New member, first idi. Too slow. Turbo time

Jay_d

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Been trolling here for 3 months. Decided it was time to make a post.

Had a terrible accident with my ram service truck (see photos) fire destroyed everything. Found a decent 93 f350 back lot bargain to rebuild with. Only 95k. Everything went smoothly during the build, new paint, new injection pump, injectors, several wear parts, fixed air conditioning. added a service body and all my junk. Was elated to have a low mileage service truck, paid for, until the first time I took it down i85. Pretty sure the 185 hp tag on the valve cover is a typo.
I've been searching for turbo options since last week and there is no way, no way I'm sinking $3300 into a glorified hair dryer with 8 foot of pipes and 3 oil fittings.

How many of you guys have gave up the gourd and did a remote mount turbo? Did it work out? Was 10 to 12 psi worth the trouble? Can you pass a swift truck? (I can't)
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Jay_d

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Jay_d

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I've been considering using an hx35 with a waste gate off a skidder I've had laying in the shop for years. Looks like a simple deal. Cut exhaust after the y, fab exhaust flange, buy el cheapo intercooler pipe set and a boost hat, plumb, use the engine fuel pump for oil return, fitting in the valve cover. I believe I'm going to do a remote air filter box so I'm not slurping road grime and mud off the logging roadd
 

ih8minimumwage

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First off, that's a good looking service rig.

What gear ratio you running?
Where'd you pick the pump and injectors up from?
What EGTs is it seeing?

A lot of little fine tuning tricks can be done so these trucks will have plenty of get up and go, but at the end of the day these engines are old enough that they'll feel the weight of/in the bed, especially without a turbo.

Hunt around for a parts truck or engine that still has all the complete turbo and rebuild, or a used pull off online. Also a lot of custom built setups online, and plenty of folks (smarter than me) that have figured what works and what doesn't, so you'll be doing some reading and video watching.
 

Ky85

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New here also, there are some cheaper kits and some that come with less parts if you are diy. Rebuilds are a lil cheaper too (2-2500).

Could it be something else robbing power? I got an 85 6.9 and i can go 80 down the highway unloaded with decent acceleration/pickup if I stomp it. What all did you replace during the build?

Dig the headrests in the cab, I always smack my skull back in those small cabs.
 

Jay_d

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The injection pump is a reman standyne unit, with matching injectors. (Ordered by vin number). I don't think the engine is sick by any means, runs like a top and cranks fairly well. Had roughly 400 pounds of compression in each cylinder.

I believe my biggest issue is hauling a 1500 pound bed, 100 gallons of fuel, 300 pound aux tank with pump and hose, 300 pound air compressor, 50 gallons of hydraulic oil, a 800 pound welder with leads and a ton of hand tools and other misc junk, not to mention my reels.
I'd say it grosses around 13 or 14k full of fuel and oil.

I commute around 70 or 80 miles one way, and I'd love to leave this stuff at home or on the job, but 1: I'd need it and not have it (fix it fast, less lost money)
Or 2: leave on the job and a crack head will steal it.

It's important to me to be able to run 80 to 85 on the interstate to keep little miss Kia from ramming me in the back end. My hemi rig would scare you with this load wide open.
 

Jay_d

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First off, that's a good looking service rig.

What gear ratio you running?
Where'd you pick the pump and injectors up from?
What EGTs is it seeing?

A lot of little fine tuning tricks can be done so these trucks will have plenty of get up and go, but at the end of the day these engines are old enough that they'll feel the weight of/in the bed, especially without a turbo.

Hunt around for a parts truck or engine that still has all the complete turbo and rebuild, or a used pull off online. Also a lot of custom built setups online, and plenty of folks (smarter than me) that have figured what works and what doesn't, so you'll be doing some reading and video watching.

4:11s with a 5 speed.
No boost, no pyro.

Cheapest options I've saw was a hypermax for $2500, just can't see it.
 

ih8minimumwage

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Still curious who you ordered the pump and injectors from? I went through one bad set of re-mans before going to new BB codes. These IDIs will not move that much weight at the speed you're looking at (especially NA).

I've been running all over in service trucks since 2013, but currently taking a break in a construction equipment shop spot for the time being. The two gas trucks I ran (Hemi and a V8 Ford at almost 300K) got about the same power and mileage as the brand new Duramax 3500 from the next company. My NA 6.9 notices when I even have my 500lb Weldanpower in the bed, but has (slowly) towed 14K between an RS5 lift and the trailer is was on.

I picked up a 94 turbo engine in trade for a $200 Snap-on box, which took years to stumble onto. Personally, for what they want for that Hypermax, you might be better off diving into that or with a used 7.3 Powerstroke, 460 gas or the standard 6BT swap and get back to work. Not sure what your margins are like, but the faster you're back on the road the better if you're working for yourself.
 

Philip1

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4:11s with a 5 speed.
No boost, no pyro.

Cheapest options I've saw was a hypermax for $2500, just can't see it.
I would recommend getting a used turbo kit then either rebuilding it yourself or having someone rebuild it for you. Classicdieseldesigns.com is the one I used to upgrade my turbo
 

Black dawg

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My vote would be used wastegated kit, adjust wastegate to 12 psi and fuel to match. It will do the work you need it to.
 

Jay_d

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Still curious who you ordered the pump and injectors from? I went through one bad set of re-mans before going to new BB codes. These IDIs will not move that much weight at the speed you're looking at (especially NA).

I've been running all over in service trucks since 2013, but currently taking a break in a construction equipment shop spot for the time being. The two gas trucks I ran (Hemi and a V8 Ford at almost 300K) got about the same power and mileage as the brand new Duramax 3500 from the next company. My NA 6.9 notices when I even have my 500lb Weldanpower in the bed, but has (slowly) towed 14K between an RS5 lift and the trailer is was on.

I picked up a 94 turbo engine in trade for a $200 Snap-on box, which took years to stumble onto. Personally, for what they want for that Hypermax, you might be better off diving into that or with a used 7.3 Powerstroke, 460 gas or the standard 6BT swap and get back to work. Not sure what your margins are like, but the faster you're back on the road the better if you're working for yourself.

They came from a small pump shop in Greenville sc.ive had them build several bosch pumps and a few for duetz.


Its hard to justify as much for a turbo kit as the truck is worth. Even harder to justify 55k for a new one
 

Fordman1920032003

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There are a couple reputable idi (performance) companies. If you want to comfortably cruise 80/85 with the 4.10s, give them a call or visit their web sights. Personally i have a bunch of parts from www.idiperformance.com on my 93 dually with zf5 and 4.10s and 80/85 is no issue. Another company which ive bought a couple things from is www.classicdieseldesigns.com he has everything from rebuilt factory turbo systems, to mild to wild turbo systems and intercoolers. Not cheap but for me with a paid for truck, it was a no brainer to get more modern diesel power for what a couple of new truck payments would run.
 
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franklin2

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You all know there is nothing wrong with his truck. A non-turbo idi is slow, no way around it. With all that weight in the bed, if he has to pull a hill he is going to lose speed, that is the nature of the beast. He has gotten used to that cummins he used to have.

My truck at work is the dreaded 6.4 powerstroke. It's a service truck also and I am running around with about the same amount of weight. No comparison to the idi, the 6.4 may be a piece of junk as far as reliability, but it has the power. Even with all that weight in it, I can still pull a 7 ton rated trailer with a 8000lb skid steer on it and still fly down the road with it.
 

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