Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Boost Questin

[cochrandc748]

Hey Guys I've been reading the forums on this site long before buying my truck and Im still glued to all the information this place provides. I bought my truck in december and have been a TDR member since. This is my first time posting a question . ive got a '01 ETC 5spd with the HX-35 . Ive got 4" exhaust, BHAF, Boost and Pyro Gauges , and Edge EZ. My question is how can I adjust the wastegate for more boost than stock. Ive read about a boost elbow but am not sure if its for the HY or HX. Is there someway to adjust it manually without a boost elbow? Thanks for all the info you guys have provided for me already.



Thanks,

Dustin :-laf

 

[rkressg]

First, Welcome to the TDR, hope you find a great wealth of information here.



Second, You can eliminate the wastegate by putting a 1/4" plug into the front of the turbo (look where the little black hose on the bottom center front). Remove the hose and thread a brass pipe plug into the hole. This will disable the wastegate, though with your listed mods, it will not really help any. Not sure with the Edge EZ, but you will need a boost fooler if you exceed 20psi of boost. If you do not install one, when your truck exceeds 20psi, the ECM will de-fuel the engine and set a DTC (diagnostic trouble code) for an over-boost detection.



Do a quick search (click on 'Discussion Forums' at the top and go to 'Search Forums') on boost fooler.



Hope this helps,

-Rich

 

[AKAMAC]

Welcome Dustin,

The elbow is for the HX, 15 bucks is all they cost. You have to turn-buckle an HY.

 

[MikeC]

Dustin

The edge ez works as a boost fooler. All you need is a boost elbow which Edge did sell for $5. 00 shipped. Call them to make sure. good luck.

Mike

 

[Todd T]

running unwastgated is not the best advice for a first timer.



TST Performance sells a brass elbow that has a screw in it to restrict the amount of boost the wastegate sees, effectively raising the boost levels of the turbo. they are about $15 as posted above.



www.TSTproducts.com is what you are looking for. Piers (www.piersdiesel.com) has them too, they are from TST so to each his own.

 

[Beast2B]

I don't think with just an EZ you're gonna overdrive the turbo, but it's definitely enough to get more from the HX35. the HX is efficient up to ~35psi boost. Either way, the boost elbow or blocked port, you'll notice a good improvement in power. Keep the EGT under 1250* sustained and enjoy the ride!

 

[cochrandc748]

Thanks for the warm welcome guys. I appreciate the fast response. If you dont mind giving me some advice , im thinking about upgrading my injectors and possibly going to the edge drag comp. Id like to have controllable smoke(even though i do like leaving black clouds on a ferd "super poopy" when the occasion arises). I occasionally tow farm equipment and cars that I have to bring in my shop, so I want something geared more towards towing. Im ready for the mods fuel wise because the first thing i did was get rid of my factory lift pump by putting a holley black pump at the tank. (my factory LP was still kicking after 130K so I cant complain about it to much). Im an ASE certified engine specialist and rebuild about 6 or 7 gas engines a year so hopefully i can manage to install a set of injectors without to much trouble. Oh and for all the guys on here that like "stratapore" fuel filters such as the fleetguard, your local advance auto parts sells these under purorlator part #F55360. Im a manager at a store here in GA, so if i can ever help anyone with part numbers and brands , just drop me a line and ill be glad to help. Once again thank you all for the wealth of information you all have provided and I hope to earn a few new friendships while being here on the TDR.

Thanks,

Dustin

 

[Todd T]

I don't think with just an EZ you're gonna overdrive the turbo, but it's definitely enough to get more from the HX35. the HX is efficient up to ~35psi boost. Either way, the boost elbow or blocked port, you'll notice a good improvement in power. Keep the EGT under 1250* sustained and enjoy the ride!

Well, his last post just rapped this discussion up for us didnt it Beast? (Drag Comp, injectors, blocked wastegate, off the charts P/R's=pop goes the weasel)



that's why when handing out tuning advise, always keep in mind the intended audience.



anything over 40PSI on a stock 35 is a wasted effort anyway. too much heat!

 

[Beast2B]

no kidding! be careful of the headgasket, some stock gaskets can handle the power, some blow under 50psi boost. I'm pushing 45psi fairly often, always wonder if I'm pressing my luck... maybe it's unconsciously intentional - I NEED the studs and o-rings!



I will say that the fuel boxes that are controllable in-cab (comp, tst, blue chip, etc) are a benefit for towing because you can turn off the power when necessary.

 

[cochrandc748]

Thanks for the input guys. Ill definitely keep a hawkeye on my boost and Exhaust temps if i decide to tinker with the wastegate any. Do you think the drag comp on top of a set of mild injectors would be to much for the stock HX35? I wouldnt be looking for anything over a 40-50hp injector? Oh BTW how do you set up your personal sig?

 

[Beast2B]

The HX35 will work with mild injectors and you need a box or Marco's ECM to at least be a boost fooler.

Go to the heading up top for Discussion Forums, click on USer Control Panel and you'll find sig and profile space.

 

[R-N-R]

Id like to have controllable smoke(even though i do like leaving black clouds on a ferd "super poopy" when the occasion arises). I occasionally tow farm equipment and cars that I have to bring in my shop, so I want something geared more towards towing.

Smoke can be controlled at the fuel pedal. B2B hit the nail on the head. It seems like a CAtcher would be a better fit for the goal than a box would. Airflow upgrade would help as well. Dustin, do you still have a warrenty intact?



Bill

 

[KWheaton]

I just performed all my mod's within the last 6 weeks, this hp thing is real addictive. If your like me (and everyone else on the TDR), and I think you are, get the biggest and best you can afford. A set of 100hp injectors is about all you can run with a stock turbo and fueling box, exhaust temps will get too high. (I got 100hp injectors and glad I did) You should see boost pressures approaching 40psi with the set up your talking about. If you go to a bigger turbo, you'll experience a turbo lag and high exhaust temps when towing, plus you'll be concerned about that head gasket all the time. The drag comp and injectors will do everything you need and bring those hp numbers up to respectability range. Any more mod's than that and you'll be in the stratosphere $$ wise.



And smoke can be controlled with you right foot combined with the led's on the drag box.



Hope this helps.



Kevin

 

[Beast2B]

Kevin, watch out with your HY35. after ~32psi boost you will LOSE horsepower as you'll be out of the efficiency range of the turbo. All you'll be doing is super-heating the intake air charge. if you have an adjustable wastegate control (turnbuckle or spring or ?), try limiting the boost to ~32psi and drive it. EGT should stay lower and if you can dyno tune it, you'll probably see higher power numbers. A good change for the automatic trucks is a leftover HX35 from a manual truck. a few are probably hanging around, or you can get any number of modified turbos.

 

[KWheaton]

Hey Beast, I haven't modified the wastegate on my turbo. I assumed I didn't have to worry about it. I installed those BD III's, Edge Comp, full guages and thats what I got. My DiPricol 35psi boost guage pegs when I get on it, I even ordered a 60psi guage so I can see exactly what I have.



If a turbo will produce 40psi, it may not do it efficiently? Now I'm really confused. If a bi-product of more air movement is heat, don't we have a vicious cycle here? I suppose I have injectors that are too large, coupled with that Edge box and I'm pushing that turbo too hard? Power does seem to drop off in the 2300-2500 rpm range, I assumed I was entering a defueling stage. On the highway, 70mph & 2000rpm, hit the throttle, boost needle pegs, pulls real hard all the way to 90mph, then the power tapers off along with my nerves!



I would be more than anxious to go to a little bigger turbo, as long as I can still tow. I currently hit 1150 max temps with 8000lb trailer. Summer time will drive it even higher, and the new 5th wheel is supposed to max out near 14000lbs. , and a planned trip to the Rockies this summer, I might be in trouble. At least I'm not over revving with a sloppy torque converter any more, thanks DTT.



Well, I'm ready for anybody's ideas.



Thanks, Kevin

 

[Beast2B]

So your wastegate is stock? No turnbuckle, no spring? That's probably good in your case, as the added fuel you're feeding it will definitely overdrive that turbo. The fact that you aren't sending your EGTs through the roof is a good indication that you aren't too far above the limit! You can probably hit 1150 EGT with or without the Comp, do you get black smoke once the turbo is spooled up? Normally you'll get smoke as the boost is building, but it will clear up almost completely once you're pushing ~30psi or more.

Besides the 89% TC, do you also have the DTT valve body, or any other trans mods?

 

[KWheaton]

Hi Beast, thanks for the reply. I did my homework, I started with guages, intake and exhaust all installed myself, then I went to look for transmission help. I made all my h. p. mod's with the advice of LsFarm (Greg) from Great Lakes Diesel, I would say he's about as close to an expert on 12 and 24 valves we're gonna find around here, he's also a DTT installer. He advised me that I would be fine with that fueling box and injectors. I get black smoke when I jump on it, the turbo only takes a second to light up and we're haulin'. I'd say its very responsive and not too hot at all, I pull a 24ft. haulmark enclosed with 4000lbs of lawn equipment in it (7500lbs. total). If I really put my foot in it, it'll spin the tires with the trailer on it. I've run it pretty hard on the highway, stays a nice 800-900 degrees, with a max of 1100. Hot weather in some hills and I'd expect 1250 degrees for short periods. I have very little smoke after the turbo spools. If it starts lugging (smoking), I downshift to keep the temps under control. I did read that my stock turbo can be overdriven (as in, past its efficiency), and this would reduce it's longevity, however, I'm seeing some pretty stout boost numbers and it (the turbo) seems to be performing well. I just received my new boost guage and I'll be installing it today, so I'll get back on here to post the real boost numbers.



As far as the transmission goes, I had Greg build me something to really haul, and do a few burnouts, which I'm getting pretty good at (been 20 years since I even tried them LOL). I've got DTT rebuilt 47re valve body, soon to be a 48re; 89% TC, O/D upgrade; billet servo; billet input shaft and hub; billet 3rd gear drum; and smart controller with Mag Hytec aluminum pan. Very firm shifting when empty, feels great towing, and never seen the temp guage above 180 degrees. It goes into a 3rd gear lockup at around 42-47mph (hauling), and pulls real hard all the way to 60mph. I can't believe Dodge couldn't build this kind of trans in the first place.



Get back with you soon. Thanks, Kevin

 

[Green Machine]

Juice Grip it for a Day and see what ya think.



(vise grip the line to your waste gate)

Just be carefull !!

 

[KWheaton]

New guage installed yesterday, boost max's out at 39 psi. It only stays there for short periods of acceleration and is normally in the 10-30 psi range. I'm guessing I'm in good shape. Kevin