Okay so I’ve been doing a lot of reading here and on other forums over the last month or so and while I find a lot of interesting information, in just about every case there are contradicting opinions. So while I definitely need advice, I don’t really want an opinion (unless you’ve been around awhile and REALLY know what your ****) no offense intended. What I really would like is to hear specifically from people that have done very similar setups and are pleased with the results.
Here’s what I’m looking at: I bought a used 1990 W250. The truck is a bit of a beater, the body is ruff, but the frame, engine, and trans are good. The truck was fleet maintained and the cummins only has around 175000 on it.
I want to make this into a "sleeper" of sorts. Looks like a piece of crap, but goes like **** through a goose. Not looking for a specific HP range since I do not know how to judge that in this type of high torque vehicle.

On my list of upgrades are the following:

The standard VE pump tweaks
• Turbo – Looking for a quick spooling setup that doesn’t require a lot of fabrication
• Fass 95 GPH pump (could go larger, but probably overkill)
• Injectors – mine aren’t bad, but possibly questionable
• Fuel pin and spring upgrades
• 4” Exhaust –muffler delete possibly a single stack
• Billet intake – only because it looks friggin awesome and can’t hurt
• Maybe a 3 pc exhaust manifold
• New TPS
• Custom-made smooth intake crossover, with heater delete
• Electric cooling fan
• Cold Air intake
NOTE:
Really need to know about the Injectors and Turbo mostly.
I’m not interested in adding an intercooler
It has an automatic that will need to be upgraded once it goes

Again this is really just a truck for me to ride around in, and run to the dump with, and haul some dirt occasionally. Really its main purpose is just to put a smile on my face at the stoplight when the kids with the Honda's sporting the giant fart cans pull up next to me.

I know there are a thousand different setups that work, but really interested in 1st gen non intercooled.

Thanks!

 

I'm building this right now. I've got '90 D250 guts (6BT/5spd) stuffed into my 2wd ramcharger. Going to adapt a WH1c to the non-IC intake and see how that goes with 4" exhaust.

 

Yeah, the hardest part for me is figuring out what turbo works with what exhaust, especially for the non intercooled version. Seems like no one knows. Must be top secret.

Good luck on the project, wish this thing had the manual trans. Keep me posted if you think of it.

 

The wh1c and hx35 use an uboltable flange on the back. Early ones have the v-band outlet just like H1C. Stock 1stgen downpipe bolts right up.

Later ones have a cast elbow that dumps at approx a 45* angle. You can use the later downpipe with it... or unbolt the elbow and swap for the earlier v-band flange.

 

One of my threads showing the turbo outlet flanges...
https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...flange-299516/

 

That's nice work! I wish I had the tools to do more fabrication of parts like that. Unfortunately I don't...yet. That's one of the reasons I was trying to find bolt on solutions, to increase power. Does the HX35 spool up fairly quick, or is it more for mid range power? Also, what's the diameter on the standard down pipe? In trying to match up an aftermarket turbo most point out that I'll need a 4" down pipe, they don't always mention what type of flange comes with it.

Thanks again for your help, I do appreciate it by the way.

 

You can buy the plate too... stock or aftermarket. I'm just that cheap (if a used stock one can't be found, BD Power sells theirs as an 'exhaust brake adapter'.)

I'm quite sure the stock pipe is called a 3"... but the ID at the v-band measures out smaller than that. Its the same on all the 89-98 holset/cummins turbos I've encountered. The Diamond Eye exhaust I'm using steps up to 4" immediately after the v-band.

Hx35 and WH1C spool fast and are well-suited to a manual trans, because you can get into your boost easily again with each shift.

I don't know the exact particulars of running one with an auto. I've heard rumors about higher EGTs, and trans cooler interference with the wastegate. YMMV.