Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) home made twins!?

[CATCRACKER]

i have the ability to cut weld and fabricate. now with that said how hard will it be for me to set up my own home made set of twins?



tell me where i am wrong. i want a set of twins on a 1997 12v to help with 550hp and allow me to tow heavy without having to look at the egt guage



i figure with, 0plate, 370's, timing 15. 5 4000gsk this would put me at 430-440 hp.



i could use oem hx35/16 housing and HT3B/26 this would allow me to run wide open all day long at 440hp at a cheaper price than twins.



this way i would be at the same price as upgrading to modified piers hx40. all i would have to buy is plumbing, stock ht3b/26, ats manifold and wastegate.



Am i delusional. how hard would tuning be. i would set the wastegate at about 45 would this blow my headgasket.



the more i think about it the more i think i am barking up the wrong tree

 

[Jim Fulmer]

i could use oem hx35/16 housing and HT3B/26 this would allow me to run wide open all day long at 440hp at a cheaper price than twins.



Yes you could do this without a doubt, I would recommend a modified HT3B then a modified 35 second. You will have more money tied up in this than a PDR 40 by a long shot but still reasonable and yes you could have a nice tow setup without a doubt, I ran this setup to about 600 HP(with water), not on a dyno but 6400 lbs of 2WD to 12. 70@113. 8.



Jim

 

[83 crew cab]

dont set the waste gate at 45 that will give you way over 60 psi of boost the wast gate on the hx40 on the lil red is set at 29 and has total boost of 67 George

 

[CATCRACKER]

now i want to figrue the cost and material



modified hx35 -$? what size housing

mod HT3b -$?

tubing -$? (use the cheap stuff)

wastegate -$?

flanges -$?

ATS manifold -$?



to my knowledge there is not one twin truck in Louisiana so we need to represent but i need to build them as cheap as possible $4000 aint going to cut it. thanks for the help guys.

 

[HoleshotHolset]

Modified HX-35 = $650

Modified HT-3B = $????

Tubing = $nickle and dime you to death ($100 buys a LOT... )

Wastegate = used or new? $200-$!!!!

Flanges = $30/each last time I checked... I made some with my plasma cutter, though...

ATS manifold (not necessary... . but still a good upgrade) = $460



Matt

 

[CATCRACKER]

why dont more people set up their own twins????? i know the vendors have all of these trade secrets when it comes to setting them up and tuning them but why hasnt someone just put out the directions of exaclty how to do it for the person not trying for 700hp..... maybe they have. . i have not seen it. but it seems that $4000 for set of twins might be right for a set that will get you to 700hp but for most of us we want a usable 500hp that is not to laggy with good egt while towing at 22000 gross. That would get send us to the mild set of twins route. Am i wrong in saying that using the stock hx35 and stock ht3b (w/ proper housing changes) would get you there without being perfect maybe a little laggy but inexpensive and better than getting mod hx40 that will allow you temps to peg the needle with 450hp. Am i just not seeing the full picture?? if so someone with the twin know how enlighten me. it seems that mark kendrick was attempting this awhile back and was blasted with concerns about drive pressure. is this set up that i am proposing have problems with drive pressure?



i will stop running at the mouth but i am out for the avg guy who wants about 500hp and twins with out have to spend 4000 just on the twins.

 

[HoleshotHolset]

For a streetable 500hp - the combination you want to run is a darn good balance between cost and performance.



Jim Fulmer has done a TON of testing/tuning with his old HX-35/16cm² - HT3B (26cm²?) combo.



Tuning them isn't difficult at all - it's all a matter of playing with a few set screws and springs to get the right drive pressure/boost pressure combo you're looking for.



I'd almost suggest a 12 or 14cm² wastegated housing on top for quicker spool... . and then if drive pressures are still too high... . then you can rely on your eternal wastegate plumbed from the exhaust manifold to the dump-pipe that feeds the big turbo.



If you have the fabrication skills... and more importantly... . a nicely equipped garage (heated, air, beer fridge, etc... )... . go out and make it happen.



I bet you could do the whole shebang for under $1000 and be happier than a pig in slop. Prove me wrong.



Matt

 

[CATCRACKER]

holeset,



you are the man! that is all i needed was somone to say ..... you can probably afford it, it will probably work and i dare you to try... . off course i still have to sell my 03 and find a 1997 but i am formulating now and trying to get a plan together! Holeset i am sure i will have more questions thanks for your patience. i do have all the tools needed. what i will do is build a bench and get another manifold bolted to the side of the bench and start welding and cutting. then i will need help tuning i am not sure where to turn for that one yet but someone in texas should be able to help.



holeset i guess 370's, 0plate, and 15. 5 timing should get me close to 500... right. what would you suggest?

 

[Cooker]

Originally posted by CATCRACKER

i guess 370's, 0plate, and 15. 5 timing should get me close to 500... right. what would you suggest?

With what pump? You mention a 1997 so I assume you are referring to a 180 or 215?



One thing to keep in mind on the 97's you might have to cut a hole and weld a bung on the oil pan for the drain for the large turbo. I'm pretty certain all 1997's did not have the bung cast in the block.

 

[83 crew cab]

you can also weld up a Y in to the one drain with out any problems.



I am running a stock hx40 18 housing and stock ht3b,370 and a worked over pump with a 0 fuel plate and got 607 hp on the eng dyno with just under 1200 egt in the 20 second pull



the hx35 and the ht3b would be a good set up for a low cost twin set up



if you biuld the complete set up on the bench just tack weld it till you can set it in the truck and make sure it all fits the fire wall is realy close on the 2nd gens George

 

[CATCRACKER]

1st let me say i refuse to dump 10K into my truck. 2nd i love to learn so with out becoming a turbo expert and dumping alot of cash this is how i have decided to do my twins as cheap yet as effciently as i can with the skill set that i have. i hope others will do the same! i am 1year from making this a reality but i will start getting the parts and plan together. thanks for all the help guys i am going to need it in the future.



late 1997's i am told have an extra port for the return line for the large turbo. but if i have to cut and weld no problem.



here is the plan:



TWINS:hx35/18and ht3b/26 (HX upgraded by myself w/ htturbo kit)



PLUMBING, PIPE AND CLAMPS:?where do i get those



WASTEGATE: PT turbocharges $320-anywhere cheaper?



RACE PUMP:? which one would you guys recommend?



0 plate, 370, timing, 16* then eventually a reworked pump



looks like 500-600poines might be acheivable with the key being low sustainable egt's. high egt trucks are dyno queens and 1/4mile junkies which is cool as hell but i want a true interstate pulling low budget monster. low budget is still going to cost when i get dont with the transmission dowel pin and fueling needs. $3500 (that with me doing most of the work) throw in a race pump and we are up to 4500 which is cheaper than 6,000-10,000 that you would pay someone to do it.

 

[HoleshotHolset]

Who's going to build you a race pump for $1000?



All the pump work I have ever researched started at around $2000... .



Go out and make it happen! It's not difficult at all... . I gave up on my project from lack of time and a crappy secondary turbo I bought secondhand. :-laf



Matt

 

[CATCRACKER]

$2000 :--) is that with the core?

 

[HoleshotHolset]

Yup.



$2000 + your old pump = modified/race pump



I could be way off from current prices, however...



Matt

 

[T. Baker]

Stock pumps without a plate or with a big fuel plate and 370s and a 4K gsk is worth alot of horsepower for cheap. I would build the twins and then if you think you still don't have enough fuel then go for the pump.

Anybody know how much HP a pump with the above mods and twin turbos can make aprox. ? I'm betting over 500.

 

[BPonci]

560hp and 1360trq. 1150 pyro on the dyno run at PDR.

 

[CATCRACKER]

well i worked out some $'s



use factory hx35 14cm (housing$150),HT3b(used $100),tubing and clamps($100),wastegate($350). oil lines ? total $700-800 now that is cheap for a par set of twins.



now when i am ready to upgrade i can get a modified hx35 for $350 and get a rebuild kit for the HT3B for $75 and i will be ready to go. but in the meanwhile i will settle for the stock used hx and ht and all for close to the price on a piers hybrid hx35. the gig is up on just the elite having twins and low egts while this may not be a great set of twins i hope that they will do. if i had 4500 just for a set of twins i would not care but the only way i can get twins is if i build them myself thanks to all of the guys for the info. i will need you when i get started until then i will be amassing parts.

 

[CNichols]

What does the HT3B come off of????

 

[CATCRACKER]

n-14

 

[CNichols]

Ahhh Nice I might be able to score one of those threw a salvage buyer at work.



Now where do you get the right exhaust housing or does it have a good one on it?