Let me preface this by saying that I was preoccupied with the "Divorce Celebration" portion of this, while my great buddies from HDR Diesel were busy taking care of the installation details of the Head studs and Turbo.

Although this was SUPPOSED to be a tech article on the installation of head studs and turbo on my truck, Alcohol and my need to decompress changed all that. Anyone that has been through a divorce knows what I mean.

For this, I get an Epic FAIL!

Chris from HDR Diesel and Andy arrived from Albuquerque at my brother's house near Flagstaff around noon... I was already well on my way to having a "Really Good Day"!

Chris made it out even though the roof on his house collapsed earlier this week from a torrential downpour in Albuquerque.

For those that don't know them, Chris is the owner of HDR Diesel, and High Desert Ravelco in New Mexico. He is very well versed in modifying Diesel trucks, and a very good friend of mine.
Andy works for a Dodge dealer in Albuquerque. He is very knowledgeable on the Cummins 5.9L and 6.7L amongst other Non Cummins Dodge power plants. He is also a very good friend of mine.

Those that know me, know I wouldn't turn my truck over to just ANYONE to work on...

As mentioned before, I was going to do a write up on the install, but was reminded by Chris halfway through the install that it would be hard to do that without taking pics...

I blew that one...

Soo, I'll post up what I got, but don't try to install head studs and a turbo off it!

The pics start while Andy was setting the second torque value.



Andy kept all the parts pretty well organized on the workbench...



Some extra clearance was required for the head studs. Chris took care of the grinding details.



These guys worked side by side, Andy did the Head stud install and Chris (And Andy) installed the turbo...



I was busy, too...

For SOME reason, I kept forgetting to take pics...

 

Chis buttoning up the turbo install.




Pretty Turbo.



While heat cycling the motor for the final torque setting on the head studs, Andy noticed a little valve noise, so he adjusted them for me.



TJ went for a ride in the back of Chris' truck (With stacks) and looked like a Dalmatian when she was done...



We all partied, ate a BUNCH of good food, watched the UFC fights before calling it a night. My brother and his wife cooked us a big breakfast before sending us off.

Great weekend, good people, and Diesels!

Chris and Andy,

 

very nice; and congrats... good to see you can relax about such a serious situation and you arent taking it too hard... sometimes things like that can destroy a person but i think you found a pretty constructive venting proceedure.... "i think i'll... GETA NEW TURBO!!!" idk if this is out of line, sorry if it is... but i'm sure the turbo sucks more than she did anyways; hope you got a smile out of it looks great. btw did you notice your boost boot only has 1 steel ring on it? maybe two... wasn't sure if there was supposed to be more.

 

That 364 mile trip back to Albuquerque was a little rough

We did have a great time bsing with good friends, giving wildcat hell and his brother sure can dish it out too! His wife cooked this HUGE meal for dinner and breakfast. I think I am still full and won't have to eat for a week! THANK YOU ROD AND LINDA!!!

I am looking forward to the next get together!

The boost tube does have more than 1 steel ring, it is just the pic and the angle it was taken.

 

alright thanks for the clarification on the tube; under pressure w/o those rings they've gotta look like a balloon animal from hell...

 

There's good and bad in everything, but I try to be an optimist.
I've found by trying to focus on the good things in life, things really aren't that bad, besides, there's a whole lot of others that have it worse than me.

I also am blessed with great friends and an OUTSTANDING family!

Truck ran great on the way home, Chris!! Thanks again!

 

anytime brother. Glad we could come out and have some fun and visit good people

 

Bill,
Now that you are single how did rufus and your night go. Did rufus wake up with peanut butter breath.

 

That's some funny stuff right there!

My brother Rod comes up with some wacky stuff to tease me about, add a little alcohol and a buncha guys around and I got NO mercy from anyone! Kinda the way our family is. You grow thick skin quick, or you will perish!

You'd fit in well, Jason. Wish you could have made it!

I think a big Snow wheelin trip in the woods is in the works.

I need to get to the dyno and track now and do some tuning!

 

(rufus speaking) hey bill. got any peanut butter? You now I like peanut butter! LOL

THAT IS SOME FUNNY CHIT RIGHT THERE!