Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) High boost ?'s

[Beach]

I'm not really sure what I'm looking for, but at wot my TST PM3 boost gauge will get to almost 40psi on level 9! I know that's not good or efficient for the stock turbo! Is there something I can do or ad to regulate the psi so it stay's in it's peak performance range, and does it make much difference in performance. The TST came w/ a J-hook that I installed for more boost, but this seem's a little high. I plan on adding some decent injector's, maybe an AFE drop in filter and 5" exhaust this spring. I can't afford a new turbo yet so I want to use what I have. Will these mod's help with boost and EGT's or just the EGT's. I'd like to get to 450hp safely with out having to do the O-ring and head stud thing. Also I just remembered that there is a solonoid or a actuator type thing on the turbo, it look's like a small can with a rod coming out the back. I'm assuming it's for the waste gate. the front of it look's to be slightly pulled in at an angle like it was pulled open to hard or something. Could this be causing my higher #'s. Sorry about the rambling on. I appreciate any suggestion's. Thank's again guy's!

 

[darkhorse]

The small can you are describing is indeed the waste gate actuator. That means you must have an HX 35. Maximin effective boos is 35 psi for that unit. Your "J" hook bust have to strong a spring. An adjustable boos elbow may be a better choice for control of the wast gate. Check Rip's site here: http://www.sourceautomotive.biz/sa_dodge-turbo.htm

Scroll down to see a photo. You can also pull up photos of his turbo offering & see what the waste gate actuator looks like to decide if yours is damaged. The 5" exhaust is bigger than you would need. 4" is fine.

 

[Beach]

Darkhorse-Thank's for the info. I am a little confused though! I thought the HX35 came w/ the manual trans. and the HY35 w/ auto. When I bought the programmer from TST that was one of their question's and why I got a J-hook for the wastegate,[mine's auto]. I don't think I can use a boost elbow on mine. That was the other option they mentioned according to what turbo is on my truck. Maybe I'm wrong! Also I think my actuator is damaged. Are new one's expensive and would this possibly be causing the rod to stick slightly, causing higher boost than needed? Oh, bye the way, I just want the 5" for the sound, and lower egt's, but mostly sound . Thank's again!

 

[darkhorse]

You are right that the HY 35 is used on the auto, but I belive a few had the HX. If you have the HY, then you have a hard line to the waste gate & the boost elbow won't work. I don't know what a new actuator would cost, but I'll just bet you could get one from another TDR member, as so many have replaced HY 35 for other turbos.

 

[KKlingbeil]

If you are running 40 pounds with that HY then your wastegate probably isn't even opening up at all. Loosen your j-hook some and see if that helps. When mine was stock, with an edge comp only on 5x5 i was running 44 lbs and that was with the wastegate STUCK shut. I had a lot of troulbe with the HY wastegate sticking shut, but if you still have 100,000 mile warrenty, then dodge with give you a whole brand new turbo if that happens. Good luck...

 

[Beach]

If the waste gate is stuck or not opening all the way, could the actuator dimple itself trying to open or close. If I remove the J-hook, what should I look for to see if it is stuck. It run's good. Can I manually operate it to see if it's binding. Let's say it is stuck, is this going to improve performance when I do fix it and is it expensive for part's. I don't know much about turbo's, only enough to be dangerous. Being stuck partially shut, would'nt that cause it to be laggy. Also, can't you tell how a truck run's by the amount of smoke it produces. I just have the TST box for fueling and it smokes O. K. off the line, but turn's to a haze after that. Sorry for all the question's, I'm just trying to figure all the possibilities or symptom's. Thank's.

 

[NWhitney]

My HY is sticking also. I can peg my 30psi gauge with just a Edge EZ. This has happened before and I have to take a Cresent wrench and break free the little bracket that comes out of the turbo. My guess is that the wastegate itself is carboning up and sticking shut. If I run it HARD (1100+ for 2-3 min) I don;t have this problem as often. I guess I will have to take it apart and clean the carbon out of it.