Head studs and HTT

BlkMax

Member
Sep 1, 2008
743
4
18
Wasilla, AK
I am getting ready to run the truck into the shop and install an HTT 6616-71 SS (and all the other stuff in the sig.).

At this point I am planning to leave the wastegate set at 40 psi as it comes from HTT. Do I need a set of head studs? If not at this time then when should I start thinking about it (when I go to 42 psi of boost, 45 psi :dontknow:)? My injectors are still stock Bosch.

I have read it is a PITA to install head studs while in the truck and get the preload on the studs correct. Is this true?
 

paint94979

Beer Nazi
Sep 18, 2006
11,715
8
38
37
I am getting ready to run the truck into the shop and install an HTT 6616-71 SS (and all the other stuff in the sig.).

At this point I am planning to leave the wastegate set at 40 psi as it comes from HTT. Do I need a set of head studs? If not at this time then when should I start thinking about it (when I go to 42 psi of boost, 45 psi :dontknow:)? My injectors are still stock Bosch.

I have read it is a PITA to install head studs while in the truck and get the preload on the studs correct. Is this true?

you should be just fine without studs
 

FMOS

Hard Up
Nov 19, 2008
352
0
0
Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada
You will likely be fine.

But FWIW, I redid my headgaskets and installed studs with the motor in the truck. It was very simple, they only tricky thing was putting the driver side head on. you need to put the one lower back stud in the head when you set it onto the alignment dowels because the master cylinder or firewall or something is in the way back there. I did it with my brother and it was fairly easy. Torquing them up is simple as well.

Also, I dont think the wastegate is set to 40psi when you get the turbo. Or atleast mine wasn't. I think mine was sitting somewhere around about 28psi actually. I've currently got it set to about 40 psi or so but I don't think I hit that high of boost. With a 3300 pulse width I barely hit 40 psi.
 

BlkMax

Member
Sep 1, 2008
743
4
18
Wasilla, AK
Thanx guys.

That is what I was thinking, but someone up here said that I needed them.

I thought I had read someplace that the HTT was set at 40 psi for the wastegate. Time for a phone call.
 

othrgrl

Diesel Addiction Owner
Mar 10, 2008
2,151
4
38
Wilmington NC
www.mydieseladdiction.com
Thanx guys.

That is what I was thinking, but someone up here said that I needed them.

I thought I had read someplace that the HTT was set at 40 psi for the wastegate. Time for a phone call.

Was it a Dodge or a Ford guy, LOL? Seriously though alot of people have pushed more than 40 PSI with no problems. As always there are no guarantees and there are always the rare cases of people having head gaskets problems with stock tuning and 20 PSI, let alone 40 PSI.
 

LWATSON

future trans limpers
Jul 30, 2008
2,587
1
36
55
Scotland Neck NC
I have a friend with an 04.5 LLY he blew a head gasket with a PPE running around 30 psi. Most people around especially the Ford and Dodge guys just know he blew a gasket, the truth is he had a water leak and ran it hot several times before it blew. I'd bet most of the head gasket failures at moderate to stock boost levels can be attributed to something other than boost level.
 

BlkMax

Member
Sep 1, 2008
743
4
18
Wasilla, AK
Well,
I talked to Brandon at HTT.

Here is the deal on the wastgate settings for their Promax Turbo:
They are set in the shop at 48 psi on the NEW springs. According to Brandon, the new spring takes a set the first time they are run (heated up) and lose the equivalent of about 3 psi of boost pressure.

This all means that the "stock" :D HTT wastegate setting is about 45 psi plus or minus of boost at the discharge of the turbo.

He also said that anything over about 50 psi of boost is starting to get into the inefficient range on the turbo.

I am going to hold off on the head studs. I am still reeling from the $$ of everything else I have in it right now. :eek: I figure that I will do the head studs when I have to do the bottom end....
 

BlkMax

Member
Sep 1, 2008
743
4
18
Wasilla, AK
I have the truck in the shop and finally had the turbo placed last night (still need to tighten all the bolts, but the turbo is in the truck). The only thing left on the turbo other than the bolts is the intake, exhaust, boost tubes, and some more EFILive tunes :D.

I have had some issues and made a few discoveries as I was doing the work. The next time I have to replace a turbo, it will go a LOT faster.

I also have to add in the lift pump and the Caltraks, so it will be next weekend at the earliest before the truck is outside again. I have another vehicle, so I do not really need to drive the truck...that helps.

I am also writing some installation instructions in my spare time because everything I have read for the LB7 installation leaves something to be desired. They are all good information, but some do not apply to the LB7, or they leave out what I think is critical commentary to make the installation easier for a non-professional diesel mechanic.

More to come....thank you for asking.:thumb:
 

soot04max

New member
Jul 14, 2008
221
0
0
Montgomery, Pa.
cool, take your time and get it right.
I am intrested in this cuz I think this is the turbo that I will be installing very soon and the tunes from Pat also.
 

BlkMax

Member
Sep 1, 2008
743
4
18
Wasilla, AK
In my case this is the turbo I wanted BECAUSE I am thinking of twins...:D It is kind of a go big or stay home type of thing for me. It may be a while for the twins, but the HTT makes a good base for a set of big twins.

I also need to get the stocker out...and I am happy I did, it was just about WAY gone. LOTS of end play on the shaft, it had about 140k miles and the last 30k had the whip cracked on the turbo:rofl:

The install is going slow, work has really gotten in the way of the installation, but I will be back at it a little tonight, and then over the weekend. It should be on the road by Sunday evening.
 

03GreenLB7

R-O-C-K in the U.S.A.
Jan 16, 2009
222
0
0
Pittsburgh
ahh i c. i like ur thinking hahaha. i might go ur same route then, do the HTT for now, with a singe CP3 and lift pump, then after awhile, maybe go the route of twins......
 

BlkMax

Member
Sep 1, 2008
743
4
18
Wasilla, AK
do the after market turbos come with the same oil return design?

I'm not sure about all of them, but the HTT uses the same design as stock. It modifies a stock drain and raises the flange that attaches to the bottom of the turbo. The HTT pedestal is taller than the stock combo unit (the IHI is a pedestal/turbo/wastegate unit, the turbo/wastegate is separate from the pedestal on the HTT-which is what I think all of the aftermarket system use, with or without a wastegate).
 

BlkMax

Member
Sep 1, 2008
743
4
18
Wasilla, AK
ahh i c. i like ur thinking hahaha. i might go ur same route then, do the HTT for now, with a singe CP3 and lift pump, then after awhile, maybe go the route of twins......

Then, dual cp3's, 75% over sticks, traction bars, drag slicks....:D

Then...head studs, rods, cut pistons, main studs, stage II heads...after you bend the stock rods :eek:
 

03GreenLB7

R-O-C-K in the U.S.A.
Jan 16, 2009
222
0
0
Pittsburgh
Then, dual cp3's, 75% over sticks, traction bars, drag slicks....:D

Then...head studs, rods, cut pistons, main studs, stage II heads...after you bend the stock rods :eek:

ya, looks like the camaro is getting putting on the back back back burner hahaha. the Diesel bug has bitten me, and it feels great :D