Building a tow rig
 

Ok so I just bought a 97 Cummins yesterday that I want to get some more power out of it for towing with out changing my charger or having to worry with super high EGT's. What kida power can I expect and what needs to be done to get me where i wana be? The trucks already got a 5 inch exhaust and a upgraded clutch.

350ish is about as far as you can safely push the stock turbo. so i would prolly shoot for 300hp to keep things in check and not stress things to much.

Gauges are a must. I recommend installing those and getting some baseline numbers before upgrading any further. A cam plate is easy to install and very cheap. They will give you the power increase you desire without too much hassle. As turbo2332 recommended, 300 horse is a good safe easy number to achieve with breaking the bank or major parts.:c:

I forgot to mension that the truck already has a boost and pyro. So you are saying that a cam plate would get me up to around the 300 hp range?

absolutly not by its self. you are going to have to do several thigs to get your there

i would start with a boost elbow and run about 35psi, 3 or 4k gov springs are a must 3;s will be fine for a tow rig
some kind of mild fuel plate. a #6 or milder
you fuel system will be fine
an intake system and a 4 inch exhaust

trans will need a good TC and VB and you will be good to go for many many miles

Ok so Ive got boost elbow on the way to bump up the boost, and I will be ordering a 4k GSK soon. I will be grinding my own fuel plate (I have a surface grinder so I can make it how ever I need it). A rough drawing of a recommended fuel plate profile vs the stock one would be great. Ive got a k&n air filter off my 24v for it and the truck already has a 5 inch exhaust. The trucks a 5 speed and its got a upgraded KY clutch so I should be good to go there.

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Just a thought and might as well ask. Ive got a turbonetics 66mm t4 turbo would it be any better than the HX35 on my truck already?

absolutly not for towing:scare2:

if you use 4ks get the 60lbs valve springs as it is easy to float valves and make unhappy things happen. i strongly reccomend BUYING a fuel plate if you want a good tune for a truck that will be towing. a 0 or 100 profile plate really kinda sucks towing and thigs get hotter faster. spend the coin and do it right

my .02

Ok I may not get 4ks just to avoid having to chagne valve springs. What about geting a He351ve Ive got about 1K to spend right now and have seen them rather cheap I know they say it helps to lower EGTs but is it worth it for what im wanting?

my opinion get a he351cw not the ve. great little turbo.

i 8 fuel plate shoved all the way up with the afc housing turned up with boost elbow and intake can get around 600 to 700 of tq hp proberly like 300:tu:

Just out of curiosity what is so bad about the He351ve? They are way more available than the CW version. Im not scared of having to tune the variable geometry.

nothing is really bad about them, they have drive pressure issues, but our trucks are mechanical. so you have to pretty much half ass a boost/drive pressure solonoid up and settle on your performance preference. a cw is just a turbo its almost a bolt on you have to do a few things and it is a wonderful little upgrade of the hx35 as long as your not looking for WOT power, then it kinda sucks. with a cw there is no fabbing to get the weins to work just a boost line to the wastegate.