Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) What's the best single turbo 500hp range?

[pwknapp]

Gotta upgrade, and just can't afford twins for a while. Just rebuilt the motor and my PDR 35/16 and SBC 13 Con OFE need upgrading. Only tow once in a while and want to know what single is the way to go.



Thanks,



Paul

 

[wsmalley]

I think most of the folks here will tell you either a 40/18 or a -55. As you can see, I run a -40/18, and I love it. Spools well enough for me, and boy does it rock when it spools. Thats just my personal experience, and I have heard some folks complain about the -55's lag as a single turbo.



Summary, Go with a good HX-40, with all that fuel get the 18-cm housing.



Will

 

[drawson]

I am right at 500 HP with my PDR HX-40/16 and with alittle less fuel 532HP with the PDR HX-50 Hybred. The PDR HX-50 is a great turbo that will probibly take me to almost 600 HP with a waste gate.



At 500 HP with the HX-40 EGTs climb fast as sson as the throttle get past 3/4...

 

[Jim Fulmer]

Hey Paul, you know as well as I do 500 is too much for a 40, now saying that the 55 would be a lot better with a wastegate and it has seen better than 550 on #2. Twins are definately the way to go at this power level, remember I was at 450 when I first did my Twins. Do yourself a favor and stay at 500 or below, it's less maintenance.



Take Care, Jim

 

[R.ebel]

Turbo's

I can't resist chiming in here. In my opinion an HX40 on an engine in the 450-500+ Hp range is on borrowed time. I've managed to Huff 2 HX40's. I know there are a lot of guys out there running HX40's at over 500 HP and they are holding together for them (for the time being). My experience has not been a pleasant one when it comes to HX40's. The 2 HX40's that were briefly on my truck were always cooled down properly and not barked, but still failed. Go figure? Don't get me wrong the HX40 is a great turbo for the lower HP crowd but above 450-500 HP reliability becomes an issue.



I'm currently running a B1B by KwikKurt. It has the standard housing's as the B1 but with a smaller turbine wheel. It works real well for towing, spools about the same as a HX40 but has a little more mid range and top end. I decided to try the B1B because of it's known durability.



Dyno Comparison PDR HX50 vs B1B

PDR HX50 dyno results = 550. 2 HP and 1062 ft-lb. OAT 58 degree's.

B1B dyno results = 542 HP and 1135 ft-lb. OAT 81 degree's.



The dyno runs were made on the same dyno 3 months apart. The only thing that was changed on the truck during that time was turbo's and ambient air temp, no changes in the level of fueling.



The PDR HX50 definitely has the best top end EGT relief, but I didn't like to tow our 5th wheel with it due to its late spooling.



The B1B on the other hand makes all most the same horsepower with more torque and works well for all around use and towing with the trade off being higher egt's on the very top-end.



So if you are at 450+ hp and want to stay with a single turbo and into balls to wall sled pulling or drag racing and don't tow I'd chose the PDR HX50. If you tow and get into an occasional street race or dyno competition and need some utility out of your turbo get the B1B. JMO



BTW... I heard a rumor that PDR is now selling the B1 line-up of turbo's?

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

For that power range, I like the customized Schwitzer Pius put together for me. . .

 

[Doubleclutch]

I'm also running the Pius Schwitzer... only at the ~515 hp level. Good replacment for a blown H2E. Not many TDR guys running them yet, but I believe the B-1 guts are Schwitzer (a guess on my part).

Greg

 

[Strick-9]

Paul,



One thing I'd like to throw in here. If you plan on upgrading to twins in the future, then consider a replacement turbo now that can be used as your small turbo in a set of twins. (B1, HX-40, etc).



It may not be the absolute best turbo for a single, but it might save you $1000+ when it comes time for twins.



Best of luck,

Chris

 

[BPINE]

I thought I would chime in here with my opinion. There is some really good advice here on this topic so far and I agree with it all, to summarize an HX-40 is on borrowed time at the 500 hp level, if you get the B1 and tow get the quick spool version the regular version doesn't have enough in the mid range if you ask me. So far the Pius usb has been the best all around turbo for towing and Hot rodding, you can push it to over 55 lbs and it has not givin up. I will be testing a new Pius ( Bell Turbo ) shortly called the WSB that is still on the map at 55 lbs. Both these turbos would work well on a twin setup and that is something you need to keep in mind because it is the ultimate way to go. If you want the biggest single turbo and don't tow anything bigger than Joe's shoe box then the Pius LP is the one, this is the one Uncle Joe has.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

Hey, watch it

That shoebox must weigh almost 6000 lb!

And, the MSB turbo isn't a lag pig, its a lag hog. Actually it spools better than the HX55, a lot better. Pius is da man.

 

[Doubleclutch]

Blair- you forget that a shoebox will hold 2 shoes...

Greg

 

[BPINE]

LOL Greg and yes you are right Joe Pius is the Man.

 

[pwknapp]

Thanks for all the great info. Since the motor is built with marine pistons, o-ringed and ported head, matching cam and some other goodies I just want to do it right. The idea of getting a single that can be used later on a twin set-up will have to be the way to go.



I've yet to dyno it but it's way better than the worn out 436k/400hp I blew up. A clutch is in order also as it can be slipped in 3rd and 4th.



Thanks again to all of you who have given honest advice over the last few years.



Anyone got one of the suggested turbos sittin' on a shelf??



Paul

 

[1dslram]

Call Pius and you won't go wrong Joe is right Pius is the man. The Switzer he replaced the hybrid H2E with is a great turbo, and he has others as Blair said any single good for 500 hp will be too big for the small turbo and too small for the large turbo when you switch to twins. JMHO.

Bruce

 

[zstroken]

pius?

how do we get ahold of pius? website? pricing?

 

[sewman]

Rebel,

What size housing do you have on your B1B?

Thanks,

Bob

 

[R.ebel]

Sewman,

I've got the standard turbine housing but with a -2 turbine wheel which is slightly smaller for quicker spool-up. Kurt calls this model the B1B. It's not as fast as the kwickspool version but faster than the standard B1. It can be changed into a Kwickspool by simply changing the turbine housing to the smaller size.

 

[1dslram]

Pius Bell Turbo PH. 1 209 467-8000 His turbos are the best Joe D is over 760 hp with one turbo nothing more needs to be said.

Bruce