I installed one of these modules on my 02 when they first came out. With the box on the highest setting I only hit 23-24 psi of boost. My friends 01 with the same chip, intake, and exhaust as mine will hit 30. Is there something wrong? How do I go about troubleshooting this?
Is your truck a manual or automatic? I can nearly guarantee that you did not install the boost elbow. If you have an auto then you need a J-hook to connect to the wastegate to get 30psi out of it. A J hook doesn't come with the J/A, only a boost elbow that works with an HX35 that is found on manual trucks and 2000-earlier autos. i can only hit 22-23psi with my J/A as I don't have mine J hooked. I am going to throw the HY turbo in the garbage eventually and go with an used Phat Shaft 62 or used HX35.
My truck is automatic. What is the boost elbow? What you're saying is the only way to get more boost is to change the turbo? Also, did the HOT 6th setting make any difference for you?
You have a small factory turbo called an HY-35. It has a steel line for the wastegate instead of a rubber hose like most wastegated turbos. This steel line will not let you use a boost elbow. The way guys get more boost out of that turbo is by using what is called a J-hook. It simply hooks onto the wastegate and adds tension to it so it won't open so easily. Keeping the wastegate close longer allows more boost to build. The HY35 is not a very good turbo, and the Juice easily overfuels what it's little exhaust housing can handle. It uses a very small 9cm housing. You are trying to shove 350HP worth of exhaust through something roughly the size of a soup can. On top of that, 28-30psi is all the little HY can put out before it gets out of it's efficiency map and blows useless hot air. The most common thing to do is find a good used HX-35 model turbo. It has a 12cm exhaust housing which allows more exhaust to pass through it faster at higher volumes and the compressor has a slightly better efficiency map. It can make up to 32-34psi efficiently. The Cats meow is a Phat Shaft 62/14 turbo. Heck yeah level 6 added a bunch. it's like jumping two settings from level 5. Throttle response is nuts, more smoke, and fueling to 3200RPM's is an interesting feeling. it's not worth getting though if you keep the HY turbo. I have my Attitude monitor beeping at the 1/8th mile mark from excessive EGT's.
boost elbow I know my truck is a different year, 98.5 but I just installed the boost elbow after using my edge for over a year. I was concerned about EGT's over 22 psi. Several places told me not to be concerned so I put it in. The only point I really wanted to make is that it allows the turbo to spool up alot quicker. Prior to the elbow, I never got up to 22psi until I held WOT for 5 sec or so. Now I step down on the pedal and it jumps to 25 psi at 3/4 throttle.
Wow thanks for the info guys! Do you have any pictures or information on this J-Hook? How much should I expect to pay for a used HX-35, and where's a good place to find one? Is it a bolt on, or is there other work involved?
Actually it should be opposite. You want the boost elbow to make the turbo push more air to help keep EGT's down.
I don't have any info on the J-hook. You may be able to get away with J hooking your HY along with a good exhaust and stay cool enough, as long as you don't tow much and it isn't real heavy. The market on used HX35's can vary. There are usually a few floating around for sale as a lot of guys go with aftermarket turbos. I would say $100-500 can be a decent price depending on the details. Try Ebay and the classified sections of different diesel forums.
