First time pulling the camper with my truck since installing the new turbo. Just for background here are the truck specs, I know how y’all love detail 😂.
1999.5 F350 4x4 CCLB, stock injectors, new turbo, Hydra caned tunes, 4” turbo back exhaust, diesel site up pipes, 3.73 gears, 6.0 trans cooler, stock trans.
First off, unloaded this truck is a beast!! Now for towing an 8-9k bumperpull Im actually a little disappointed. Low end is ok the hydra is still way better than the T6 chip. I was expecting the turbo to really spool up at 2k rpm but it doesn’t seem to want to bite good till above 2100. In the 60hp tow tune I could easily push my EGTs Over 1200 between 3rd and 4th gear. When I got into some small rolling hills I really had to watch the gauge to keep the EGTs under 1200 while shifted out. I’m seriously starting to think I have some issues I need to find. Boost leaks, trans slip, bad injector.
Shifting from 1st through 3rd I see about 6-9 psi of boost. The trans doesn’t shift till ~2700 rpm. It’s not till 3-OD that I see 19-20 psi boost.
Cruising flat ground 65mph 1950rpm 4psi boost.
Cruising flat ground 70mph 2100rpm 6psi boost. Very responsive at this point but have to watch EGTs like a hawk if I give it any throttle.
All in all it does good, I guess I just expected a little more. I think the Hydra did most of the good that I have noticed, and fixing the up pipe leaks.

 

Good to hear from you and thanks for the details. You are one of the first to provide a detailed report on your experience thus far with the KC 63/68.

Good to hear you like the Hydra, have you tried any other tunes than the 60HP Tow, even unloaded and when the truck was a "beast"?

Try to use a couple of different tunes including 80HP and 65HP Performance unloaded and towing. Try the same (if available) in the daily and towing tunes. These trucks all perform very differently based on their life and even though they were built the same.

Your cruising boost observatios seem right on par with where they should be.

Your boost at 6 - 9 from 1st to 3rd seems very low. The higher EGT's don't seem right either and both are good indicators of a drive pressure exhaust boost leak.

I believe you performed a boost leak test during reassembly, is that right or am I remembering someone else?

 

I did a boost leak test on the plenums and top assembly after and didn’t see anything. I have tried every tune PHP provided. The full out 140hp race tune was the only time I saw 28lb boost. It seems like this turbo needs to be fed, like bigger injectors. It only wants to spoil up good when on higher hp tunes.
Now, that being said I do think I have other issues so I won’t blame it on the turbo till I have a chance to investigate.
The low boost when shifting out has me curious. RPMs are RPMs regardless of gear. Shouldn’t I be making 19# boost at 2600 no mater what gear I’m in?

 

This makes me wonder. Are those numbers once the converter locks in 3rd and 4th? What's the trans temp like? OD light flashing?

 

Trans temps topped out at 165 but would cool off to 159-162 when cruising.

 

The same size Borg Warner turbo "needs to be fed" as well, but even with my 260,000 mile injectors and a 65 HP Performance PHP tune it tows our 5th wheel great. The KC 63/68 was designed to mimic the Borg Warner SXE turbo, but as a drop in option.

I commend you for holding judgment until you have your other issues sorted out.

Did you leave the green and red lines and the wastegate connected or did you render them obsolete? Another FTE'r installed a KC turbo and liked the wastegate being removed from the system much better.

 

They gone.

 

And holy WOW this thing is loud!! My goodness I drive a 600hp cat fire truck that’s quieter.

 

I don’t have anything but a stock turbo with a RR wheel and those numbers seem low. Like still have a leak low. 🤷🏻‍♂️. I was definitely looking at that turbo for a drop in upgrade so subscribing for sure.

 

I to am considering this turbo…….or was depending on the outcome.

 

Based on this comment, I went back to your "So it begins" thread to see which filter you selected and it is clear you have the Donaldson Blue 6637 style filter as seen here.

The 6637 style filters are known for being loud when used with a MST and Garrett GTP38R, we may be adding KC 63/68 to that list if the description above becomes a trend.

 

Thanks for the update.

I believe you have something amiss here as I would expect this turbo to act similar to the BW 363/68 that I am running.

It sounds like you have a boost leak or exhaust drive pressure leak.

I would recommend calling KCTurbos for their assistance on items to check. In the past they have been very responsive in trying to assist customers ironing out issues.

 

I would say you have a problem somewhere for sure, I have a 63/71/.84 KC 300x and it starts to spool around 1500 RPM and I can hit 30 PSI by 2000 RPM, egts aren't an issue either even when towing, I also have a 180/80 Injectors and leave it in the extreme tune all of the time.

 

@00t444e , would you be interested in taking a few moments to fill out a row in the "Turbo Matrix"?

Your experiences, opinions and observations regarding your KC 63/71/.84 would be valuable to the community as some of the members sort through the wide array of turbo options.

Thanks for your contribution.

 

I think so too. I’m going to run another boost leak check and also try to pressure test the exhaust side as well. If that yields no results I’ll call KC.