HX40 Superturbo

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The Superturbo from Piers of BD Engine Brake was installed on a 12 valve Ram, 5 speed, the other day and I had the chance to try it out. As many of you have experienced with 3. 54 gears and 33" tires, the takeoff in 2nd gear is usually accompanied by a stumble. The Superturbo pretty much cures that, because of the ultra low exhaust restriction from the 18. 5 cm2 housing, full 4" exhaust system with no tight bends or other restrictions, and (in the case of the test Ram), an almost zero restriction Walker 21471 muffler.

The power gain is impressive, if the fueling is sufficient to warrant such a turbo. Some have gone to 4" exhaust for more power and for lower egt. This turbo makes 4" exhaust both necessary and fully functional.

The test Ram has the 215 hp injection pump and that does allow plenty of fueling when the torque plate is in the range of the TST #10 or better. If the AFC is adjusted correctly, turbo lag is minimal and is more than compensated for, because of the very substantial flow improvements over 2000 rpm compared to the HX35 turbo. The gain is so impressive that there is reason to believe that Rams with power in the range of 300 hp could also benefit--both 5 speeds and automatics.

Piers has certainly found a gem in the parts books with this turbo, for those who are pushing the edge. Historically, a few others have tried the HX40 in varying configurations on B engines, such as the Cummins Recon Land Speed Record truck. This opportunity to improve power markedly while reducing egt is very significant.

 

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Joe,

How much would this cost to reduce the EGT's? Psychotty Air will reduce EGTs by a couple hundred degrees for a fraction of that cost and does NOT require an exhaust overhaul, as in turbo outlet. Just some thoughts...

BOMBING AND WONDERING WHY


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Evan A. Beck

98. 5 2500, 4x2, RC, ISB, A/T, SLT, 3. 54 LSD, Trailer tow, Aux. suspension, Forest Green/Driftwood, 53,516 miles, 01/21/00

4" "PIPE BOMB"--straight piped exhaust split into duals, with 4" x 20" chrome tips one on each side after the wheels, Jacobs E-Brake, K&N Filter (Scotty style), Auto-Meter Ultra Lite boost & pyro, turbo silencer ring removed, OEM foglamps, OEM roof marker lights, OEM 1-ton tailgate marker lamps, Sylvania Cool Blue® 9004 headlamp bulbs, Husky diamond plate toolbox, Line-X spray-in bedliner, Mag-Hytec rear end cover, painted exhaust manifold and turbine housing, and E-Brake elbow, plus other cosmetic modifications

"I'd Rather be RAMMIN' than STROKIN'"

"Journeyman B. O. M. B. Member"

Prez of NW BOMBers

Ground Zero--BOMB Page

 

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Piers, is this better then the D-9 Turbo on HVACS truck? Does it require a lot of plumbing changes? Enlighten us ok?
Does it leak? heheheh

SCOTT
BOMBin MAX

 

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According to Mark Chapple, who should know (12 years in Cummins turbo research), reducing intake air temp by 1 degree reduces egt 1. 4 deg as a rule of thumb. Now, 200/1. 4 = 143 deg temp reduction of the intake charge. If this is the case, what how does this lunatic #ad
Psychotic air system #ad
work to reduce intake air temp so much? The main causes of high intake air temp are the turbo being over its efficiency map (too much boost pressure), insufficient aftercooling, and high intake air temperature--from under the hood or high ambient temperature or both.

The Superturbo setup is not cheap, but if you plan on 4" exhasut anyway, and are running the kind of power that warrants looking at this turbo, it could save your head from cracking and giving you a psychotic engine. #ad
Checking the price of the yacht means you can't afford it anyway. LOL. You'll have between $1500 and 2000 invested, I figure.

Reducing fueling cuts egt very effectively. How many stock 160 hp B engines have high egt? This turbo is designed to be used on Rams with "earnest" levels of fueling. Just ask Piers how much fueling is enough!

 

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Big a** turbo outlet = big a** exhaust pipe. That's a good thing.

Want an exhaust brake? THINK AGAIN. If you do, you'll have to buy a BIG one. That means big bucks. Better have a big a** wallet ready for the "Super Turbo" and big e-brake.

BOMBING IN REALITY


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Evan A. Beck

98. 5 2500, 4x2, RC, ISB, A/T, SLT, 3. 54 LSD, Trailer tow, Aux. suspension, Forest Green/Driftwood, 53,516 miles, 01/21/00

4" "PIPE BOMB"--straight piped exhaust split into duals, with 4" x 20" chrome tips one on each side after the wheels, Jacobs E-Brake, K&N Filter (Scotty style), Auto-Meter Ultra Lite boost & pyro, turbo silencer ring removed, OEM foglamps, OEM roof marker lights, OEM 1-ton tailgate marker lamps, Sylvania Cool Blue® 9004 headlamp bulbs, Husky diamond plate toolbox, Line-X spray-in bedliner, Mag-Hytec rear end cover, painted exhaust manifold and turbine housing, and E-Brake elbow, plus other cosmetic modifications

"I'd Rather be RAMMIN' than STROKIN'"

"Journeyman B. O. M. B. Member"

Prez of NW BOMBers

Ground Zero--BOMB Page

 

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Joe I see your showing your true colors once again.
Never once have I referred to ANY of your stuff in a durogatory manner such as this.
Lunatic?
If it ain't your idea or your design or lining your pocket its junk right?
I bow before you.

Later

 

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Aha, I see Scott the Wee One slipped in a post while I was composing. The HX 40 will leak if you don't tighten the band clamp and gaskets. LOL.

On a related, but serious note, I heard some engineers spent days porting and polishing turbo exhaust housings and gained exactly zip. Keep your extrude hone machine away. #ad


The compressor housing and the exhaust housing of the Superturbo both need to be rotated to position them for a Ram's piping. The Ram wastegate actuator can be used if you turn the arm attached to the flap 90 deg. use 2 thick washers under the wastegate actuator holddown bolts so they won't bottom out in the housing. You can run the wastegate line from the compressor housing using the supplied elbow, or plug off that port and use the wastegate line running from the AFC (if you have a 12 valve Ram with that setup). The compressor outlet fits to the cast aluminum elbow on the Ram, and the exhaust housing bolts up to the Ram exhaust manifold. The 18. 5 cm2 wastegated exhaust housing seems to be about 9/16" longer than the stock 12 cm2 housing on the HX35, so the head pipe needs to be made accordingly to clear the firewall. The pressurized oil inlet and the oil drainback tube both fit.

Joe

 

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Scott, please. I was not derogatory. I was joking. Surely you saw the humor in naming your system Psychotty--I was just recognizing it. Sorry you took offense. And my question was serious and I am seeking information--if it reduces egt. so much the better.

This is a problem with written posts--we are not together to see when joking happens--but I thought the smileys would get my point across. Again, sorry you took offense.

Joe

 

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I took it as being sarcastic. My apologies as well.
I think what is missing is the fact that you became very conclusive before asking. You are very 'warm' or should I say cool in part of your post about ambient temp
UNDER the hood.

Testing has shown that in a stock 2000 2500 4x4 reg cab 6 spd that his temp was reduced by at least 125F on hills [same hills same road, same ambient temp].

I noticed it first off in my 98. Slightly modified... dropped my egts under load by at least 125F too.

Evan Participated in part of the road testing in a stock 98 24V 4x2 reg cab. My temps side by side on 6% grades with Evan where 150F lower and 200F lower on hard acceleration.

My temps would normally be 1100F and are now in the 900F range on the same roads.

An interesting and surprising result when all I wanted to do is supply LOTS of cold air to the engine.

SCOTT #ad

 

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I should add that we did not see any major differences in our egt's on the flats or when idling. OR in a static condition.

SCOTT

 

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Scott, that truck you had mid-knight towing deliver has gone missing #ad
Thankfully I only had a dummy Cummins in it while I figured out all the angles;} I'm still trying to find the psychotty air system, I think that mid-knight have it installed on their truck #ad
I put in a new gov. spring & seat assembly today WOW pulls 4000 like it's nothing I'm getting ready for you HVAC #ad
#ad
#ad


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Piers

 

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Piers, if that truck shows up again, send me the Psychotty air system to help lower egt. Robert has accused me of being on the lunatic fringe, and I need it to put in a Ram with an earnest fuel system. Unfortunately my pockets have been vacuumed by the new Superturbo and I can't afford to pay attention right now.

I'm still working on the laws of thermodyanmics and have hired specialists to learn how to break these laws and get away with it. I want infinite power with negligible egt. Successive approximations toward that goal have become geometrically more expensive.

It is still hard to believe how that Superturbo sucks money outta the wallet but it's worth it because it blows away the competition.

LOL

[This message has been edited by Joseph Donnelly (edited 01-29-2000). ]

 

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My Superturbo is on its way courtesy of Piers at BD (thanks). I also have the van Aaken, TST original PowerMax, 275 hp injectors, BD 4" exhaust brake, and 5" exhaust on order as well. This is all for my 2000 ISB. Can't wait to feel the results!

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'00 2500 RAM, RegCab, 4x2, Cummins, 6-spd, Driftwood/Agate...

 

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And this is all to BOMB a lightweight Regular Cab 4x2? #ad
#ad
#ad
I like your way of thinking. HVAC will be proud, a man after his own heart #ad


After you BOMB your rig, you may want to invest in one big*ss parachute, cut holes in the floor, and invite Rubble & Flintstone along to ensure adequate braking #ad
#ad
#ad
#ad
#ad


BTW--Let us know how the clutch holds out!

--Vaughn

BOMBing with SANITY


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1998 3/4T Quad Cab 4x4, 24-valve, 5-speed w/3. 54 rear, White over Driftwood, Fog Lamps, Air Dam, Agate leather with most options.
Bosch RV Injectors
245/75/16 Kelley Safari MSRs on M/T Classics, DeeZee running boards, diamond tread bedrail & tailgate protector.
56,250 miles (1/23/00)

 

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Hey Joe,
I got my Superturbo last tuesday, installed it thursday, towed my 4 place enclosed trailer 575 miles over the weekend.
I'm curious what your thoughts and observations are so far?

Ted Jannetty

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Ted Jannetty, Owner President Jannetty Racing Enterprises Inc.
97 3500 4x4 club cab 5spd. RED, JRE stage 3 power kit, JRE 4" exhaust
JRE 1/2 inch fuel system, Cummins 300 hp injectors, Prime loc,
Cummins chrome kit, US Gear 20% over drive, 3. 54 posi, Autometer
gauges, boost, and Pyrometer, BD exhaust brake.
97 Ski-Doo 670 turbocharged
99 Honda Forman 450 ES

 

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Very funny Ted... keep us in suspense. Well how is it?

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'00 2500 RAM, RegCab, 4x2, Cummins, 6-spd, Driftwood/Agate...

 

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Hi Ted,
After much digging & searching I found a 16 sq. cm. exhaust housing for you! I've ordered it for you to do some comparisons of it verse the 18. 5 you have right now. Now stop keeping everybody in suspense and fill them in on how you don't like the bottem end too much but the top end was unreal.

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Piers

 

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Hey Piers,

Can you get me a 16 sqcm housing too? I don't think I'll have enough fueling on the bottom end using the van Aaken and 275 injectors. I do a lot of driving 2200 RPM and below. Please let me know...

-Michael

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'00 2500 RAM, RegCab, 4x2, Cummins, 6-spd, Driftwood/Agate...

 

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In normal driving, the Superturbo and 4" exhaust gives about 200 deg egt reduction on moderate pulls. For example, consider pulling a hill where egt used to be 800-900 and boost with the HX35 and 18. 5 cm2 housing was 10-15 psi. The new setup gives about 600-700 deg and 4-7 psi. These results suggest the engine is working less with this turbo and full 4" system.

The exhaust system is made of a Piers special head pipe (BD Engine Brake) followed by commercial aluminized pipe sections. The catalytic converter is installed in the stock location--a Dodge stainless steel adapter pipe used on early 1994 model non-cat Rams was sacrificed, i. e. , a piece was cut off of it--to weld a stainless 4" inlet to the cat using E309-16 rod after the front 7" of the cat was sawed off. A Walker 21471 muffler is behind it. Spool up is somewhat better under moderate fueling, giving a max boost about 3 psi higher than was achieved with the 3" exhaust, HX35/18. 5 housing (25 vs. 22 psi).

Under more "earnest" fueling situations, the difference is night and day. The new turbo allows the engine to make a lot more power. Seat of the pants, a notoriously iffy estimate, is 50-75 hp more.

Does it seem to be a good turbo system for daily driving--I would say yes with modified 12 valve engines at least. It is more responsive than the HX35 setup with the same (18 or 16) size exhaust housing. The 5 speed Rams generally do well with these larger housings, while automatics can be sluggish with housings bigger than the 14 cm2 if the HX35 turbo is used (either 3" or 4" exhaust). Piers told me the HX40 Superturbo gave good response with his automatic Ram, whereas he had to settle for the 14 cm2 when using the HX35. Take off is easier with none of the hesitation or stumble that was pronounced before, having the idle set about 700-750, 255-85 tires, and starting in 2nd gear. Expressed differently, the engine has much better power and response at low rpm, not just at high rpm.

The tests were made with both fueling modes--low and high. The former mode compares better to most Rams, I suspect, in power level. I haven't dyno tested either mode in that test Ram yet, but 25 psi boost in a relatively large 18. 5 cm2 housing suggests around 250 hp. In the "low" fuel mode, no visual smoke can be coaxed from the exhaust regardless of how the Ram is driven (except for white smoke if very cold).

The Superturbo has an outlet designed for 4" pipe, while providing appropriate expansion of gases into that size pipe. Both the compressor and exhaust sides are bigger internally than the HX35. The 18. 5 cm2 housing is about the size of the exhaust manifold outlets, so the gases don't expand and contract again going into the turbo.

What remains to be seen is the suitability of the Superturbo on the 24 valve, because of their inflexible computer controlled air-fuel control system. It is entirely possible that without reprogramming the ecm, the Superturbo can't achieve its full potential on those engines. Who will be the first to experiment?

Call Piers at BD if interested, and no, I don't line my pockets if someone buys one. I enjoy thinking up new stuff, as does Piers, my co-conspirator in this endeavor. All he gets out of it is to keep his job. I hope that goes to show that we are unbiased and not selfishly motivated #ad


Have fun, hope you like it if you try one!

Joe

 

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Hi Michael,
Being a little concerned about the driveability with an ISB with a 18. 5 housing I ordered 3 of the 16 housing units, I will ship it instead of the 18. 5 unless I hear back from you otherwise. Mark Chapple has his HX40, maybe we could get him to put it on his ISB right away for some testing.

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Piers