar setup?

 

[Beast2B]

B1-2 works great. ~45psi boost seems optimum with these B1 turbos so I'm getting an external wastegate together, but your smaller injectors might be perfect. I believe they have wastegated housings now, too. A little pricey, but the bulletproof nature caught my attention.

 

[Froadin]

How does it change the spool up time?

And at what rpm range does it really flow well?

And most importantly, how well does it tow?

I wonder if I don't have enough fuel for that level turbo to work fine at the mir range rpms for towing.

Yeah, I like the strength of them, but not sure what I have justifies that cost.

 

[Beast2B]

spool up is a little slower, but i don't even notice it anymore. i don't bury the throttle from zero boost, never did. roll into it and it's awesome!

rpm range isn't so noticeable, it's a matter of boost. before the MadECM it took a couple seconds to build, but hit 30psi quick. Now, the low end spool is dramatically faster. 2000rpm/60mph/5th gear (3. 54 & 37" tires) is perfect, 4-5psi boost constant and almost immediate response to accelerate.

This combo tows incredible. I had my toybox loaded (pushing 12k lbs) and hauled it over the Grapevine at an easy 60mph and under 35psi boost. Only EGT issue I had was on the way home I got trapped behind a semi for a bit, took a while to get back up to speed without burning it up. No lack of power, just a bit hot EGT.

They make a KS version (Kwik Spool exhaust housing). Like I said, I was sold on the durability. Not knocking any others, but when people went out of their way to say that these DIDN'T break... SOLD! I have heard good things about the Dodgezilla hybrids and the HTT turbos (also based on a Schwitzer turbo)

 

[Beast2B]

Justification is a funny thing. You and I spent ~$40,000 on our trucks and an additional $5,000 for the drivetrain. To skimp on mods is like putting the cheapest oil and oil filter and air filter to save $5. Doesn't balance in my book. I want more power and I don't want to compromise if I can afford it. If you can satisfy me that your product is BETTER, then I will consider it.

Anyone wanna borrow the soapbox?

 

[pcarlson]

I have the HTT Stage III turbo mod. Quick spool and really sucks the air as you can really hear at the BHAF. Also i have yet to change the 12cm2 housing to the 14cm2 housing. So far I haven't ran into an EGT issue but I can see the advantages for Comp users. The 12 works for me but if I need more I just swap on a 14 and I'm set. Really please with the HTT setup and workmanship as I have not had an issue since I paid to have mine modified and I have about 4-5000 on the setup.



Comes down to preference, by new or modify what you already have?

 

[Froadin]

I hear you on the cost thing. I am also trying to keep away from a down hill slide. Getting a B1 requires a different downpipe, which means I need to get a different exhaust brake.

And while I think the B1 is a great turbo, I don't think what I am after justifies the cost of changing everything around. I do believe the B1 turbo is worth the cost, but I don't believe that would be the best for what I am after.

pcarlson, what did you do to make the wastegate work without swapping the exhaust housing over? I was thinking I could just weld a tab on the compressor housing like the stock on already has. But I am open to suggestions.

Also, what EGTs have you seen with your setup? I have a 6 speed, so it's easier for me to control them, but I don't really want to worry about that part (I like to let my wife drive/tow without worrying about the EGTs too much. Even though she does great and watches them, I would rather not worry as much).

I was considering the 14cm2 housing just to keep from worrying about the EGTs, but I didn't want to loose the great low end spool that the 12cm2 offers.

Glad to hear you liked the setup.

 

[GLASMITHS]

I hear you on the cost thing.





It appears that we are about the same level of mods and power before my turbo install. If you want to keep the Pac brake and simplify the exchange you should consider the DD SuperX. It mainly puts more air in in the lower rpms and as such is excellent for towing. My egts run about 100 less with it. Also about a 50% quicker cool down. And it spools up very fast. At some point we need to add more air; however if you never intend to race or pull sleds INMHO the larger turbos are a waste, especially if you want to keep the Pac brake on the elbow.

 

[EBung]

The exhaust housing thing was why I went the hybrid route. My local diesel tech hooked me up with this setup:new hx35 guts,hx40 turbine housing,60mm turbine wheel,62mm exhaust wheel and 12cm wastgated ex housing machined to just clear the wheel. All for six franklins. I have a pacbrake and wanted to keep it to. I havent been to the htt web site for a while but I think this is very similar to the stageIII. I had a hy35 that it replaced and this thing spools only a little slower. I havent towed heavy yet or thrown a ton of fuel at it either so I cant honestly say its a cure all but it hasnt even begun to get hot at all. Next week i'm going with stage 5 jammers and to the dyno so I'll know alot more then. Another guy in town has same setup with rv275s and hit 395hp at the wheels with egts topped out at 900 on dyno. So I say go for it!

 

[Froadin]

GLASMITHS, I will need more then 100° for a EGT drop.



EBung, That sounds similiar to the stage III, but I don't know what they do with the exhaust side of things.



One of the other things is that if I need to upgrade the exhaust side some, then I would be better off just buying a hybrid turbo so I don't have to worry about the 100k miles that are on my turbo.



I am still hoping someone has my combo and tows so they can tell me what EGTs they get on long hills and with what turbo(s).



Thanks guys, keep it coming.

I have researched and seen a number of people with DDIIs or Automatics, or some other setups (or usage) that doesn't give me the EGTs numbers I am after.

 

[pcarlson]

pcarlson, what did you do to make the wastegate work without swapping the exhaust housing over? I was thinking I could just weld a tab on the compressor housing like the stock on already has. But I am open to suggestions. Also, what EGTs have you seen with your setup?

1. Wastegate is stock. Stock turbo was sent to them and they modified the original compressor. They turned it around in one day!!



2. I've gotten up to about 1000-1100 towing heavy but that was because I was to low in RPM and a shift dropped them.



I'm happy with there turbo and would buy from them again. They also sell the HTB turbos and completly modified HX35W's and HX40's. But there are many good vendors with good products. I can only speak for the HTT upgrade.

 

[Froadin]

Thanks, that is something I was hoping to hear.

I have the 6 speed, so it will be easier for me to control the EGTs compared to your auto. But I will also be running the comp. Although I won't know what levels I can get from it until I actually run the setup I guess.

 

[PC12Driver]

FWIW, my egt's dropped about 100 degrees in level cruise and were much more managable with the Comp ON (level 1, sublevel 1 or 2). I guess, as they say, timing is everything...

 

[Froadin]

I can believe that. Even though I am still using the Comp in EZ mode, I can still control the smoke level. And right now, with the comp on 1x1, I have a hard time making any smoke at all. Which is definitely better then with the comp off.