I have been away from this forum for probably a year due to the lack of internet service. All I have at home is dial up and here at work have to be careful. Anyway, has anyone ever done a list of the cheap easy upgrades that can be done to help performance?
Or a list of things that should be done for reliability? If not, would someone be willing?? I try to do searches, but with dial up it is painfully slow. I have my front clip off replacing body panels and would like to do some fixes while the engine is easy to access.
My truck has 145,000, should I change the fuel pump or the water pump just to be safe???
After removing the exhaust manifold to fix a leak, I foung that the passenger side pipe going to the turbo is loose, can this be fixed or does it have to be replaced?? I did a search and found a write up about welding on some SS flex pieces, anyone have some pics of how they did theirs?
Sorry for all the questions, but have to maximize my time on here.
Any help will be greatly appreciated.

 

There are several little upgrades that you can do to help performance a tid bit, but you won't get big gains until you get a chip and stuff. The first things we usually do are intake, exhaust, guages, and FPR shim. The intake can be done pretty cheap. Now it's easier to just get the 6637 intake from Clay @ Riff Raff Diesel than it is to build one and it's just as cheap to order it from him..

Get you a new 3" downpipe. I'd recommend getting one from Dale @ Tymar Performance. They are a little more expensive, but they are good quality. Don't get drawn to the MBRP downpipe b/c of price IF you will be connecting it to a stock exhaust b/c it is not designed to be used with the stock exhaust so it doesn't have the piece to bolt it onto the stock cat pipe.

FPR shim is pretty easy. Just need a BB(yes, as in a BB gun). I will hit on this more later when I have more time to explain it.

Guages are for safety.. If you have an auto trans then you will need boost, pyro, and trans temp. If you have a manual trans then you just need boost and pyro. Get with Clay @ Riff Raff on those as well when you have money for them. They are needed if you ever intend to put a chip on your truck so you can watch the EGTs to make sure you don't melt a piston.

Start with the intake, an exhaust, and the FPR shim.

On the uppipe you will have to see where it's loose, but chances are now that it's loose it probably already took out the donut that seals it. If that is the case then you might as well get new uppipes and donuts and replace all of it.

 

I would like to echo Travis's 1st 3. EXCEPT if you have a "Cali" model then your FPR should not be shimmed. It will prematurely wipe out the fuel pump. Also, here is a cool site to view in your leisure time: Tips - Idea - Hints
Welcome back!

 

I've never heard not to shim a Cali model... shouldn't make a bit of difference... should it? LOL I ask because my 96 is a Cali.

 

the cali models have the "flying saucer" type fuel pump to regulate fuel pulse i think. shimming the FPR tightens up the return to build up pressure, so it might be a bigger strain on the pump

 

Correct on the Cali fuel pump, but I'm not convinced higher fuel pressure would be a bad thing unless the diaphragm in the pulse damper can't take the extra PSI for some reason.

 

thats the only thing i can think of...

 

I shimmed my Cali and my fuel pump (PITA on the Cali!!!) went out soon after. My buddy Ronnie pointed at the FPR shim as the cause. The pressure was 90-110psi! I believe it stresses the pump as it is pushing fuel through. I believe the Cali models are already at a higher psi than the FED's

 

I need to check psi on mine... just curious because I've been considering shimming it if needed.

 

I think you'll find it pretty high. I think mine is around 80+ non/un shimmed

 

Holy monkey ***** thats high.

 

Sorry it took so long to reply, first chance I've had. My truck came with a 3" down pipe into a 4" exhaust, I just need to get rid of the cat. It also came with an aftermarket air filter, but needs switched out with the type you referred to. I have my front clip off for replacement and would like to do some mods while it is easy to get to the motor. How about changing the oil line that runs across the back of the valley? I have a fuel leak somewhere, thought I would go ahead and change out the rubber fuel lines. The truck has 145000, should I go ahead and change the fuel pump? I dont want to change parts just for the sake of it, but if it is good pm I will. Are there any other easy mods to do?

 

think about uppipe gaskets. and a EBPV delete while they are a little easier to get to

 

Ohhhh, i effin hate dial up!!!
I already found a loose uppipe so new gaskets are a given, would it be easier to just pull the turbo to do the ebpv delete? If so is there any easy cheap upgrades for the turbo?

 

D66 turbo would be real easy if your going to pull the turbo, but it's not too cheap.. You could do a modded 17* HPOP or just a regular 17* HPOP while all this is apart. Do the HPX line.

What year model is the truck? If it's a '94 or '95 you cannot do a 17* HPOP. You'd have to get Joey @ Terminator to make you a modded 17*..

Changing the fuel pump wouldn't be a bad idea either. It doesn't have many miles, but it does have age. The fuel pumps rarely go out, but they do have quite the history of leaking. Might not be a bad time to do an electric fuel conversion either if you had the money growing good on the tree out back. haha