Is this worth $200?

[Clb]

its a pita to service but ITS NO LONGER IN PRODUCTION,,, I second getting the entire kit an rebuilding it.
well verison cut out the rest of this,,,,,,
only the square pressure chamber is outta production,,, my call to banks tech was very helpful, the guy went into the archives and sent me the orig. pdf file that came with the kit(including a cut sheet for making your own exhaust system) mine works well. the tech line WILL take a while to get into but is worth the wait.

HERE FIXED IT AFTER VERIZON CUT ME OFF.

 

[towcat]

I know the hypermax isnt nessesarily the best turbo kit all around, just at least for me, spending 2 grand and being DONE and having a turbo that will last me a while (new, complete) seems appealing. I have read numerous posts on here about banks and ats not supporting there older turbos

I called banks while the turbo was in my possession pretending I needed some parts and pretty much got told to F off. I didn't bother calling back. I do that a lot to check of a company's worth dealing with, btw GEARVENDORS passed that test with flying colors!

Sorry not meaning to start a debate, just sometimes when I think about all the work I have done with different setups trying to save a few bones (im always attempting to save money, and now that POS dodge chillin' in my driveway, I think "Should have just bought the hypermax!" I guess if you had a VERIFIED COMPLETE AND IN GREAT CONDITION ats or old banks kit it would be a good deal, just from my personal experience (which mind you has only been messing with these trucks for 2 years so im still a novice compare to lots of you guys it never works out the way I planned, cheapest route is brand new from hypermax! Anyhow all debating aside, 200 bones is way to much for the hat!

the seller of the used turbo kit is as important of a factor as well as the turbo. if they are honest, you will have a fair deal. I've never been cheap on the kits that are complete and the turbo is in good condition, but the ones that are incomplete and the turbo is not in good shape, I've let them go for less money. know your buyer/seller as well as your product.

 

[manimal]

Well, I let him in on all this info and he said he will take a $100 for it. But waiting to find out about the turbo.... Is that still to high for the hat and gauge?

 

[towcat]

Well, I let him in on all this info and he said he will take a $100 for it. But waiting to find out about the turbo.... Is that still to high for the hat and gauge?

imho....yes.

 

[manimal]

HAHAHA! I told I'd give him $50 for the hat just for wall art...He was pissed, but I got it anyway!

 

[typ4]

If you get the turbo I can make it work for whatever kind of use you need, I have new garrett parts that will fit the castings.

 

[PwrSmoke]

I have a first gen (see below), non-wastegated, which as described above as the two piece airbox. I've had it since 1987. Is it a PITA to take on and off? Yes. Do you get used to it? Yes. As to performance, compared to a wastegated Sidewinder, it's a bit more sluggish off the line but I think it makes a little more peak power. It's a better choice for two rig because it has lower backpressure/drive pressure so your EGTs are a little lower under load. By how much? I don't know exactly because I've never had the opportunity to compare directly. Educated guess from what I've seen... 100-200 deg. at same load.

If I was going to buy this and try to rehab it, step one would be to get the paperwork from Banks so you can see if all the parts are there. Otherwise, you'll be tied up on the install scrambling for lost little parts. The exhaust will be a big deal to fab up since Banks doesn't sell most of it any more. Not so much the stuff out the back, but the crossovers and downpipe, etc. It was all mandrill bent from Banks and there aren't many exhaust shops that can do that. Years ago, I got an estimate to have mone redone and it was several hundred dollars... for non-mandrill. I found a shop in Easter Ohio that can do mandrill but I passed out when I cot their estimate and don't remember it. I called Banks a few years ago and they said they would make up a new system special from blueprints but it was about $900. Not sure if they will do that any more.

So, bottom line, $200 may be a good deal or maybe not. I suggest buying only if you can get all the parts needed to make it work. Get the exhaust pieces if you can for a pattern at least. If you can get the system installed, you'll like it, but if it's too much aggro, put that $200 into a fund, start adding to it until you can buy a new kit (Banks, ATS or Hyper).

 

[manimal]

WOW PwrSmoke! That's what the engine compartment is suppose to look like!?

 

[PwrSmoke]

I have a first gen (see below), non-wastegated, which as described above as the two piece airbox. I've had it since 1987. Is it a PITA to take on and off? Yes. Do you get used to it? Yes. As to performance, compared to a wastegated Sidewinder, it's a bit more sluggish off the line but I think it makes a little more peak power. It's a better choice for two rig because it has lower backpressure/drive pressure so your EGTs are a little lower under load. By how much? I don't know exactly because I've never had the opportunity to compare directly. Educated guess from what I've seen... 100-200 deg. at same load.

If I was going to buy this and try to rehab it, step one would be to get the paperwork from Banks so you can see if all the parts are there. Otherwise, you'll be tied up on the install scrambling for lost little parts. The exhaust will be a big deal to fab up since Banks doesn't sell most of it any more. Not so much the stuff out the back, but the crossovers and downpipe, etc. It was all mandrill bent from Banks and there aren't many exhaust shops that can do that. Years ago, I got an estimate to have mone redone and it was several hundred dollars... for non-mandrill. I found a shop in Easter Ohio that can do mandrill but I passed out when I cot their estimate and don't remember it. I called Banks a few years ago and they said they would make up a new system special from blueprints but it was about $900. Not sure if they will do that any more.

So, bottom line, $200 may be a good deal or maybe not. I suggest buying only if you can get all the parts needed to make it work. Get the exhaust pieces if you can for a pattern at least. If you can get the system installed, you'll like it, but if it's too much aggro, put that $200 into a fund, start adding to it until you can buy a new kit (Banks, ATS or Hyper).

WOW PwrSmoke! That's what the engine compartment is suppose to look like!?

Yep, more or less. The Gen 2 airbox is a little different but it sits in more or less the same place and looks more or less the same.

 

[gandalf]

I have a first gen (see below), non-wastegated,...

If I was going to buy this and try to rehab it, step one would be to get the paperwork from Banks so you can see if all the parts are there...

Jim, I have that paperwork from Banks if you'd like a copy. Periodically I hear rumors that it can be downloaded from Banks, but I've never verified.

What I have is a 41 page installation guide and parts list, with a couple extras thrown in. It seems to be compiled from two different sources, but it's all there.

If you'd like a copy, please shoot me a PM with your email address.

 

[hesutton]

I've delt with Banks many times on the phone. Getting parts for a used Banks kit was simple and easy. Never felt they wanted anything other than to help me get what I needed. Not saying they never are pissy on the phone, but my experience has been very positive.

$50 for an airbox for a turbo you don't have is still high if you ask me.

Heath

 

[manimal]

Is there any other turbo that will work with this air box? If not I will turn it into a clock.

 

[towcat]

Is there any other turbo that will work with this air box? If not I will turn it into a clock.

what most have done is hack up the lower section and toss the lid. the only part of value is the plenum section from the turbo to the intake hole.

 

[icanfixall]

Boy thats about the cleanest 6.9 engine bay I have ever seen. Something to be proud of to be sure. What is that ac compresser on there with the idler pulley.. Looks interesting..

 

[PwrSmoke]

Only one owner since 7K miles and '87... me. And it used to be better (I used to look better too but age catches up to all of us). That is the AC compressor that was offered with the dealer installed AC kit... which at the time was all you could get with an XL truck. Nearly irreplaceable.