turbo + downloader

[JLibert]

I've been reading up as much as possible, and I see the popular setups, which seem to be the bullydog triple dog, or the smarty downloader with either a sps66 or sps62. I don't always find out whether or not the people running these downloaders and turbos felt like they made the right choices. Would you guys do it again? Also trying to determine whether or not I'll be needing head studs or any other essential components to ensure good performance and dependability. As of right now I'm leaning towards the sps62, sps66 or the HTT 62-14 and the smarty. I drive my truck every day, and have 102k on it in 2. 5 years with almost no problems - Durability is a great concern. Any input at all would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance, J. P.

 

[JCleary]

Go for the SPS62 or 62-14 with the Smarty. There's no need for a 66, especially with a manual. You'll bum out on the lag between shifts with a 66. I did.



Depending on where you live the smoke with a downloader and a 66 may bum you out, too.



I made the wrong decision by going big. While I did do 555hp uncorrected with the TST/BDDL stack, it wasn't fun to drive.



Now I have a SPS62 and am much happier. With the $$$ I've spent, I'm well on my way to a set of twins. Don't let someone talk you into more turbo than you need. I'll find out on Nov. 4, but I bet I'm still close to or over 500hp with a 62. Much more fun to drive now, too.



My SPS66 is sitting in my office collecting dust.



There's no need to do head studs or anything with these turbos. I've hit 55-60 psi countless times with no issues. Oil samples come back in great shape, so I have no head gasket issues.

 

[Tomeygun]

Go for the SPS62 or 62-14 with the Smarty. There's no need for a 66, especially with a manual. You'll bum out on the lag between shifts with a 66. I did.



Depending on where you live the smoke with a downloader and a 66 may bum you out, too.



I made the wrong decision by going big. While I did do 555hp uncorrected with the TST/BDDL stack, it wasn't fun to drive.



Now I have a SPS62 and am much happier. With the $$$ I've spent, I'm well on my way to a set of twins. Don't let someone talk you into more turbo than you need. I'll find out on Nov. 4, but I bet I'm still close to or over 500hp with a 62. Much more fun to drive now, too.



My SPS66 is sitting in my office collecting dust.

Funny - Lately I have been thinking that I should have went with with a 64/14 or whatever smaller than my 66mm charger cause the lag is starting to wear on me...



So it was quite a change in driving, huh?

 

[JCleary]

Heck yeah! Total difference. It's sweet having a turbo light at 4 or 5 psi instead of 12.



Smoke with a 66 is fun at times, but I'd rather have quick spooling any day. Also at cruise (60-80mph), when you nail the throttle it spools instantly. Not like my 66 which cruised at 3-7 psi and still had to get to 12 psi before anything interesting would happen.



Additionally, the 66 made the power band feel like a rubber band. Nail the throttle, wait for 12psi, then zip to 55psi, and then you go. Botch a shift and it's lag time all over again.

 

[Tomeygun]

Botch a shift and it's lag time all over again.

Hmm... well I have HTT making me a custom 66mm with some fancy stuff, I would if they would make it a 64mm and gain a little sppol up? I mean do you think I would loss THAT much cooling??



BTW - I hear about shifting, unless I am shifting at 3200, I get under the turbo easy

 

[JCleary]

Some say that with a quicker spooling turbo, you get more cooling sooner, giving lower EGT's.



Sometimes I wish I had my own dyno and a ton of spare time so I could answer all my own questions about this stuff. I would love to see if "cooling sooner" means lower overall EGT's.



I'd also love to run HTT and II turbos back-to-back on the same truck to see the difference in performance. I bet they're darn close.

 

[JHardwick]

Along those lines ... ... ... .....



It has been said and accepted that a stock charger, NON-WASTGATED creates more heat due to inefficiencies (yes, I looked that word up, it didn't look right).



I've seen just the opposite in my setup ... ... . same day, same truck, same load, same grade ... ... ..... I saw 100-150* decrease in EGTs by pinching off the wastgate hose.



Same quick spool, lower EGTs ... ... ... been doing it for 225,000 miles!

 

[CHolman]

Back to the question at hand. I have a SMARTY and a SPS62/80 and don't see how you could go wrong, I would do it again in a heart beat. I would go with the SPS 62 from I. I. just because they've never done me wrong and have gone out of their way to get me some parts that I wanted. I know that Paul over at HTT is a good guy too. Either way you go, I would go with the 62, with the low drive pressure wheel from HTT or SPS 62 from I. I. I have 118,000 miles on my truck and put the Super 62 on at 98,000 miles and just got the SMARTY about 2 months ago. I just bought the newest TST box with the Economax and that's what I'm running now and with the SMARTY stacked you better hold on. :--) I like that on the new TST I can switch from the Econo setting to the standard perfromance program power settings to the 03 and then the 05 twins settings with just a touch of a button... :-laf

 

[JLibert]

Go for the SPS62 or 62-14 with the Smarty. There's no need for a 66, especially with a manual. You'll bum out on the lag between shifts with a 66. I did.



Depending on where you live the smoke with a downloader and a 66 may bum you out, too.



I made the wrong decision by going big. While I did do 555hp uncorrected with the TST/BDDL stack, it wasn't fun to drive.



Now I have a SPS62 and am much happier. With the $$$ I've spent, I'm well on my way to a set of twins. Don't let someone talk you into more turbo than you need. I'll find out on Nov. 4, but I bet I'm still close to or over 500hp with a 62. Much more fun to drive now, too.



My SPS66 is sitting in my office collecting dust.



There's no need to do head studs or anything with these turbos. I've hit 55-60 psi countless times with no issues. Oil samples come back in great shape, so I have no head gasket issues.

JCleary,

I was wondering the same thing about having to spool up again between shifts. I'd guess A 66 might be ok for an auto, but not for our 6 speeds. I don't really hear any complaints about the sps62, and you're obviously no exception. The general consensus is that I don't need head studs (maybe just double check the torque on my stock studs) and people I've talked to say I don't really need the aftermarket intake/exhaust manifolds either unless I intend to do headwork to reap the benefits of the increased airflow. One thing I forgot to ask was whether or not the flange on the new turbo is or could be machined to accept my pacbrake.

 

[JLibert]

Back to the question at hand. I have a SMARTY and a SPS62/80 and don't see how you could go wrong, I would do it again in a heart beat. I would go with the SPS 62 from I. I. just because they've never done me wrong and have gone out of their way to get me some parts that I wanted. I know that Paul over at HTT is a good guy too. Either way you go, I would go with the 62, with the low drive pressure wheel from HTT or SPS 62 from I. I. I have 118,000 miles on my truck and put the Super 62 on at 98,000 miles and just got the SMARTY about 2 months ago. I just bought the newest TST box with the Economax and that's what I'm running now and with the SMARTY stacked you better hold on. :--) I like that on the new TST I can switch from the Econo setting to the standard perfromance program power settings to the 03 and then the 05 twins settings with just a touch of a button... :-laf

CHolman,

Did you notice any changes in fuel economy/mileage given the same driving conditions with the new turbo? Thanks for all the great info.

 

[CHolman]

JLibert, when I replaced the stocker for the SPS 62 I got a package deal from I. I. the ATS exhaust manifold, ATS Arch Flow manifold and of course the Turbo. All I had was the BDDL at the time and had it set on the "performance" 90 HP setting. I noticed about a 1. 7 MPG better according to my little fuel book and comparing my past milage. Keep in mind though I never go over 65 around here. I'm really liking this TST Econo setting. I've been about 45 miles since Saturday and I'm still on full... I've only had the TST for about 3 weeks "maybe" and I had the SMARTY on 8 and the TST on 2/2 until last Saturday. Man that was fun, Oo. but enough was enough and since this is my only means of transportation I thought I had better simmer down, but that doesn't mean I don't have my SMARTY beside me ready for a little action... :-laf

 

[JLibert]

thanks for the reply. It's kinda crazy to listen to the tone of the engine change when the economy setting is selected. I'm working on a package deal with II right now, and it's looking like the smarty, silver bullet, and a dual feed line. Jeez this diesel stuff is addictive.

 

[JCleary]

The SPS62 is really pretty nice. I dynoed with it today for a bit and learned some things. It is similar in some ways to the SPS66 in that it really doesn't light on a dyno until 10psi or so. It will only hit 48-50 psi instead of 55-60 psi.



That said, I did 427/849 with just the Smarty on level 9. Smarty 9/EZ 1 got me 478/942!



Results were similar with the Smarty on 9 and TST on 2/1, no EZ. We tried 3/1 on the TST but I got a loud POP! so the dyno operator backed out of it. It was on pace to blow right past 500hp, but I think I drained the rail.