Which turbo for my DB4 build guys ???

[Mike K3500]

Alright everybody, this "project" of mine has taken waayyyy longer then should have. I finally got the old engine out and have been working on tidying up the engine bay before I set the new engine in.

I've been working a shat load of hours and not leaving me much time to work on this but of course motorcycle rides and beer drinkin have taken a lil of my time. I have however spent a shat load of money over the last couple months gathering parts to get this damn thing done.

I would like to know what you all think of turbo options I should be considering for this particular set up...

HX 35
HX 40
ATT

I want something that is going to go like a scalded cat and not send my engine into nuclear meltdown.

Thanks for your replies,
Mike

 

[tanman_2006]

ATT will give you the fabeled TOP end.

HX 35 CAN let you keep the low end snap since it is wastegated. You will sacrifice some top end since it is smaller than ATT.

HX 40 might not be a good choice for DD, but then again no one has done it with a DB4. They take ALOT of fuel to spool.

VGT351 gets you the best of all worlds....

 

[Mike K3500]

I really like the idea of the VGT 351, have been following a thread on them but, I would like to keep it electronically controlled. I've looked at the Turbo Smart website and like the e-Boost street controller but it needs a RPM signal and I'm not sure how you would go about that on my 93.

I think if I could get that sorted and set to 20 - 22 psi that it would be one fun 6.5 to drive.

Mike

 

[WarWagon]

RPM signal is available off the cam sensor, where the distributor would go on a gasser has an oil drive RPM sensor on 1993 AT, or alternator. You can also swap the timing chain to the DS4 type along with the timing cover assy and add the CPS. All depends on the type of RPM signal you need.

 

[Acesneights1]

I believe some Alt's can give the signal as well but I don't know how you'd convert it to what you need. Perhaps the Dakota ??
As far as which Turbo, In my honest Opinion, If you have the GM one that came off it and it's in good order, I'd run that first and then consider a change later if your not happy so atleast you have a baseline for comparison...

 

[OrionThade]

I'm looking at an HE351 when I upgrade my turbo.

 

[dieselfuelonly]

Oooo....a DB4, do you have any pictures or more info on that injection pump? Do you roughly know how much fuel output it will be capable of?

 

[dieselfuelonly]

Whoops nevermind, I just got done reading your 7 page thread a few down from this one on the forum page and on your project and have to say that is a really nice 6.5 that you got and will be a great running, unstoppable engine w/ all those upgrades to it. Will be anxious to hear that engine run and see what it does for the truck for getting power to the ground. :thumbsup:

 

[Mike K3500]

I believe some Alt's can give the signal as well but I don't know how you'd convert it to what you need. Perhaps the Dakota ??
As far as which Turbo, In my honest Opinion, If you have the GM one that came off it and it's in good order, I'd run that first and then consider a change later if your not happy so atleast you have a baseline for comparison...

I think that would ultimately be foolish to even consider a gm - 3 with the pump I have and the injectors Barry assembled for me... I am thousands deep into this engine and I'm not about to have it melt down from a junk stock turbo being over fueled with a "turned up" DB4 marine pump..

In stock trim, this pump is rated at 310 hp, my buddy that bought it said it only maybe had 1/8th to 1/4 turn before it was maxed, he figured he was pushing 325 hp with his set up and said I should be all of that with a VGT 351.

He does however have a gm 8, but I think I am going to pass on that and get a turbo that is a lil more appropriate for the hp rating / fueling that I will have.

Mike

 

[Woody35]

hx40s come in wastegated combos so i would look into that for faster spooling. holset vgt would probably be the best if you can build a good controller for it or use that e boost.

 

[Mike K3500]

I've been looking at those knock off HX 40's on ebay that are waste gated and have a T3 flange. I figure for a lil over 3 bills it's gotta be worth a shot.

 

[iamdave0887]

I've been looking at those knock off HX 40's on ebay that are waste gated and have a T3 flange. I figure for a lil over 3 bills it's gotta be worth a shot.

There was an article in Diesel Power magazine warning against Holset knockoffs. It seems to just be the holset knock offs are so poorly made that if over-spun they literally explode, as opposed to a genuine holset that will not shoot shrapnel everywhere. Something about the Holset's design that the knockoff Holsets lack.

I find it foolish that you spent that much on an engine that you'd be willing to put a Holset knockoff on over a genuine holset charger. That's just my opinion though.

If your contemplating the HE351VE and the "building a controller" is stopping you, from what i've seen on my friends truck with the original 6.5T HE33531VE setup the controller is a stupid simple boost pressure referenced setup. Are there more "precise" setups to control the VGT, yea of course, but sometimes simple is better.

 

[Mike K3500]

Well, maybe then I'll try to avoid that foolishness and not fool with a knock off then... I want something better then a GM turbo and doesn't require tons of fab work to get done. I need this truck before winter. Basically I want something on there (besides a gm turbo) that requires lil to get me up and going , until I can acquire all the components to get a HE 351 set up / fabbed, working properly.

 

[turbonator]

There was an article in Diesel Power magazine warning against Holset knockoffs. It seems to just be the holset knock offs are so poorly made that if over-spun they literally explode, as opposed to a genuine holset that will not shoot shrapnel everywhere. Something about the Holset's design that the knockoff Holsets lack.

I find it foolish that you spent that much on an engine that you'd be willing to put a Holset knockoff on over a genuine holset charger. That's just my opinion though.

If your contemplating the HE351VE and the "building a controller" is stopping you, from what i've seen on my friends truck with the original 6.5T HE33531VE setup the controller is a stupid simple boost pressure referenced setup. Are there more "precise" setups to control the VGT, yea of course, but sometimes simple is better.

i know that i will probably catch hell for this, but what is the difference between a knock-off holset and a knock-off mitsu turbo? there are lots of guys here running the knock off mitsu with no problems.... i think that before the knock-off holsets are written off, some one should actually put some miles on one.... IMO you will do good mike by trying the hx-40, many of the companies give 1 year gaurantees and they even have serial numbers... so they are not that bad... when the funds are available i would like to try the hx-40 myself.... and for $400.00 it just means that someone is not making a huge profit....IMO

 

[Acesneights1]

I'd go with teh Olset. I agree with you about the GM3. I did not know what your factory one was but I would not knock a GM8 so quickly. It's not a bad turbo but I also really like the Holset. I know someday one of the electronics gurus here could probably come up with a way to use the factory programming for the GM wastegate to run a controller for the VGT, Then you'd really have something.....

 

[robzombie4551]

I know someday one of the electronics gurus here could probably come up with a way to use the factory programming for the GM wastegate to run a controller for the VGT, Then you'd really have something.....

It may come sooner than you think. I found a thread that has done just that and passed it on to the TTS guru to look at. Hopefully he will be able to do something with the info and get us 6.5ers in the game.

I'm in the process of doing a 351ve with manual control until the electronics get worked out.

I'm no electronics wiz but everything was there from pics of the mods to the specific code to run the Vgt off the map sensor signal, [I think] like I said not an elec. wiz. but can weld and fab anything.

 

[Acesneights1]

cool...

 

[Slim Shady]

I would not use the ATT on your combination until you get a base line for your truck off another turbo, just my opinion. To many variables to blame on the turbo, Starting with the GM turbo at first would give you a known base line then experiment with different turbos.

As far as knock off turbos? You get what you pay for in China and you must be diligent in checking your product. It comes down to the seller being responsible for the quality. If a turbo explodes then you run the risk of trashing your motor.

I ran a few ATT turbo through an intercooler for the first year until we were sure they could be abused, and held up to the egt and boost numbers we expected to see.

You are going to have the potential for a substantial amount of fuel and it is a marine pump so I am not sure how the fuel rate is going to be, all those variables. i would not want to be the scape goat for any problems when running my turbo.

Now if you want to PM me we can go private and I might see about working on the potential in an RD perspective. But as far as a straight purchase, I would say no thanks at this juncture.

JUST my two cents worth

 

[robzombie4551]

It may come sooner than you think. I found a thread that has done just that and passed it on to the TTS guru to look at. Hopefully he will be able to do something with the info and get us 6.5ers in the game.

Damn, I was just informed that it was an incomplete project and needs further refinement.:mad2::mad2:

However I'm confident that our guru might be able to figure something out someday.:agreed:

 

[bigchevy89]

Ive been running the hx-40 nock off with the t3 flange on my 93 for 10 months now with no problems. it was well worth the money to me.after i finally build my engine i will continue to use it. it spools just as fast as my old gm-3 and keeps pullin. the waste gate comes pre set at 18 psi. my engine with 220,000 miles on it has no prablem building boost with the turbo.