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Better mod for fuel mileage gain?

DieselCash

DieselCash

Trust but, verify
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I am wanting to spend a little bit of money on my truck. I do not have a lot right now, only a small amount. So, yes I need to go cheaply on this.

My choices are a Heath Turbo master which is $107 + shipping or an exhaust system which is around $350 or so. I only wish I could afford a ATT. Maybe sometime in the near future but, not right now.

My question to whom ever reads this is which of these two mods will increase my fuel efficiency the best. On my last all highway trip I averaged 18.5 mpg. I would like to bring it up to around 19.5 - 20 mpg.

I currently am running a stock exhaust system that cheaply Y's off two a very restrictive and small diameter dual exhaust out the back. Then of course I have the 1993 GM version of a turbo master. I never hear any turbo whine and it never feels like it kicks in. Here is a picture of my cheap GM turbo master;

IMG_1273.jpg
 
Get the Jardine 4" full system with no muffler, and crap can the kitty. When I looked in to Exhausts for my truck, that was the best and lowest cost system, and I had it installed in about 2 hrs. Hack sawed off my old unit put the new toone in, and loved it!! You can make your own turbomaster, for under $25, you can't make you own exhaust!
 
Warpspeed and diamondeye on e-bay for $299. Sometimes with free shipping. Make your own adjustable turbomaster using most of the gm turbomaster parts.
 
On 93, you don't have vac anyway. You can thread the existing rod to make it adjustable. thedieselpage have a direction on how to do that.
 
JMJNet said:
On 93, you don't have vac anyway. You can thread the existing rod to make it adjustable. thedieselpage have a direction on how to do that.
Click to expand...

I searched and could not find anything. I own the books and all they talk about inside them is how to install and adjust one.

Do you have any links?

I remember seeing a good thread by a member on DP but, I refuse to go over there.
 
i made my turbo master for free. i got a spring from a drum brake kit tried it then cut it and heated it to weaken it to adjust boost till i got it just right. exhaust and intake for sure
 
yup, exhaust. And spend $110.00 for a intake/filter. You can convert that spring canister to a home made turbo master at no cost...unless you can't weld or don't have a buddy who can - just requires two tack welds.

I've got some pix of mine somewhere - I'll see if I can find em and put em in my garage.

Even with my home made TM, until I installed my 3 1/2" inch straight pipe exhaust system AND new intake with dual cone high flow filter my boost was pathetic.

I forgot, did you mention if you had a boost gauge?

I picked up one from Harbor Freight (I know, Harbor Freight sells a boost gauge?) I paid $15.00 for it thinking it would just get me by until I could buy a more expensive one. Well, it's still mounted in my truck and works well and is very easy to read....my only complaint is it's led lighting is a little bright for me....but I can select 7 different colors just by pushing a little button on the display.:D yeah, I really care about that.
 
I intalled my 4" system and city mileage incresed from mid 14s to 15.9 on the first tank with about 70 miles on the stock exhaust and couple of loads of backfill soil too.
 
X2 on the exhaust. A cheap turbomaster is much easier to make than a exhaust. By using the old wastegate setup all you have to do is thread the end of the rod, gut out the canister and top, and add a spring and locknut to adjust pressure. I made mine from scratch because I couldnt see cutting up a perfectly good canister, so i just made a bracket off of the turbo that mimicked that of the gm canister. If i can get my computer working properly, i will show some pics.

Oh and by the way, welcome back to the states marty! :thumbsup:
 
Also Marty, I think many have reported that Turbo Master setup results in often times loss of MPG as it usually = more boost.

If you have a mechanical boost wastegate now, that may not hold true.

However, from my experience and from that of others, installing a TM significantly lowered my EGT's by a few hundred across the board, as more boost=more air = cooler EGT's. Slight MPG loss or not, cooler EGT's is a longevity issue, and thats a keeper.

I see you removed all evidence of your mishap :) I hope I put a smile on your face at the least, as that was my only intention.
 
I don't like being the wet blanket but I'd encourage practicality.

How many miles do you drive each year? Personally, I don't travel enough to amortize the price of any substantive mod such as exhaust.

Though enhancing fuel economy interests me, I can't justify spending money on anything that takes available money away from a potentially expensive repair that gets the truck back on the road and keeps me from having to buy a new expensive truck.

If my exhaust goes out, I'll buy a new one. If the transmission dies, it'll get repaired. If the engine dies, I'll look hard at rebuild vs crate. I'm saving for that.

On the other hand, I've done about every free/inexpensive mod to keep it reliable. I like my TM but probably could have built one. Maybe my thoughts are skewed at the possibility of being out of a job within a year for the first time in my life but I'm looking harder at maximizing the benefit of every dollar these days.
 
Dan Hunter said:
I don't like being the wet blanket but I'd encourage practicality.

How many miles do you drive each year? Personally, I don't travel enough to amortize the price of any substantive mod such as exhaust.

Though enhancing fuel economy interests me, I can't justify spending money on anything that takes available money away from a potentially expensive repair that gets the truck back on the road and keeps me from having to buy a new expensive truck.

If my exhaust goes out, I'll buy a new one. If the transmission dies, it'll get repaired. If the engine dies, I'll look hard at rebuild vs crate. I'm saving for that.

On the other hand, I've done about every free/inexpensive mod to keep it reliable. I like my TM but probably could have built one. Maybe my thoughts are skewed at the possibility of being out of a job within a year for the first time in my life but I'm looking harder at maximizing the benefit of every dollar these days.
Click to expand...

I agree with you, if you don't put on lots of miles or pull heavy the mods won't pay for themselves. I had the money to do mine at the time and pull heavy on occasion so I could justify it. They didn't have to pay for themselves. They do however give me better mileage and the truck is a blast to drive now.):h

Leo
 
Dan Hunter said:
I don't like being the wet blanket but I'd encourage practicality.

How many miles do you drive each year? Personally, I don't travel enough to amortize the price of any substantive mod such as exhaust.

Though enhancing fuel economy interests me, I can't justify spending money on anything that takes available money away from a potentially expensive repair that gets the truck back on the road and keeps me from having to buy a new expensive truck.

If my exhaust goes out, I'll buy a new one. If the transmission dies, it'll get repaired. If the engine dies, I'll look hard at rebuild vs crate. I'm saving for that.

On the other hand, I've done about every free/inexpensive mod to keep it reliable. I like my TM but probably could have built one. Maybe my thoughts are skewed at the possibility of being out of a job within a year for the first time in my life but I'm looking harder at maximizing the benefit of every dollar these days.
Click to expand...

I agree with what you say.

He states he WANTS to spend a little money modding his truck, and is looking for something to increase mileage. He's had the truck for a long time, and is probably dying for a little mod or 2. Exhaust is nice because you hear it, and feel it everytime you drive. It never becomes old hat as you always hear it. It also increases longevity of the engine by increasing breathing and lowering EGT's.

Now, my question for you is, what practicality reason did you have to buy the Heath HO injectors over the regular ones? :)
 
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