Upgrades on a budget

[JimmyDUSMC35]

Hey fellas I need your input. My 92 D350 is bone stock. I'm wanting to do some upgrades and my budget is no more than $1000. I don't need a drag truck or sled puller. It's my daily driver and I use it to haul hay and scrap metal from time to time.

[RCCUMMINS89]

This is what I built on a budget back a few years ago.

He351cw
Flow hone stock injectors
M&H timing spacer
BD fuel pin
4" exhaust
BHAF

The above can be done for about $1000.00 That is actually a set up I used to make 400+rwhp with. However, the way I had it tuned required studs and o rings...........which shoots the 1000 dollar mark in the foot.

[ellis93]

Injectors
fuel supply pump,piston style
60mm upgrade inducer from gds
14 or 16cm exhaust housing

You'll rub the 1k mark with those upgrades,but you'll have a healthy truck. Trick is to buy the right injectors the first time,I find that the right ones are usually the size below what people recommend. Before you bail off on some injectors,wait a little while. There's some stuff in the works that may benefit you.....well if you indeed "work" your truck.

Oh and I hate to say it,don't waste your money on a fuel pin if you work your truck,I will be pulling an m&h m2 pin in a little while because of the low end smoke that I can't tune out....only happens with a heavy load. If you want one there will be one listed on the for sale section

[ellis93]

This is what I built on a budget back a few years ago.

He351cw
Flow hone stock injectors
M&H timing spacer
BD fuel pin
4" exhaust
BHAF

The above can be done for about $1000.00 That is actually a set up I used to make 400+rwhp with. However, the way I had it tuned required studs and o rings...........which shoots the 1000 dollar mark in the foot.

You know you can't touch those turbos these days for cheap

[RCCUMMINS89]

Mine may come up, LOL..........no, they are getting expensive.

As far as fuel pins............my BD helped low end smoke, it pushes the slide pin in farther at 0 boost than a stock pin at the shallow side.

The difference in my truck is 18 psi worth of difference.

[cmann250]

Making power in the engine bay is fantastic, but having realistic expectations for what gets to the ground is what counts.

Sooooo..... Auto or manual? Either way, a new converter or clutch shoots your $1000 budget to pieces. But if you don't expect the transmission to put 100% of the new power to the ground, have at it. I have no idea how much power my stock auto sucks up, but I do know that I added 110 hp for very few dollars. Very, very few

It all depends on what trucks you're comparing this one to.

[JimmyDUSMC35]

It's an auto, things that I have thought about is, air intake, 16cm housing, 4in exhaust. I have 3in straight piped now, will the 4in make that much dif? Is it worth the money?

[RCCUMMINS89]

It'll help keep your egts cooler.

As far as 16cm housing, some like them.........to me I think that money is better spent on a different turbo. But with an auto, a lot of guys say they make a world of difference (I've always ran manuals, totally different animal)

[RCCUMMINS89]

Making power in the engine bay is fantastic, but having realistic expectations for what gets to the ground is what counts.

Sooooo..... Auto or manual? Either way, a new converter or clutch shoots your $1000 budget to pieces. But if you don't expect the transmission to put 100% of the new power to the ground, have at it. I have no idea how much power my stock auto sucks up, but I do know that I added 110 hp for very few dollars. Very, very few

It all depends on what trucks you're comparing this one to.

^^^^^^^^^^good post^^^^^^^^^^^

The most important thing is to match your set up. Go with the simple mods (better filter, exhaust, pump tunes) then if you want more go from there.

[cmann250]

Go with the simple mods (better filter, exhaust, pump tunes) then if you want more go from there.

Exactly. I got to where I wanted to be with a lot less than I thought it would take. Theoretically you need 300 hp in a 1st gen to feel like 400 hp in a CR. 6000 lb truck versus 8000 lb truck. Therein lies the hidden beauty of a 1st gen.

[RCCUMMINS89]

I've talked with a few guys on this site about how the best my truck ever performed was with the free mods and a 60mm turbo.

Once I got out of that realm, you end up chasing things all over the place just to make a number.

[ellis93]

I've talked with a few guys on this site about how the best my truck ever performed was with the free mods and a 60mm turbo.

Once I got out of that realm, you end up chasing things all over the place just to make a number.

The GDS 60mm upgrade is a really good upgrade for hauling.....with SOME fuel. I've put mine to the test and then some with the crap I've went after.
Let's be honest you ain't towing with 400HP in these trucks and the stock cooling system anyhow. I know there's better turbos than just pairing the bigger inducer with our stock turbo but it's as about as cheap as you can get without buying an hx40 off of Ebay. Those are even getting expensive when they've a t3 footed exhaust housing.....it was close to 400$ last I seen. Which may be even a viable option,by the time you buy the inducer and whatever flavor of exhaust housing you'll have touched the same price. Tit for tat I guess

[ellis93]

Not sure if it is a Chinese unit but look
Check out this item I found on eBay:

End time: Jul 23, 2013 5:56:00 PM

Item: HX40W SUPER DRAG Diesel Turbo T3 Flange Hx40 Dodge RAM CUMMINS Turbocharger

URL: http://pages.ebay.com/motors/link/?nav= ... 1029969261

Alt URL: http://www.ebay.com/itm/HX40W-SUPER-DRA ... 1029969261

(Sent from eBay Mobile for Android)

[RCCUMMINS89]

Only downside to the 60 upgrade is.......you're still stuck with a worthless exhaust housing, and after you buy one of those you're into a turbo quite a lot.

I'm a fan of the hx35 in itself. They do very good for what they are and I never ran into egt problems towing with one.

My he351cw is by FAR the best towing turbo that I have ever used. BY FAR these things are amazing.

[ellis93]

Whatever you say Jack
The exhaust housing is not worthless,you even contradicted yourself in the same post by saying the hx35 is "ok".
Bottom line best bang for your buck would still be the 40,sure you could scour craigslist for someones burnt up commonrail turbo what you'd have to rebuild but we're talking budget here.


I swear it's like we're talking about 7hole injectors here