Not impressed with HX-40!

[Strick-9]

I installed an HX-40 yesterday. It has the 16 cm exhaust housing wastegated to 38psi.



From what I've read on TDR this is what I expected.



- Less bottom end, but what I lost on the low end I would gain back two fold on the midrange and top end.

- Lower EGT

- Much more power (i. e. 30-40 hp)



So far the only one of these that is true is the loss of bottom end.



I reset my SPA digital gauges before a trip to Houston to pick up the turbo to establish a baseline for comparison. I had a stock turbo with a blocked wastegate.



EGT before 1380°

Boost before 38 psi.



After installing the HX-40, with NO fueling changes. (3 hrs later)



EGT 1373°

Boost 39 psi



You can definately feel this turbo helps the engine breathe more easily at upper RPM. It feels like the engine isn't working as hard.



I tested my 1/4 mile trap speed and didn't pick up even 1 mph.



I have a test strip near my house that I always use to compare modifications and this morning I hit 1415° EGT in less than 1/4 mile.



I've installed a 4" exhaust, a K&N RE-0880, a moparguy air filter, and now an HX-40 all in hopes of reducing EGT. And I have yet to see a substantial decrease in temperatures by any of these.



I'm the type of person that believes in SPA digital gauge's high temp recall and repeatable tests. I try to avoid seat of the pants testing whenever possible.



My advice to everyone on the fence is to wait on a cheap set of twins to come out.



-Chris

 

[Extreme1]

What's your timing at?

 

[cumminsgetme]

Chris,

It didn't help my EGT's as much as I would have liked either. One thing I noticed on my truck is that it took some time learning to drive it right. With my 40 I wait till it's building about 10psi then nail it, where as the 35 would spool much quicker and I could nail the throttle around 5 psi. My egt's do seem to build more slowly but they are still way out of control. I did gain a fair amount of power in mid and top end. After learning where the power is in this new setup I can say that I am real pleased with mine. A good test would be to drive it with the 40 for 2 weeks or so then put your 35 back on and compare. I thought about doing this but finally found the point where spool up comes quick (I have to drive by my boost guage much more now). My 40 is wastegated to 45psi and running a 16 housing. Where did you get yours from, and are you still running your stock but modified plate? I'm also going to go with a set of twins at some point but I'll be using the 40 as the first turbo... ... then something big Guess we're going to have to port the head real soon

 

[HoleshotHolset]

If/when those so-called 'cheap' twins come out... . I'm getting me a set! I don't mind paying the $$... . just reduce my EGTs and let me run lots of boost with a boatload 'o fuel... . that's all I ask.



Matt

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

The big outlet of the HX40 is probably better aligned to the use of the 18 cm2 turbine housing than the 16, but you need over 400 hp for the 18 to be worthwhile. If the intake air is hot, egt reduction will not be what you expect. I'm not familiar iwth that air filter, but if it draws hot air from near the exhaust, you can not expect a good reduction in egt. . . mark Chapple told me the rule of thumb is reducing intake air temp 1 deg gives 1. 4 deg reduction in egt. Lawrence Bolton dyno'ed a Ram with HX35 and HX40 and said he got 25 more hp with the 40.



I suggest that a ported head would help also by improving airflow. We all end up chasing egt and as soon as we get it into contol, it's time for more fueling

 

[Strick-9]

Thanks for the replies guys.



Extreme: Timing is stock today, but the timing tools should be in tomorrow and that will change.



cumminsgetme:



Thanks for the honesty. It seems like people often spend money on their trucks and need to justify it so badly that they "see" and "feel" things that just aren't true. I wish I could believe everything I read on here. If I could get a 200° EGT drop with the HX-40 and another 200° with a K&N 0880, and another 100° with a 4" exhaust I would never have to worry with EGT again.



I buy parts and test them myself and develop my own opinions. I'm never going to feel sorry for myself if I buy something that doesn't completely satisfy me. I feel sorry for the new guys that see someone running 400+ HP and they believe every line they read. Then they go and spend hard earned money that they had to fight the wife over and the difference is subtle at best.



I guess I shouldn't care about the what other people are lead to believe.



Why do you wait til 10 psi to nail it? You afraid of breaking it or is there too much smoke for you? I didn't think Cord would ever have too much smoke.



Joe:



I'm with you. I've tried this 'moparguy' filter as well as the K&N and neither is a hands down winner over the stock airbox with a clean filter. The only time the K&N seemed to show a slower rise in EGT was when I compared it to a filthy stock filter.



I added a filterminder to the neck of my moparguy filter last week and it pulled the minder down to 10 just like the stock airbox.



I got to pull a few trailers today moving equipment around and I really like the HX-40 for pulling with my auto. The power comes in much slower and I can hold my foot to the floor longer which carries the lower gears longer before shifting. With the HX-35, the power would come on so hard and fast that I had to lift off the throttle in 1st gear.



I'm not disappointed by any means. I'm definately keeping it, I just wasn't quite as impressed as I thought I would be.



-Chris

 

[HEMI®Dart]

Strick-9 ,



Are you still running the 160's or have the 370's back in?



For some reason, the 5 speed trucks seem to respond better than the auto's to the HX-40. I have heard this more than once. Stock or built auto.



I'm surprised you didn't see a few mph faster at the top end.



I would try to check to see about what temp your intake air is at the air horn. They say when you get oil and junk get into the intercooler, the efficently drops off. Like Joe said.

 

[cumminsgetme]

smoke???what smoke!!

I think you'll find that the more you drive it the more you like it. If I had it to do again I would still spend the money. I've been thinking about trying the big honkin air filter..... but I have doubts. I think I'm just going to say the h-ll with it and put my old box back in. Besides... . I'd rather spend my money on a new pump ..... Joe ... ... you listenin' Hope it works out for you Chris... . it seems like I never notice the full affect of the parts I install until a few days later... . maybe silver just quits trying to fight the changes, spits the bit, and decides to run



p. s.

next time we get together lets try running your truck with my plate in it. I'm curious to see the difference in my #4 (thanks to MDW for the temporary swap) vs. your modified stock plate.