Turbo Selection help for 89 12v VE, sorta

[skeen550]

I have been reading for weeks about what turbo to get for my truck and I just cant come to any solid answer.

My truck is a 95 Ford F350, 4wd, 4 door long bed, obviously a cummins swap.

Some quick specs:

4.10 gears
35 inch tall tires.
ZF5 diesel 5 speed (truck had a 7.3 PowerStroke in it)

The engine is a 12v VE Frankenstein of sorts

Its a 2001 24v block (not a 53 casting), 24v cam and lifters and crankshaft.

The head is a 93 with 7mm injector holes.

The rods and pistons are from an 89 non-intercooled engine.

Injectors are 9mm non-intercooled that have been turned down to fit in the 7mm 93 head.

The turbo is the baby H1 with a 18cm exhaust housing.

I have a 3" DP for about 2 feet that goes to 3.5 inch the rest of the way over the axle with no muffler or cat.

3" free flow open element air filter on the turbo inlet.

No intercooler, just stock 89 truck crossover, heater grid is there.

I am reading boost from the intake port hole by the throttle, not directly off the turbo as it has no fitting there.

Stock VE pump with the power screw in about 1.5 turns, smoke screw turned all the way off as it smoked a lot, 3200 gov spring.

Timing is advanced 1/8

I get 21PSI of boost max, its rather laggy at times but runs well overall.

For a 7500lb truck it gets out of its way fine, a friend has a DEAD stock 89 dodge truck, 2wd D250 and my truck runs circles around it so I know its running good.

Its just laggy and when pulling a 8k load it wont build boost in 5th up a hill, it smokes like crazy but wont boost over 10, I have to shift int 4th to get any boost up, then it will hit 21 PSI, still smoking some though.

I am looking at a HX35, I just want to get opinions on the hot side size, 16 ? 12 ? based on my setup and what I am seeing with the turbo I have.

Thanks!

Scott

[Kasper Cummins]

You could get a smaller exhaust housing to help it spool up. Or you could go with an HX35 which comes with a 14cm exhaust housing. Either on would help u spool up faster.
You have a very creative mix going with your truck.

[oldestof11]

Here is the part I am interested in:

Its a 2001 24v block (not a 53 casting), 24v cam and lifters and crankshaft.

I thought the cam and lifters on a 24v didn't fit a 12v???

[Richie O]

Here is the part I am interested in:

Its a 2001 24v block (not a 53 casting), 24v cam and lifters and crankshaft.

I thought the cam and lifters on a 24v didn't fit a 12v???

Pretty sure on Hamilton cams web site they say to use the heavy 24 valve lifters with their cam. Not sure.

[skeen550]

Here is the part I am interested in:

Its a 2001 24v block (not a 53 casting), 24v cam and lifters and crankshaft.

I thought the cam and lifters on a 24v didn't fit a 12v???

Pretty sure on Hamilton cams web site they say to use the heavy 24 valve lifters with their cam. Not sure.

I am not sure if they fit in a 12v block but since I am using the 24v block.

I looked at the 12v lifters and the 24v and other than the mushroom is larger to fit the larger cam lobes, they were the same so I figured it would work. I of course used the 12v valvetrain all the way.

The cam gear I swapped to work with the VE setup.

I do know the 24v cam has more lift and duration on the exhaust, not sure if that hurts or helps or just does nothing. I used the cam given it was there and in good shape, plus I figured the larger lobes and lifters may last longer.

[ciamcoop]

When you're trying to get up a hill in 5th and the turbo won't light how many rpm are you spinning? Maybe you're just too low. I know mine is a different setup than yours, but mine will light down around 1500 but if I'm pulling it surges like crazy, which I suppose is just as bad as it not building boost. I don't know if egt is an issue with your setup, it is for me, but I would suggest avoiding the 12cm exhaust housing. All hx35's I've seen come stock with the 12. I had a 14 on mine when I bought it but traded for an 18 to drop egt. Now that I swapped in a 5 speed I wish I had the 14.

[Douglas]

hey-Hey!!!,
I have a 24V's HX35 on my 1990 with a 16cm housing. I can't imagine your set up not spooling it; with 4.10 gears you're basically a gear downshifted already( I have 3.07's ) and have no complaint about building boost pressure.
cheers,
Douglas

[skeen550]

When you're trying to get up a hill in 5th and the turbo won't light how many rpm are you spinning? Maybe you're just too low. I know mine is a different setup than yours, but mine will light down around 1500 but if I'm pulling it surges like crazy, which I suppose is just as bad as it not building boost. I don't know if egt is an issue with your setup, it is for me, but I would suggest avoiding the 12cm exhaust housing. All hx35's I've seen come stock with the 12. I had a 14 on mine when I bought it but traded for an 18 to drop egt. Now that I swapped in a 5 speed I wish I had the 14.

I dont have a tach, need to figure that out but from what I have calculated I am at ~2k rpm in 5th at 65, with a 8k load I can floor it as I come to the hill, get 21 PSI and then as I hit the grade boost just drops down to 10PSI max and I loose about 5mph or more.

Its smoking the whole time so its not a lack of fuel it seems, just boost and power to pull the load.

I dont have an EGT gauge but thats next on my list, I figure with the 18cm housing I should be safe, if/when I swap to a different turbo I will install one.

[Richie O]

don't count on " being safe " with an 18. I bet your hotter then you think.

[Knoberman]

I have a hx35 on my 92. Alot better than the h1c. hits 30 psi im thinkin

[Douglas]

hey-Hey!!!,
If you're surging consider the HX40 compressor side upgrade. The 8-blade variant has a wider map v. the higher flow, lower blade count types. You'd also want a smaller exhaust housing and a 16cm should do well for you.
cheers,
Douglas

[Mark Nixon]

If you don't mind experimenting and a custom exhaust, the HE351VE (VGT) is where it's at.
Tune-ability, with an exhaust brake built in
It just takes some playing and some ingenuity.
An HE351CW is also a nice turbo, a little tight on the exhaust housing (9cm), but it has the compressor size to kinda' help EGTs.

A fair warning, pushing more air will likely require an intercooler and a Ford Powerstroke 'Cooler fits these trucks fairly nicely.

Mark.

[1stgenblowingsmoke]

21 pounds thats it?