H1C rebuild/upgrade or HX-35W?

[Ncostello]

At nearly 200K on the "new" 91. 5 D250... I have considered playing around with the turbo at some point. Thats after all the gauges and some basic automotive stuff that needs done first. I really want the gauges in first to get my baselines because I sense progressive upgrades on this one.



Anyhoot... the H1C has the 21cm turbine housing which would have to go. I was thinking 14cm wastegated to replace it. And perhaps the HT Turbos compressor wheel upgrade as well as a rebuild kit. The turbo is in great shape with nearly no noticeable shaft play. Blades look clean and undamaged.



Or... I would like to find a used HX-35W in the classifieds with low miles and just bolt it on. But I'd probably be faced with removing the 12cm housing and having to go larger. Again... perhaps a 14cm housing. Obviously this would be the more expensive route.



I'm not too familiar with the H1C and would like to know if its worth keeping on there. My ultimate plan would be to end up at 200-225 HP. FWIW... I also like the sound of the HX better. Can the H1C be made to sound louder. I can't even hear mine now. Thats part of the fun for me. Especially at idle.



Any suggestions on either option? Thanks!!

 

[cerberusiam]

If your looking for 220 to 230 hp at the crank it is adequate. If you want to put that on the ground you will be stretching the limits of what the H1C will like and endure. The H1C is pretty well out of its map by 25 psi and at 30 psi it is killing itself, especially on a larger housing. The only noise mine made was the barking it did when I let of the go pedal. Needless to say its life expectancy was secerally diminished with the 30 plus psi it was seeing. On a smaller housing the bark would probably have been diminished and it would have lived.



HTT makes a wheel upgrade kit for the H1C that will extend its map to higher power applications. It depends on how far you want to go and how much playing with the housing and such you want to do. Some times its just easier and more efficient (aka expensive) to buy the setup that will work.



Several have tried a 12cm housing and with enough fuel the temps and drive pressures get a little out of hand. I would think and HX35 on a 14cm WG housing would be a good investment. All depends on the funding.

 

[bgilbert]

I would like to find a used HX-35W in the classifieds with low miles and just bolt it on.

Illiana has them on industrial cores. Don't know about the low mileage ones though. I've seen some that looked and felt good on cores. Never priced one though. Paid $200 for a hx40w. All depends on who you talk to there. Calling them won't do much good either as I've always knew their inventory in my head, then I call to price a part and they say we don't have any B or C series Cummins cores. .



I thought only 92's had 21. 5 housings? I always say go bigger now. Lots of folks start out by saying they only want to get a 'little' more power to tow with etc, then before you know it, they want big twins/fuel etc...



I bet your stock h1c with a 14 or 16cm housing would be reliable efficient at 225rwhp.

 

[Greenleaf]

IMHO If you have an automatic transmission, the 21 housing will be fine. The little housings are more geared towards drivability with the standard transmission in terms of turbo lag. If you turn the fuel up a bit and want a smaller housing, simply stuff a grapefruit into the tail pipe. That will help bring up your boost numbers LOL



I'll take that 21 housing if your going to pitch it. They will be a comodity soon and I'll sell it for a real nice profit. Or install it onto my other truck.



Ok. My flame suit is on now and I have a fire extinguisher handy too.



GL

 

[JLEONARD]

I think with the H1C as a base you'd have plenty of turbo. We did the HTT upgrade to my son's 94 with a WH1C and the truck is up over 300. Whines as much as an HX 35.

Now I'm running his stock WH1C wheel and housing on my truck.

Jay

 

[Ncostello]

bgilbert... I know what your talking about with Illinana Truck Parts. You hit the nail on the head when you call. I used to spend alot of time there getting C-8000 Ford truck parts. They got to know me good enough to let me pull up with my tools and just go to work... no assistance required. I'll take a stroll down there soon.



Sounds like it may be a toss up with the turbo choice. From what I understand... the HT 60mm fan(or even the 58mm) doesn't require mods to the housing on the H1C. Maybe I read that wrong.



I'll look for a deal on a HX-35. Otherwise... at least I know the H1C would be able to perform or come pretty close. Thanks.

 

[JLEONARD]

I think you may have misinterpereted... .

The larger wheels require simple machining on the "backing plate" (not sure of the real name) and a different housing for the H1C.

I believe the same is true for the HX35.

 

[Ncostello]

OK... I was missing the fact that the deal includes the wheel and compressor housing. Converts the H1C to H1E. But it did say direct bolt on for the H1C. If you get the new housing... no machine work should be needed. The HX turbos required mild machine shop work. No problem either way.

 

[JLEONARD]

Maching of the backing plate IS required... the counterbore needs to be opened up to a larger diameter for the larger wheel.

 

[Ncostello]

I believe I'll attempt an HX-35. By the time I buy all the upgrade parts, rebuild parts and machine shop work... I'll have more in it than a decent used HX.



Now the only question is whether or not to go with a wastegated turbo or not. Probably will have to buy a 14 cm housing too unless a 12 will work. We'll see when we get there.



Meantime I need to pressure check the intercooler core. May have to go with a new one just to be sure and for the long term. All the turbo in the world won't help me if I'm running a bad cooler.



Gotta get the boost gauge on . So much to do!!

 

[k2diesel]

Ncostello... ..... Absolutely, before you do anything, get those pyro and boost gauges in and establish some baseline readings. I've been playing with my 91. 5 W-250 reg cab 5 spd. for a little while now. It seems as though my goals of ~200-220 rwhp, good low end torque, good towing performance and good mileage are somewhat similar to yours. So far, I've installed PDR Bosch 190's,aFe 7 , 4" Big exhaust.com,16 cm hot side, HX35 take off from a 2001 ETH ( found it in the tdr classifieds for $200), and some mild pump tweaks/timing. I'm pretty well pleased with the way she's running right now, but I'm going to try one last mod, I'm gonna cut my downpipe and try a 12cm wastegated turbine housing off of that same 2001 ETH HX35. I think for my needs it will serve me well, and I'll never really know unless I try! And btw, the HX35 install really woke up my truck, the H1C was carboned up a bit and sluggish. I'll post when I get the 12cm in. Good Luck!... ... ... . K2