Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Turbo for Towing

[lkuykendall]

I have a 2001. 5 6sp that currently has Bosh 275’s, EZ, BHAF, straight piped and is hooked to a trailer 95% of the time. I am installing a South Bend Con OFE this week so I am interested in adding a little additional USABLE towing power if I can do it without killing my EGT’s. My current setup does a great job towing but who doesn’t want a little more? My personal cutoff on temperatures when pulling a long grade is around 1150-1200 which some say is too low but I’m not in that big of a hurry if it means a possibility of damaging my engine.



The next upgrade I am considering is a turbo to help with the EGT’s and to prepare for Mach 1. 5 EDM’s. As stated above, I tow frequently and sometimes very heavy (not always legal). I don’t want a turbo that will require downshifting just to keep it spooled up when pulling; I want it to drive as close to stock as possible yet provide more cool air, if this is possible. I would love to get feedback from people who tow often and heavy.



Note: This truck will never be used for drag racing, sled pulling etc… just work.



Thanks in advance for your time.



Len

 

[RHARVEY]

Len,



Call 1-866-888-9396 and ask them... That is the line to Piers and they will be able to hook you up with one of their machine HX35 turbos that will keep it cool!

A set of F1 EDM Mach 1. 5s should make it really run...



Rick

 

[ThrottleJockey]

Try the Piers Hx-40 with the 16 2cm wastegated exhaust housing or a B-1 Bomber with the 16.



Both of those flow a lot of cool air and scavenge a lot of exhaust heat. Getting that hot exhaust OUT of the combustion chamber AND keeping the boost COOL (and oxygen dense) is what your after for towing heavy.



Those two turbos also just happen to be the perfect starting point for a sweet set of twins. Twins are the ultimate for towing.

 

[PC12Driver]

Try the Piers Hx-40 with the 16 2cm wastegated exhaust housing or a B-1 Bomber with the 16. QUOTE]



That's gonna be too much turbo for functional towing. My 40/35 hybrid with a 14cm exhaust housing is too much. The cruising RPMs in 6th with the 3. 54s puts the engine "under the turbo". There's simply not enough exhaust gasses being generated to drive the large compressor, especially with the 14cm housing. Adding throttle below 1900-2000 rpm's with my setup will result in a pyro swinging up faster than the boost (this is with trailer in tow - while empty the truck accelerates fast enough to get the RPMs up to light the turbo before egt's get out of hand). So, rolling hills or passing requires downshifting into 5th to get the RPMs up into the 2000's, where there's enough airflow to drive the turbo and get the needed boost. The larger turbos would require even more exhaust gasses to drive them (more RPM).



Choosing a turbo is like choosing a cam for a gasser. If you choose one for top end, and bottom end will suffer and vice-versa. With turbos, bigger compressors or bigger exhaust housings move their efficincy range higher into the RPM range. If I was to do it again, I'd probably go with a PDR35 and keep my 12cm housing (like Piers suggested - I guess he knows what he's talking about. ) But since my engine is currently apart waiting for fire rings, I'm gonna go a bit further and slip in a cam. The extra airflow may be enough to bring the turbo back into a useable RPM for towing. If that doesn't do it, I'm selling the DZ and getting a PDR35 with a 12cm. After pulling with my current setup, I really miss the way it pulled with just an EZ and the stock turbo.

 

[GFrance]

I have Piers hx 35/40 hybred 14 cm housing & love it. I tow 12,000 lb 5vr & no longer have egt concerns like I did with the stock hy35. As you can see in my sig I have an upgraded auto so a manual may spool differently. I agree call Piers he will set you up with the right turbo for your power range & towing needs.

 

[Got Smoke?]

Give JR Adkins a call (# is in my sig) he has a new turbo made by Shwitzer, modified by him. That may be right up your alley, if not I'm sure he can recommend something at a great price!

 

[DHayden]

I have a KSB1B and it is not to much turbo for practical towing. The only time I ever have to downshift is on very long steep grades, even 1150egt will eventually heat up the coolant on a very long steep grade. I have never downshifted because this turbo lost drive pressure. Coolant temp is the only reason for downshifting for me and that only happens on 2 passes on the continental divide.

 

[PC12Driver]

I don't have any experience with the B1 line, so I'm not doubting that they work for you. But Len's plans are for EDM 1. 5's and an EZ, which is gonna be right at 350hp. That's right at Piers' recommended hp for his HX35. The B1 will have more lag than the PDR35, and more room on the top end that he'll never use.



The suggestion to give the vendors a call is a good one. They've dealt with many more turbo flavors and configurations on various performance levels of trucks than most of us on this site. They know what works.

 

[lkuykendall]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. I will do as suggested and contact the people mentioned above. Based on the reply’s here and the many other forums I have read while researching this I am leaning toward the Piers HX35 but all options are open until I speak to people who know a lot more about this than myself.



Please don’t hesitate to add more feedback or suggestions.



Len

 

[ThrottleJockey]

I replaced the stock one I had with a 14. Too much boost and too much air heating under compression with the 35. Also too much backpressure with the 12 and 14. The 16 cooled off everything real nice while towing. Like a whole different truck.



16s aren't as restrictive. Flow is half the battle while towing. Cool boost is the other half.

 

[Pmaloney]

My HTB2 has been great for me. It is a 62/12 on the compressor/exhaust side, I'm going to twins though, (using the HTB2) you will just never be happy with what you go to... :-laf

 

[Eric Lee]

I agree with the 'never happy' if you want to do two jobs equally well. Lots of horses and crazy top end AND towing heavy and cool. I don't know about twins, maybe that's the answer. These trucks need to be tuned for purpose -



I have Jammer 2's and the PDR HX35 and my truck runs great - tows cool enough - is happy at 65 - 85 and pulls the crap out of anything I hook it up to. But I catch myself wanting quicker spool - cooler temps and to roast the tires at 70. Cant have everything.

If I can come to grips with that- I'll realize that Piers recomendations were correct and the truck runs as it should for what I use it for.



As you might surmise - I'm trying to quit thinking of the HX40 compressor housing and the Jammer 4's -

-ERic

 

[Got Smoke?]

As you might surmise - I'm trying to quit thinking of the HX40 compressor housing and the Jammer 4's -

-ERic

Hey Eric I have a HX40 compressor housing..... make me an offer! :-laf

 

[JJ Jackson]

Hey Len, I've got almost the same set-up as you but I'm going for Mach 2's and adding an FASS to provide a consistent fuel supply. I've got a stock HX 35/12 so I'll try this out and see what happens. I went with the 2's just because the 1. 5's were back-ordered and I figured this would be the max hp I could get out of an affordable single turbo system. I would like twins but money is a factor and my truck is getting old (law of diminishing returns). Good luck..... Jim

 

[lkuykendall]

PC12Driver,



I noticed that you are running Mach 2’s. What is your opinion on the 2’s vs the 1. 5’s for towing? I was originally considering 2’s but convinced myself that would be too much for towing and I would have to back out of it to keep the heat down.



JJ,

You have 2’s on order, any thoughts on this?



Thanks



Len

 

[PC12Driver]

I went from stock to the 2's, so I can't say how the 1. 5's would behave. But I can say that with the right turbo the 2's would be very usable for towing. With my stock HX35/12 and a EZ I could barley tickle 1200 deg on a few WFO runs to about 100mph or so. Never pulled with it, though. I'd say the combo would be safe, but keep an eye on the pyro just in case for the long/steep hills. I wouldn't think that the difference between 1. 5's and 2's would be much, considering it's only 20hp. I'm just speculatin' here, but I'd say the 100 degrees or so of extra heat going from 275's to Mach 2's would probably be offset by a turbo upgrade, like the PDR35. So you'd be pretty close to where you are now with your temps, but with a bit more kick. That's just guessing, tho.

 

[JAlford]

I have Piers hx 35/40 hybred 14 cm housing & love it. I tow 12,000 lb 5vr & no longer have egt concerns like I did with the stock hy35. As you can see in my sig I have an upgraded auto so a manual may spool differently. I agree call Piers he will set you up with the right turbo for your power range & towing needs.

What Boost pressure did you end up running? What EGT's while pulling? I am just about to install my PDR 35/40 hybrid, DD Jammer 3's, 4" exhaust, and intake. All to pull my new Artic Fox, which weighs 13,000#'s loaded. I gave Peirs a HP goal of 375-400, based on what others were running that were towing in that weigh range, as a guideline for parts, and let them recommend what would work best.

Jeff

Note: Mark and Harry from Peirs are great to work with, very patient and will explain everything. Great prices, too! Thanks to both of them.

 

[JJ Jackson]

PC12Driver,



I noticed that you are running Mach 2’s. What is your opinion on the 2’s vs the 1. 5’s for towing? I was originally considering 2’s but convinced myself that would be too much for towing and I would have to back out of it to keep the heat down.



JJ,

You have 2’s on order, any thoughts on this?



Thanks



Len

Len, they just showed up tonight, so I'll let you know. I think I'll make my decision about turbo upgrades after this weekend, taking the family camping and quad riding. Gotta go over Donner Pass (by Lake Tahoe) to get to Sand Mountain. That should be a good test.

 

[lkuykendall]

I talked to Mark at PDR. He recommended the HX35 with 14cm housing. He said spool up time should be exactly like I see now. I have left a message for JR Adkins but have not had a chance to talk to him yet.



Would it be worth $1000 to get the HX35 with the 14 cm housing or should I simply buy the 14 cm housing and keep my existing turbo? I know that the Piers turbo would be good but why spend an additional $650 on a turbo when I can buy the housing for around $400 off their web site if the stock turbo will work?



Thanks



Len

 

[PC12Driver]

Makes sense. Buy either the exhaust housing or the compressor and see what it does for you. If you need more, get the other side. No sense spending $1k if you don't have to (did I just say that?)



I wonder if you'd get more benifit from just the 14cm housing or just the PDR35 compressor?