IH S1600 rebuild advice

[JSVD]

I own and live in an IH s1600 (6.9) boxtruck that's converted to a motorhome. The truck only has 80,000 miles and runs well, but has an external coolant leak and is slow.

I'd like to rebuild it and give it a bit more power. I'd like to add a turbo and at least a turbo IP with some upgraded injectors. Studs, grind the cam etc.

I'm going to take the summer to slowly get all the parts together, but still have some s1600 specific questions. Is there a better place to ask about these rigs? or someone who knows them well?

Will the ford turbo systems fit into the IH's exhaust? Or will a turbo require a new exhaust?

Whats the best route to get some more gears? 2 speed rear end with the Clark? Or can I put a trans with overdrive in there? (seems like it may be too heavy)

Anyone done this before? Or do y'all think its silly to build an s1600?

 

[icanfixall]

Welcome to the forum. This actually is the best place to find help for any issues you have. So what year are we talking about. Do you have a 6.9 or 7.3 engines or can you determine what it is. Now if its a 6.9 idi you know the injection pump is governered to about 2700 rpm where the ford trucks are governered to 3400 rpm. Mell at Conestoga Diesel Injection located in Pa is the best person to get a built or stock pump from. He has been around these engines for 25 + years. I feel you can add any turbo and not have any fit issues. As for exhaust I suggest a straight pipe and no muffler. The turbo chops up the sound well enough that its really a nice sound.. till you really get on it but any engine pulling a grade will sound like its working no matter gass or diesel. Studs and cam are a nice upgrade too. The typ4 cam gives more bottom end torque and was designed for the logging industry where we know they require more torque to haul the loads they do. Sorry but I can't help with the gears. About the only suggestion is adding a spicer three speed trans behind what you have if you have a standard trans. With 80,000 miles on the engine its barely broken in actually. If you have the 6.9 with the less that wanted rockers you might want to upgrade to the better 7.3 rockers. The roller lifters might be the bushing roller bearing type to and upgrade to the needle bearing roller lifters is a good idea too.

 

[Jake_IN]

Welcome Sir.

You're not the first person here with an S1600. This guy rebuilt his awhile back.

http://www.oilburners.net/forums/showthread.php?61375-S1600-Rebuild&highlight=S1600

 

[junk]

You might want to check out Hypermax turbo systems. I believe they make a turbo system specifically for the S1600 trucks. I'm not sure, but think the exhausts manifolds are different on the S1600 trucks and using the factory ford (ATS 093) system would require new manifolds. I'm also wondering about the crossover for the turbo as the S1600 has a larger oil pan and I'm sure the bell housing is bigger. I'm sure the ATS 093 turbo could be made to work, but it's going to be a project versus the hypermax kit that's made for it will be bolt on.

I definitely think if you put a turbo, moose pump, and cam on there you will be pleasantly surprised.

Cool project. We owned one of those for around 10,000 miles. We had very few issues with it. I didn't think it was actually that slow. We had it full of household stuff and pulling a car trailer with a small car and it did OK. I think 65 or 67 was the fastest we could ever get it going. But it's a big truck for that engine. Definitely creaped up some hills at 40-45, but it always made it.

Regarding gears i also like the idea of adding in an auxiliary transmission that would give you an overdrive.

FYI some of the parts are specific to the Uhaul trucks so parts can be slightly harder to find, but there were a lot of those trucks made so you just have to find the right place for parts. We needed a rear yoke and driveshaft and were able to locate one at a salvage yard that had uhaul trucks. Also Uhaul on ebay is a decent place to get parts.

Let us know how you turn out on this.

 

[Agnem]

As was just stated, the Hypermax (which I carry) is going to be your only bolt-on solution. The IH exhaust manifold is the same on both sides, where as Ford uses their own design on the one side. This makes the requirements for the plumbing different.

 

[junk]

Sweet sounds like one stop shopping for turbo and the fuel system!

Mel do you carry cams?

With your mileage it seems overkill to rebuild the engine. Studs would be a great addition but I don't know if I would do a rebuild just so I could add studs.

 

[riotwarrior]

Sweet sounds like one stop shopping for turbo and the fuel system!

Mel do you carry cams?

With your mileage it seems overkill to rebuild the engine. Studs would be a great addition but I don't know if I would do a rebuild just so I could add studs.

Well you are in for a penny doing a cam, pop heads, give a once over, install studs and be a happy camper!

Cam is likely from Typ4 here his name is Russ just PM him he's got a nice grind as mentioned!

Thus
Cam - Typ4
IP Mel
Turbo Mel

Studs ARP

And you be done!

Studs now and fresh HG and new Valley pan gasket makes it nice clean install, don't forget a boost/pyro setup too BTW

JM2CW

 

[JSVD]

I'd love to add a new turbo system with a moose pump and misters, but that route is looking really expensive fast.

We'll see how the summer goes, if i can afford it I will. If not then I may try to make a ATS or Banks system work.

The truck doesn't need a rebuild, but I was just figuring i'd do it while it's apart. It's eating up oil as it is due to the headgasket lifting off. Perhaps just some oversized rings?

Or i'll just replace the gasket, add a typ4 cam, and put in the 3 speed... The power isn't terrible... it's just no good on hills.

I'll keep y'all up to date, thanks for the opinions and keep em coming.