So I'm in the International parts store buying test strips for coolant and he asks me if my 92 Has turbo, and I tell him its got a Banks sidewinder. And he proceeds to tell me these engines weren't meant to handle a turbo and it would stress the lower end. What are ya'lls thougths on this.

Thanks!

Jim

 

boost/ temps kept under control it will be fine

 

I have a friend thats a diesel mechanic tell me the same thing.

Funny how everyone has been running turbos on them since 1985 when ATS made a kit (don't know when Banks and Hypermax started offering a kit). Funny how they haven't all blown up... The only issues I've heard is blowing head gaskets if you push more than about 15 PSI. And that can be solved with studs.

 

follow banks stock settings with boost and EGT levels and it will run much stress free than n/a.
i just put the banks on my n/a. i know for a fact,my engine is under reduced stress levels than when she was n/a.the engine hardly needs to work running the extra air with the fuel.before she was revving like mad kicked down into 2nd at WOT on the hills.now she just jugs along up them much easier in 3rd at 3/4 throttle and 2500ish rpms.reduced EGT's too id bet (though didn't have a gauge then.)

 

I need to read up on boost not sure how I verify that. I'm working on my EGT as its not working but I've got a handle, gotta check wiring first as it looks like a rats nest under the dash. The guy installed all sorts of stuff that looks like its been long gone.

Jim

 

I agree with diesel junkie. More air never hurt anything unless its over boosted. Head studs should always be thought about if your pushing high numbers. N'A motors weren't designed for high numbers. You can bet Banks tested for that.

Chet

 

Ha, you can tell him that for almost 30 years people have been running turbos on these old IDIs and if withing spec, no one has had an issue. I'm boosting up to 9PSI without even turning up my fuel and I have a few small exhaust leaks and no issues so far. I can't wait to see what I get once I finish up the exhaust and bump the fuel up a flat.

 

Id say, Being that there is at least one truck out there that has run 40+ PSI on a stock bottom end (Sans main studs, Rods are the weak link anyway), His previous truck saw mid-20's non-intercooled on a stock 6.9 engine with studs installed, My truck is a completely stock IDIT bottom end with 170K+ on it now, studded, and I push 20-21psi on a regular basis, I have pushed 19psi with my trailer (Could go further, but I dont push it with the trailer on, Id probably see more than 21psi), Thats intercooled of course. The bottom ends are stout on these things, and is no where near the weak link. The weak link is the 5 bolt pattern and stock head bolts, studs fix that problem... Sort of... The N/A Cam is garbage for a turbo setup, way too much overlap and reversion, its meant for airflow on a N/A engine and why it is so peaky. Put a grind meant for a turbo there, and it stops the reversion and keeps the Pressure ratio's in check, and the head gaskets intact, also keeps the intake charge into the cylinder cooler... The other issue is the Turbo's (Banks, ATS, Hypermax, Etc...) They have exhaust wheels that are too small (Along with housings), run hot, inefficient compressor wheels... Couple that with the NA cam, not being intercooled, 21.5:1 compression, and what do you get?

The IDI isnt weak by any means, you just have to solve the "perfect storm" of s**t engineering piled on top of each other thats happened in the last 30 years... Remember IDI technology ended right at the beginning of the light diesel performance craze when all of these problems started getting worked out...

Any body that says the IDI is a dead engine, and wont handle boost, I just tell them, "Well your wrong, thats old thought..." Thats part of the reason I like messing with these so much... Yeah we wont see the numbers the cummins guys make, and maybe not the powerstroke guys, but we can make a whole hell of a lot more than we are seeing, and thats a fact. All we need is fuel...

 

that international dealer parts pusher is correct. the idi will not handle a turbo, and will blow up if you put one on it.


that is why my 88 has 493,000 miles on it, 490,000 miles with a turbo pushing up to 15 psi boost.

 

No turbo on an idi is like saying you cant chip a psd... or any CPU controlled diesel for that matter.

 

Not to mention Ford put the Ats turbo on during 93-94. Another thought for you also is the guy who Racin metioned ran 40+psi also hit 292/614 on the dyno and that was at only 28psi without water/methanol. He hits the 40+psi with w/m. I am really looking forward to him swapping out the turbo and dynoing it with the new turbo and w/m...

 

Parts guy must not sell turbos.

 

DING DING DING!!! Cigar for you!

Nah! Seriously, a lot of guys regurgitate clichés they heard from someone else. Usually, someone they look up to and wouldn't question.

 

He drank the kook-aid.

 

would that be the kook-aid that has "if you like your turbo you can keep your turbo" printed on the side of the bottle?