Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Smarty questions

[TOWGUY]

OK, so my truck info is in my signature but here are the basics. It's a 2001 non HO, stock HY35 turbo, 275 RV injectors, 4" exhaust, AFE air filter, Blue chip VP44, Timbo apps and auto trans. The trans has a Transgo shift kit and a billet convertor. When I did the VP44 last fall, I removed the EDGE EZ that had been on for a few years. I'm missing the added power and am now thinking about a Smarty. So will I need a turnbuckle or something to bypass the wastegate or does the Smarty take care of all of that? Next, I've read a couple of comments about a new Smarty for the 2nd gen. trucks. Is this just rumor or is there something in the works? Thanks.

 

[JJPage]

The new improved 2nd gen Smarty is patiently being waited on by many folks...I believe Edge still holds the best product for 2nd gens at the present.
Smarty would sure enjoy all the revenue if they would actually release their 2nd gen promise...can you imagine the ordering, their website would crash!

 

[BDaugherty]

2nd gen wastegate is all mechanical. You will need a J-hook with your HY35. Smarty will do the boost fooling so the ecm doesn't throw a overboost code.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

If you have RV275 injectors still and you want to add a Smarty you won't be able to turn it up very far without pushing your turbo past its practical limits. The HY35 was the most restrictive of all turbos used on a Dodge Cummins. I would do a decent turbo upgrade before adding the Smarty.

 

[jeepit]

Vaughn,
Not knowing much about what turbo to consider what size and make are out there for this situation?

 

[TOWGUY]

Vaughn, what Jeepit said. A turbo upgrade is in the plans but I don't have a clue which direction to take. I don't need upper rpm power as the truck is a trailer puller. I don't want to loose the off idle pull I have right now although I think the Smarty will help that also. Right now I'm missing the 60 hp or so that the edge EZ gave me. I'm pulling a trailer to Big Bear in early July and would like to have some of that back. I was thinking the #3 setting on the Smarty might give back what was there but still give me room should I upgrade the turbo.

Any suggestions on the turbo?

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Towguy and jeepit, that's the million dollar question, LOL...and I'm not nearly as fluent in turbo-speak as many others are. The trick is going as big as possible without loosing spool and drivability, and be towable. A good and fairly popular route is the Switzer S300 family, due to their decent performance and durable turbine shafts. The out-of-the-box ones are in the $800 range but you don't want one of those, would be better off spending more for the modified variety, which is more like $1500-1700+. Vendors that sell them for example are BD Power, Source Automotive, Diesel Power Products, Industrial Injection, High Tech Turbo, etc. I'd suggest a 62/65/12 (or if you want a little more breathing on the exhaust side do a 62/65/13 stainless, but more bucks). Either is a good step above what you have now, which is a 57mm compressor I believe, and 12cm exhaust housing compared to the tiny 9cm on yours.

But when you get into the $1700 range there is another turbo that tops the S300 family, if you are willing to plumb in coolant lines, since I'm talking about a water-cooled dual ball bearing turbo. That's what I have, I really like it. It spools faster than others of comparable size since the shaft is lighter, and less drag because of the bearing. I suggest the Stage 2 which is the Garrett 3782R (also known as Power Max Stage 2) from Turbo Re-Source, it is even larger than the turbos I mention above but will spool better, fairly close to stock. With a stage 2 you can run a bigger injector and Smarty and be able to use the power more readily. I have the Garrett 3788R, the Stage 3, but they require you to run it with a cam (otherwise it will surge). I don't have a cam, but mine doesn't surge since I have an equal-length tubular header. It doesn't spool quite as fast a stock but it's very drivable. Here's a video of my truck running around at 5300 ft elevation http://youtu.be/E4anPv_S1i4 Another showing the turbo & header, pardon my lousy narration LOL http://youtu.be/1YB7VNvv9dk

If you go dual BB only go to Turbo Re-Source to get it, since they do mods to them other vendors don't. You will need a new HX40 downpipe to go with it to tie into your exhaust. Talk to Tom Spictig, use the online contact form and you should hear back from him http://www.turboresource.com/

 

[WardJ]

Where did you hear of a new 2nd gen Smarty?

 

[JR]

Reps from Smarty have reported that they are currently working on UDC for the 2nd gens. It will be a software that you can download onto your current Smarty off of the computer once it's available. I'm not sure exactly what they have in store for us, but I'm guessing it will enable the user to fine tune fuel and timing adjustments. I haven't heard anything from them in a while, I sure hope they haven't forgot about us poor 2nd gen owners :{

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Hopefully the wait won't be as long as with the original Smarty (the Catcher), waited several years for Marco to work that one out. But he does persevere.

 

[SnoKing]

I have been happy with my PDR35-12W. PDR found an old HX35-12W for me at reasonable price and did their magic to it. It spools similar to the old stock HY35 and moves more air to cool the exhaust temps. It was compatible with my 4" Banks exhaust brake.

With Jammer 1 injectors, Comp in EZ mode I am around 325/650 and the truck tows my 12K+ fifth wheel nicely. SNOKING