Solid 350 Horsepower

[rusty6b]

Hey guys, I apologize if this has been posted before but I'm looking for a recipe for a solid 350 horsepower as cheap as possible. I've looked at all the pages in the dyno thread and I don't know all the abbreviations etc... I'm in the process of putting my 89 cummins into my 86 k5 blazer. I'll be running a 2nd gen intercooler and a 97 nv4500. I'm very interested in the Hx40 but dont know the mm measurements I'm looking for. I want a daily driveable 350 horse. The more torque the better, I have 38 inch tires. Also can I run my mechanical pump or should I get rid of it? Thanks again! I will have some pictures of my swap soon. Just ordered a clutch and a full gasket kit. I have a dennyt pin as well.

[Richie O]

A 89 motor with a intercooler, 4 inch exhaust, good turbo, better fuel supply pump and a stick tranny has about everything needed for 350 at the wheels. Thats without those power eating 38's.

[Mark Nixon]

A 89 motor with a intercooler, 4 inch exhaust, good turbo, better fuel supply pump and a stick tranny has about everything needed for 350 at the wheels. Thats without those power eating 38's.

LOL.
Richie,
What is the turbo's measurements and model number, and what will it push for boost on a 2nd gen 'cooler, with the stock injectors and "the usual" pump mods?

Mark.

[Richie O]

A 89 motor with a intercooler, 4 inch exhaust, good turbo, better fuel supply pump and a stick tranny has about everything needed for 350 at the wheels. Thats without those power eating 38's.

LOL.
Richie,
What is the turbo's measurements and model number, and what will it push for boost on a 2nd gen 'cooler, with the stock injectors and "the usual" pump mods?

Mark.

I have a powerstroke cooler, S300G turbo, Stans 4 inch exhaust on my 89 and I running 297 horses at the wheels through a stock 727 tranny and converter. I am pretty sure if my truck had a stick it would be in the 340 range pretty easily with no other changes. I'm making that power at around 35 psi. I still have stock injectors, stock lift pump, stock gov spring, and a stock fuel pin.

[rusty6b]

Thanks, this is very helpful. Where can I get an S300g Turbo. The reason I'm attracted by the hx40 is because I can get it cheap, would it work? If 350 horse is so easy without a pin gov spring or injectors how come its so hard for people to get 400? Thanks again. Oh my rears are 4.88s it helps with the tires.

[peobryant]

Thanks, this is very helpful. Where can I get an S300g Turbo. The reason I'm attracted by the hx40 is because I can get it cheap, would it work? If 350 horse is so easy without a pin gov spring or injectors how come its so hard for people to get 400? Thanks again. Oh my rears are 4.88s it helps with the tires.

An HX40 will actually flow more air than a standard S300. An S300G is the smallest S300 on the market (as far as I know) and is a 57/65/14 while an HX40 is a 60/65/16. Someone may correct me on that because it's been a long time since I've talked turbo's, but that looks right to me.

The reason HX40's get a bad rap is because high horsepower P7100 pullers used to use them and abuse them. They weren't meant to push 700rwhp and be barked constantly so they would break. People then started complaining and saying they're junk because they didn't stand up to the abuse. The internet is a powerful thing, it ruined the HX40's name, just like it breeds people who think a VE pump isn't capable of making 400rwhp. The reality is the HX40 is a good turbo that will easily support 400rwhp with the correct supporting mods and you generally won't have to worry about it. An HX40 does share a shaft with an HX35, but if you opt for the slighlty more expensive Super HX40, i will flow more air and have a stronger shaft so you'd never have to worry about it (even though I'd nver worry about a standard 40 in a VE truck.)

Also, Non I/C'd trucks have bigger injectors to begin with which is why they don't need bigger injectors to hit 350rwhp. The intercooled trucks have smaller injectors due to emissions so they will require bigger injectors. Non I/C trucks lack an intercooler (of course) and have a smaller turbo than I/C'd trucks so those issues will need to be adressed as well.

[peobryant]

Thanks, this is very helpful. Where can I get an S300g Turbo. The reason I'm attracted by the hx40 is because I can get it cheap, would it work? If 350 horse is so easy without a pin gov spring or injectors how come its so hard for people to get 400? Thanks again. Oh my rears are 4.88s it helps with the tires.

400rwhp is harder than 350rwhp because it requires more supporting mods. You'll need a healthy lift pump (not stock diaphram style) a bigger turbo, and if you stick with stock Non I/C injectors you'll have to have it tuned correctly. 400rwhp would also be helped with a more aggresive fuel cone, but it could be done with the stock one. I'd highly suggest a governor spring for you though, especially since you have 4.88 gears and the VE doesn't spin high RPM stock. They can be at redline all day long with a 366 spring and you on't hurt a thing, so you don't need to worry about 60lb valve springs or anything, unless you plan on going more aggressive.

Another reason 400rwhp is so hard, is like I said before. The interet is a powerful thing. Meaning a lot of people don't have a clue what they're talking about but still choose to comment to up their post count (Pete... ). If you're on CumminsForum you'll see that a lot. Overvalved guys come in the 1st gen sections and try to tell us about our engines. When that happens the newer VE guys who really don't know about their engines believe them, which in turn spreads aroun the belief that 1st Gen's can't to blah blah and will only make blah. I'm not knocking CumminsFoum, there are a few genuinely helpful people over there (I'd like to think I was one, but I got fed up with stupid people) but the amount of teenage kids who know more than anyone else was overwhelming. Thankfully Richie and Philip are over there ( as well as a few others) to thin out the bull, but again there are so many members over there that you'll never really be able to stop it all.

This site is easily the best one I've come across for 1stgens. We have a huge knowledge base and helpful members (yes, even Pete) who actualy know what they're talking about. Stick around here and you'll learn much more than you will anywhere else. Plus, you won't get comments from overvalved guys.

Sorry for getting off subject, I must've forgotten how much I love this place...

[ahale2772]

along with all the things that parker said, keep in mind that u change one thing and u affect 5 others...forexample u cant throw and hx40 on and expect it to make the truck push without getting some healthy fuel to it...then if u even think about touching ur fuel ur stock liftpump is not up to par....then u can throw a better pump at it but ur sucking through small stock lines

thats probably the reason that so many people believe high power levels from a ve is hard....because its not comparable to a p1700, keep in mind that its not hard to double the stock power of our trucks and thats a pretty big acheivemnt

start with your fuel system, get it free flowing and capable of pushing more fuel than u think you will need then watch your egts and consider your turbo options, its best to not spend big money on a hx40 and end up with a laggy combination that makes power in between 2600 and 2601 rpms

then enjoy

[The_Head]

Well, at least you have a manual. It will be easier to hit your goal with a stick.

[Ole' Blue]

slightly off topic, but i was just doing some research on some other forums for my wife's 4runner, and I was amazed at the morons available for assistance! In the end, I got good advice from 1 individual, and fixed the problem. But in the process.... well.... I came to appreciate this site more

[rusty6b]

This seems like a great place for all my questions then.

Can anyone recommend a lift pump and where I can get it?

What size tubing should I run to my intercooler. Can I cut my intake horn and flip it around?

Will a 4 inch exhaust hood stack not have enough back pressure? I am running this only temporarily but if it gives me more power I may keep it .

How laggy is an hx40? I wont be towing but it needs to be daily driveable.

My planned mods are the dennyt stage 2 I already have ( traded a 727 trans for it ) the free fuel pump stuff. A 2nd gen or powerstroke intercooler. An hx40. BHAF. A 4 inch exhaust to a hoodstack. 3200 gov spring. Lift pump? and Maybe some injectors, depends on how happy I am with the power output. I have a 500 horse clutch for my nv4500 so thats covered.

[ahale2772]

if u want to go electric think airdog, fass or aeromotive, if you want to go mechanical the second gen 30 psi pump works great with a bypass regulator

[peobryant]

This seems like a great place for all my questions then.

Can anyone recommend a lift pump and where I can get it?

Personally, I'd go with a low pressure piston lift pump. You can find them at Cummins or Case dealers, but I think the Cummins dealer has them cheaper. I'll see if I can dig up a part number for you.

What size tubing should I run to my intercooler. Can I cut my intake horn and flip it around?

Have you looked at Cooler Tubz? TWorline on this site makes them, you might want to look into them

Will a 4 inch exhaust hood stack not have enough back pressure? I am running this only temporarily but if it gives me more power I may keep it .

Running a hood stack won't matter. Diesels don't need back pressure, so most guys on here are running straight pipe exhausts. The only downsides would be having to cut a hole in your hood, and depending on how lenient the police in your town are, you may be hassled.

How laggy is an hx40? I wont be towing but it needs to be daily driveable.

Based on how much fuel you're planning on having, you should be able to spool it with absolutely no problems. It might spool a little later than a stock turbo, but it shouldn't be laggy by any means.

My planned mods are the dennyt stage 2 I already have ( traded a 727 trans for it ) the free fuel pump stuff. A 2nd gen or powerstroke intercooler. An hx40. BHAF. A 4 inch exhaust to a hoodstack. 3200 gov spring. Lift pump? and Maybe some injectors, depends on how happy I am with the power output. I have a 500 horse clutch for my nv4500 so thats covered.

My answers are in red...

[oldestof11]

I like your list peobryant with one exception.

With the price of a low pressure piston lift pump, I would get a cheap used high pressure one from the p-pumpers that upgraded their and run a regulator so in the higher RPM's the pressure stays up.

[rusty6b]

Thanks a lot guys thats all I can think of rite now. I'll use whatever lift pump option is cheapest. Currently trying to use my first gen's crossmember in my truck... If I can make it work it'll save me 400 bucks.

Is there a Coolertubz.com or do I have to contact TWorline personally?