I have a local diesel service shop that will "bomb" my engine for about $700. I was curious about what the collective thinks about the pricing. It seems reasonable to me.

For the record this is what they do: They remove the injector pump and recalibrate it on a bench testor, retime it when reinstalling, reset the turbo to increase the boost, adjust the valves. They claim they can set the horsepower to just about whatever my target is without excessive smoke.

Well, what'cha all think?

 

That sounds like maintenance, and your 8-year-old truck probably needs it. That should get it back to design spec (new) performance if nothing is seriously worn out. I think of "bombing" as adding fuel and air beyond the design level, to get additional power. An aftermarket plate provides more fuel, and a little tweaking on the turbo gets more boost, more air. What is your present boost limit? at what RPM? Get a boost gauge to see where you are and what your money buys for you.

 

It is a combination of maintenance and performance. They claim they can get me about 230 to 250 HP with their package. They say they can go higher, but won't with a standard automatic transmission, like mine.

I don't have a boost gauge, but I'm sure it is about factory set specs. They told me it should be about 18 psi and they increase it to 25 psi with their package.

 

With about a hours work you can replace your fuel plate and get 230 hp with a TST fuel plate $225.00

http://www.tstproducts.com/power_kits_trial.htm

 

They sound like honest people and the price seems reasonable. But still, you have no way to quantify what your money gets you. First, install a boost gauge. Then do a timed acceleration for a certain distance, say 1/4 or 5/8 mile, from two landmarks you can remember. Record your boost and speed and time.

Then go to the shop and spend your money. Ask them how they increase HP without a better fuel plate. Then repeat your speed run to feel good (or bad) about the cost.

 

If anything, let them adjust the valves and do an overhaul on the pump. It couldn't hurt.

 

I had all that stuff done and I was charged about $350 they lubricated and set the timing to 17* on the pump checked the turbo and the wastegate and replaced the elbow fitting with a bigger one? adjusted the valves and replaced valve covers. ran like it should after I was very happy at half the cost they quoted $450

 

Ask them how they increase HP without a better fuel plate.

I think they do replace the fuel plates, or move it. I'm not entirely sure. But, it did/does seem like a good idea to have the injector pump gone through and retimed, which is something I don't want to tackle.

With about a hours work you can replace your fuel plate and get 230 hp with a TST fuel plate

I have a Kalifornia model. TST says it won't work on my truck. I already checked.

 

In case anybody really cares, I bit the bullet and did it.

As you can see from my sig line, they did some of that. They retimed the injector pump to 14.5*. They would have gone more, but don't recommend it due to noise issues for "residential customers". They increased the boost to 28 psi and moved the stock fuel plate.

The biggie is, they basically had to R&R the injector pump. When they tested it, they found that it was not flowing properly and whatnot. The TPS was also off and had to be reset.

They tuned it to make about 230 HP. They could have done much more, but I'm limited with the stock trannie.

Bottomline, is the truck is much more driveable and runs "cleaner".