Diesel Air Intake and Exhaust Mods - What's Everyone Doing?

Finalman · Post by **Finalman** » Sun Aug 28, 2005 7:39 pm

Well, yeah it is farfetched but I also shifted at different times than I did with the first run.

BTW, thanks for the welcome and I'm also a member at a site that has the chevy versions of ya'lls trucks, http://www.luvtruck.com

Has the same forum setup and everything. And for those that are using gas pups from 81+ there's a guy named 800xl that really knows his stuff, got a problem ask him, but im sure with everyone here that there's bound to be another like that.

DieselSmoke · Post by **DieselSmoke** » Sat Oct 01, 2005 12:24 am

Finalman wrote:For all you other Pup/Luv owners with a 81-82 diesel, find yourself a 83+ diesel that's being parted and get the exhaust manifold, it's much bigger than the stock one. I'll be having mine put on next week.

Finalman - did you go through with this and were there any noticeable improvements? Did you buy one from a parted truck? Mind telling us how much it cost?

I think I know where I could get one but don't want to go to the trouble if it isn't worth it. Figured I might as well go ahead and do it since I've got to put a new exhaust system on before I can drive the truck on the road.

Thanks.

15uzu · Post by **15uzu** » Sat Oct 01, 2005 6:14 am

DieselSmoke wrote:......I don't have a turbo.......

And there is the number one problem. Go get one installed & reap the benefits :wink:

Basic equation for making more power is to get a heap more air in there & you aren't going to get enough in there just by a filter change to make a really usable difference. Sure you'll probably notice a small difference but this will probably be mainly a psycological one more than a physical one - and not really be useful in pulling a load.

DieselSmoke · Post by **DieselSmoke** » Sat Oct 01, 2005 12:39 pm

Thanks for the elementary lesson in diesel performance. :roll:

I've been around the block a time or two when it comes to modifying diesel engines (see my sig). I've more than doubled the stock HP on my Dodge without using one of the electronic fueling boxes that takes control of the injection pump. I've done this with only a moderate turbo upgrade (no twins). And I'm just getting started...

I'm not convinced that putting a turbo on this '81 pup is a good idea. From what I understand, the 86-87 turbo models had lots of problems with the internals, like breaking rods and other things. The cost and time of doing it would be more than any slight benefit I'd get out of it anyway.

These trucks were designed to run with no more air than stock at their current fuel level. So why would I go putting a turbo on the truck if I wasn't gonna be running a considerably higher amount of fuel? That would put me at risk of putting the engine "under the turbo."

Whether a turbo is on it or not, a high flow air filter is gonna be on the truck, and I was asking what the other options were besides a K&N. Good system going in, and a good system going out - that's where to start.

15uzu · Post by **15uzu** » Sat Oct 01, 2005 7:10 pm

DieselSmoke wrote:I'm not convinced that putting a turbo on this '81 pup is a good idea. From what I understand, the 86-87 turbo models had lots of problems with the internals, like breaking rods and other things.

These trucks were designed to run with no more air than stock at their current fuel level.

I think you've answered your own question here! :lol:

Not trying to be a smartarse here......but if you know this as a fact, then why bother trying to get extra performance out of it? Would it not be better to save the pennies and go for a motor that you can tickle a little bit? I mean you're saying "These trucks were designed to run with no more air than stock at their current fuel level" - if you go & free up the intake & exhaust a little this is going to be adding extra air, is it not? Then wouldn't you have to go and adjust the A/F ratio - which is what you'd have to do anyway if adding a turbo?

I won't suggest you try propane or nitrous injection now. :lol:

DieselSmoke · Post by **DieselSmoke** » Sun Oct 02, 2005 12:57 am

Before I put it on the road, I'll end up turning the pump up enough to where it doesn't just black smoke all the time, with a high-flow air filter.

You may not enjoy the simple pleasure out of modifying an engine, even if it's as something as small as an air filter, but there's a certain "coolness" factor in doing any sort of modification to this thing in my opinion.

It's just something to talk about when I'm shootin' the breeze with my diesel buddies, know what I mean?

If you've got to ask, then you probably wouldn't understand. :wink:

A turbo is just not in the works for this thing. Totally a waste of time and money to me.

Appreciate the input though. Have a good one.

puppyluv · Post by **puppyluv** » Sun Oct 02, 2005 1:41 pm

Smoke,

what do you think about propane injection for these engines? Same danger as a turbo?

Finalman · Post by **Finalman** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 9:18 pm

DieselSmoke wrote:From what I understand, the 86-87 turbo models had lots of problems with the internals, like breaking rods and other things. The cost and time of doing it would be more than any slight benefit I'd get out of it anyway.

Actually they beffed up the rods in 86-87, the production models snapped em' back in 84-85. And your right about the slight benifit w/ a turbo, but that would be w/ stock intake and exhaust, that would up the HP to 100+hp but with an intercooler probably a few more.

About the manifold i'm putting on my truck, no it's not on but is being put on right now at a muffler shop down the road, I actually got it for free from a bunch of parts in the back of a diesel truck full of heads valves and wut-not for 2.2l's, but none of it is really for sale, the guy I got it from is a real diesel fanatic and doesn't want to part with any-of-it unless you got some major $$, and we've asked about buying a 2.2TD and nope he won't. I'll write back when the manifolds on with some better info.

DieselSmoke · Post by **DieselSmoke** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 9:52 pm

puppyluv wrote:Smoke,

what do you think about propane injection for these engines? Same danger as a turbo?

At least on my end of the world, propane injection is something that was heavily market by these big "corporate america" type performance diesel companies (Banks, Bully Dog) years ago and has since died a quick death.

In the high performance diesel world, you'll catch guys running NOS instead of propane in most all instances. I'm not really into "drugs" so I really can't give you a good reason for this.

Water and methanol injection seems to be the number one secondary injection system for diesels today, partically for turbocharged engines. It will significantly lower exhaust gas temperatures and also add between 50 - 100 hp at the wheels. There are virutally no negative effects when used properly. Water/meth injection has long been used on pulling tractors and semis. Lots of guys now use it for towing or for decreasing EGTs when they are putting a lot of fuel to their engine. I'll probably add a system to my Dodge after I stud and fire-ring the head and block as the much cooler (denser) air dramatically raises cylinder pressures putting a lot of stress on the head gasket.

NOS and propane (if it's even still a factor) are usually a last resort for milking power out of an engine.

I will say that I'm familiar with all of the major high-performance diesel race trucks and dragsters in the country and none of them are running propane, and only a few mess with NOS. All are running a water/meth system.

So, propane is basically old technology by today's standards. The main disadvantage to running it is that is dramatically changes timing so it's counter-active to a lot of other performance modifications.

mamboking · Post by **mamboking** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 9:05 am

DieselSmoke wrote:So, propane is basically old technology by today's standards.

Water and Methane injection isn't exactly new technology either. It dates back to the 1930's when it was demonstrated by Harry Ricardo.

Speaking of new technology, has anyone heard of Somender Singh? This Indian guy improved performance and fuel efficiency by milling a groove in the block head and on top of the cylinder heads thus improving the turbulence of the fuel mix inside the chamber. You can read about it on the Popular Science website or on the dude's website at http://www.somender-singh.com.

DieselSmoke · Post by **DieselSmoke** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 12:55 pm

mamboking wrote:
DieselSmoke wrote:So, propane is basically old technology by today's standards.

Water and Methane injection isn't exactly new technology either. It dates back to the 1930's when it was demonstrated by Harry Ricardo.

Water and methanol injection is what everyone is using today for additional power with a more efficient burn and exhaust gas temperature reduction.

I would imagine that the new systems offered by Snow Performance and Cooling Mist are a little more advanced than what was experimented with in the '30s don't you think?

They had no idea what they were dealing with back then or what it would eventually lead to. Only within the last several years have the real benefits of this system been realized.

Finalman · Post by **Finalman** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 7:28 am

Alright, I got pics of my manifold installed now.

DieselSmoke · Post by **DieselSmoke** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 5:56 pm

Looks good - any positive results worth noting?

Finalman · Post by **Finalman** » Thu Oct 13, 2005 7:12 am

Acceleration doesn't increase much, but it does do a louder peel-out than it did, but it does have alot more power at cruising speeds, acellerating. But my water pump went out tues. So I can't do much more to it, i'm also putting in some bucket seats from a early 90's corolla so that and the water pump is going to take up my saturday.

Profile & Location · Post by **JoeIsuzu** » Thu Oct 13, 2005 10:16 am

Finalman wrote:...But my water pump went out tues...and the water pump is going to take up my saturday.

I don't know if water pumps are locally available, but I've been "watching" this one on eBay because I thought I might need one.

Jack