I installed a hx 40 and I am disappointed in the performance. It is a little on the laggy side, plus it will only hit 30 psi of boost. I am seriously thinking about twins now. On to my questions #1 is it better to by a twins setup already made or is it better to make your own? #2How hard is it to tune a twins setup if you make it yourself? I have spent hours using the search feature and reading posts. I know the premade kits are pricey. I looked at sorceautomotives pieces and it seems more reasonable. The fab work is no problem since I have access to a full machine shop and the tubing is easy to locate. I havent o-ringed my head yet waiting till I blow the hg, but headstuds should be arriving shortly. I am looking to get a setup that is good for towing. I am considering using the stock hx35 for the top charger and then s400 for the bottom charger. Any advice would be appreciated greatly. I see a lot of guys are running twins out there so any suggestions would be great
Thanks Joe

 

If you've got the equipment, skills and allowable downtime, I'd say building it would be the way to go. If you're lacking one or more of those, I'd say buy the individual components. I got several quotes of $2k for the all nessesary components, minus the two turbos and manifold. Use the stock turbo, you can get away with the stock manifold (until it cracks), and can pick up a primary turbo pretty cheap. I found my HT3B-22 for $250. Hopefully by the summer time, I'll have that second turbo under the hood.

 

I could not be happier with my BD twins! As Tate said, allowable downtime was the killer for me. Also liked the idea of engineer designed, computer tested set up.
Tuning the DIY twins is not hard...just takes time and a boost gauge on each turbo. Suggest a wastegate on each turbo if you go this route!
HX-35W/S400 is a proven set up... as Rip will tell you. His unfinished kit is probably the most cost effective if you have the time.
My BD's spool faster than an HX-35 on a stock truck and the smaller (S300) primary turbo (bottom) would be ideal for towing. Their kit is available without the secondary turbo. Just a thought.
http://www.bd-power.com/ram/product....0Turbos&tt=ram

RJ

 

cyric...I think your gonna need some more fuel if your going with twins. The 275's aren't enough. Your 40 would also spool better with some bigger injectors.

 

I agree with your injectors not being big enough. Get some 100hp injectors and try that first. You will need them for the twins, anyways.

 

I missed it earlier also... but he has a Comp box!

RJ

 

I still don't think it will be enough.
Here is a list of prices that I put together. You can subtract what you don't think you will need, but it is a good start.
You won't really need the cam, springs, Mach 4's, headstuds and gasket with a single, but I put the list together as if I was going to do twins down the road.

PARTS

Single turbo 1195.00
Down pipe 185.00
3 piece manifold 455.00
Mach 4’s 900.00
F1 Cam 750.00
F1 Springs 650.00
Head studs 440.00
Head gasket 225.00
-----------
TOTAL 4800.00
Misc supplies 70.00
-----------
PARTS TOTAL SINGLE TURBO 4870.00


Twin Turbos 3600.00
Down pipe 185.00
3 piece manifold 455.00
Mach 4’s 900.00
F1 Cam 750.00
F1 Springs 650.00
Head studs 440.00
Head gasket 225.00
-----------
TOTAL 7205.00
Misc supplies 70.00
-----------
PARTS TOTAL TWIN TURBO 7275.00


So there is an extra cost of approximately 2400.00 involved with the twins.
Now understand that the twins will give you more HP of course, maybe 50-100 HP more. Also, with the single, you do not need to to the head gasket and studs, but you should with the twins. So you can save even more by not doing the headgasket and studs. If you can't do it on your own, there is money involved in labor of doing the headgasket and studs with the twins.

You can see what I ended up buying in my sig. I can upgrade the HTB2 for alot less than a new turbo, if I decide to go to twins down the road.

 

i have less in my twins than you have in that htb2. i run stock head bolts on a stock long block with 250k on it. i do keep the boost under 60 and it has held for 10k miles or so. but i know i am on borrowed time. i run a loose converter to keep the torque away down low which i believe is a head gasket killer. and i run 17 degrees of timing which i belive helps it live. twins can be built cost effective if you have the ability to fabricate stuff yourself. i paid less than 300 for my hx40 i have on top and less than 300 for the bht3e on the bottom and it was brand new.

 

If I had the drive, the time and the facilities, I might make my own, but I don't. If I were to buy a set of twins off the shelf, I would get the BD towing twins modified for my turbo to fit.

 

Thanks guys! I realize now that I will need some bigger sticks and the 40 will spool better. From what I have read looks like I will be going with a set of Don's Machs. The down time wouldn't be to big an issue as long as I could keep it reasanable like a week. I will try the injectors first and keep reading up on twins maybe even start makin some pieces in my spare time at work. What really sucks is I see skids and skids of borg warner switzer and holset turbos go by everyday at work. I actually have blueprints and have made alot of the connections on the cold air side. For those of you that made your own did you use stainless steel or just some heavy cold rolled? Again thanks for the great advice. I would be lost without this site and its members.
Joe
I was just looking at injectors and was wondering if which ones will be best the Mach 1.6 or the Mach 2?

 

Let us know how the new sticks improve your truck!

 

a would suggest a mach 4, they little ones are mostly for towing.

 

If you get the Smarty and Mach 1.6's you will like it. I think the Mach 4's will be a little hot for towing.

 

not with twins.

 

I agree. If he gets twins, the mach 4's would be good. But if he stays with his setup now, 4's will be too hot.