Builds Big Red Toy

[The Phoenician]

Some of my favorite pictures from the Automobile Museum.
Here's one of my favorite American cars.

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Another favorite

 

[The Phoenician]

There were way too many pictures to post about the museum, but you get the idea.

and now for some random pics. I still haven't uploaded the videos.

We stopped at Caddo Lake on our way to Arkansas. Highly recommend, but bring bug spray.

 

[meatloaf]

Big Red just passed state inspection. I wasn't too worried about it, but the shop I usually go to has an entirely new staff, so you never know how anal they were going to be. I usually drive it and do the brake checks and so on while they watch. This new kid insisted it has to be him, so I let him get in. He couldn't figure out how to turn it on (the starter switch is not by the key) and he couldn't drive a manual transmission. So he got out and checked my headlights and brake lights, then passed me. Didn't even look for the signal lights.

I remember a time when you weren't considered a man unless you can do basic things like drive a stick. But I guess that's just my toxic masculinity getting the best of me. When I get back from the Ozarks I will tackle the exhaust leaks and lack of boost issues.

Saw this while driving around Austin the other day

 

[The Phoenician]

Been swamped with work and travel. Big Red is still down, for now. I need to go thru it and see where the exhaust leaks are coming from and if there's any real damage done from overheating in Colorado last month.

In the meanwhile, Little Red has it's new Mahle pistons and cylinders in, it's now a 3.4 L engine. Drove it around the block a few times. Pulls strong and growls deep. Trying to decide if I want to do a few more mods and dyno it. Some minor stuff is still left to do. Hopefully, I can pick her up this coming week.

 

[The Phoenician]

It's been about a month since my last update. Not much is happening, just work and housework. Big Red seems to not have anything wrong with it other than boost and exhaust leaks. I took it to the shop that did the compound turbo installs to weld the pipes where possible and fix the exhaust leaks. We've eliminated most of the couplers, down to the bare minimum of 5 now. It runs soo much better, I can hit 60psi with little effort. I think it produces more boost, but my gauge only measures up to 60. There's no overheating, no water in the oil, no real leaks that are out of the norm.

I think my next big upgrade is probably new tires. Debating between the Coopers STT PRO and the BF Goodrich KM3s. I still have my Trail worthy fab wheels and military tires, but I'll use those only for trails.

The V band that attaches the pipe to the small turbo had come loose on the way to Colorado and was a pain to fix since everything in that area is hot, so we got it more secure.

Eliminated two smaller pieces of pipe and added just one.

Same here, eliminated two other pieces and welded the pipe and used one coupler instead of two.

Drove it for 55 miles like this, no overheating and I can cruise at 25 psi and hit 40 by feathering it. EGTs have been lower than I remember. The best way to get to 60psi is in 4th gear and I don't even have to hit the pedal all the way down.

Tomorrow I'll reconnect the lights and take it for a longer drive. I'm getting excited for Round-Up which is just a month away. Hopefully, the pandemic doesn't cancel it.

 

[Jason Andrews]

Dang, thats alot of boost. Is the engine built to handle it regularly?

I didn't like when I could only use part throttle because I had so much boost.

In my experience, when I have fixed a boost leak(s) and have been able to hit 50-60lbs super easily it feels really good on the low end, but when you try to actually accelerate quickly mine seemed slower overall-just a fox load of boost. It felt like having excessive boost was a symptom of it not flowing as freely as it should. I think I ended up making the smaller turbo WG open earlier to feed the bigger one earlier to remedy it. It's been awhile since I've tinkered with mine.

Do you know how much boost the big turbo is doing on those 60psi hits?

 

[samc2447]

I think my next big upgrade is probably new tires. Debating between the Coopers STT PRO and the BF Goodrich KM3s.

I have the STT Pros on my 80 and will never buy another set. They have gotten so unbelievably loud that I hate driving the truck now. Rotated and balanced every 5k, normal wear, and still lots of tread left. They will be relegated to trail use only.

Check out the Toyo Open Country M/T. I've heard good things about them. BFGs run a little small.

 

[The Phoenician]

Dang, thats alot of boost. Is the engine built to handle it regularly?

I didn't like when I could only use part throttle because I had so much boost.

In my experience, when I have fixed a boost leak(s) and have been able to hit 50-60lbs super easily it feels really good on the low end, but when you try to actually accelerate quickly mine seemed slower overall-just a fox load of boost. It felt like having excessive boost was a symptom of it not flowing as freely as it should. I think I ended up making the smaller turbo WG open earlier to feed the bigger one earlier to remedy it. It's been awhile since I've tinkered with mine.

Do you know how much boost the big turbo is doing on those 60psi hits?

Is the engine built to handle the boost? I want to say yes, but I've obviously been dealing with leaks. I've had it decked and studded and the freeze plugs replaced with the ones that are made to handle high pressure. But I've already blown a head gasket shortly after these upgrades. The current head gasket has lasted for years and survived the 270* temps it suffered in Colorado, so I'm hoping the first gasket just was a factory defect.

As far as what the big turbo is doing when I'm at 60 psi, I'll have to pay attention and report back. But at 40PSI that turbo comes alive and you can hear it. It's like a plane engine turning on.

I have the STT Pros on my 80 and will never buy another set. They have gotten so unbelievably loud that I hate driving the truck now. Rotated and balanced every 5k, normal wear, and still lots of tread left. They will be relegated to trail use only.

Check out the Toyo Open Country M/T. I've heard good things about them. BFGs run a little small.

I currently have the Toyos on there. I love em, but they are expensive. I figured I could save some money with the Coopers or save some weight with the BFGs. I might just stay with the Toyos and save the headache. So is the noise the only complaint you have with the Coopers? cause I have a loud sound system that may fix that problem.

 

[LETSROLLEM]

Is the engine built to handle the boost? I want to say yes, but I've obviously been dealing with leaks. I've had it decked and studded and the freeze plugs replaced with the ones that are made to handle high pressure. But I've already blown a head gasket shortly after these upgrades. The current head gasket has lasted for years and survived the 270* temps it suffered in Colorado, so I'm hoping the first gasket just was a factory defect.

As far as what the big turbo is doing when I'm at 60 psi, I'll have to pay attention and report back. But at 40PSI that turbo comes alive and you can hear it. It's like a plane engine turning on.



I currently have the Toyos on there. I love em, but they are expensive. I figured I could save some money with the Coopers or save some weight with the BFGs. I might just stay with the Toyos and save the headache. So is the noise the only complaint you have with the Coopers? cause I have a loud sound system that may fix that problem.

Just my $.02, Coopers are loud and get louder. I’m going BFG KM3 or Toyo MT. Hope this helps

 

[The Phoenician]

Just to contrast the engine bay with exhaust leaks and without. I was getting smoke in the cab and overheating.

Nothing so far since fixing the leaks and welding some of the pipes. The engine isn't struggling either.

The black spots are left over from when it was leaking and couldn't get it clean enough. But no new evidence of smoke leaks are visible.

 

[The Phoenician]

Alright, just went over the electricals and hooked up the lights. Looks like I have a seized electric fan and one burned-out fog light. The fan is gonna be a pain to get to since it's in the shroud. Luckily it's getting cool here so it's not urgent. Yay for the money pit.

Below is what we managed to delete by welding.

 

[tmxmotorsports]

How well does your alternator charge withe belt not engaged around the pulley looks like in the picture the belt is just running across the top of the pulley. Just wondering

 

[The Phoenician]

How well does your alternator charge withe belt not engaged around the pulley looks like in the picture the belt is just running across the top of the pulley. Just wondering

It actually makes contact on the bottom of the pulley. I don't seem to Have any issues, i went to a larger pulley some years ago and it's been fine.

 

[Jason Andrews]

Jealous of the P-Pump and all the coupler and clamps deleted! Mine are almost all double clamped and I still have issues blowing them off. That is a one less nagging problem to fix.

After I thought about it, IIRC, I also had to loosen the WG on the big turbo to get rid of some extra boost that felt like it was holding me back. I'm interested to see if you have the same results or feeling after you get more time behind the wheel. Diesel guru's have told me as a general rule you want the least amount of boost to burn the fuel you have while keeping acceptable EGTs.

Your setup looks good under the hood. I'd throw some cheap turbo blankets or wrap on the turbo exhaust housings before next summer. It helps control engine and engine bay heat and helps the turbos harvest the heat into energy by spinning the turbine harder. So much of that heat gets shed into the firewall at speed and makes things hotter than they should be otherwise.

 

[The Phoenician]

Thanks, and I hear you on the turbo blankets. I have two that I need to put back on, I just lost the springs and need to order new ones. I've shut the wastegates, it seems to work best that way with the Super HX30 and I needed the room for the AC lines.

 

[HemiAlex]

I have the STT Pros on my 80 and will never buy another set. They have gotten so unbelievably loud that I hate driving the truck now. Rotated and balanced every 5k, normal wear, and still lots of tread left. They will be relegated to trail use only.

Check out the Toyo Open Country M/T. I've heard good things about them. BFGs run a little small.

I didn’t like the Toyo MT, I spent a lot to rule them out. They pulled crazy right.

I like the KM3 a lot. They actually came out at really close to advertised and they are dead silent.

 

[The Phoenician]

I didn’t like the Toyo MT, I spent a lot to rule them out. They pulled crazy right.

I like the KM3 a lot. They actually came out at really close to advertised and they are dead silent.

Interesting that your Toyos pulled right. Mine track straight and were bought used. KM3s are lighter by almost 25 lbs and are at the same price point. Not sure how they managed to shed so much weight, makes me worry about their reliability or longevity.

 

[samc2447]

So is the noise the only complaint you have with the Coopers? cause I have a loud sound system that may fix that problem.

They are great off road, but they have just gotten so loud that to me they are unusable for me at highway speeds anymore. I have a good stereo and sound deadening installed.

 

[The Phoenician]

Just talked to discount tires and I can get either the Toyo's M/T or BFG KM3s for $330/ tire with my military discount. They come out to $1557 out the door, or $1795 with the no questions asked certificates.

The Toyos are rated at a heavier load but are also roughly 25lbs per tire heavier and my spare tire is a Toyo .

The BFGs are slightly smaller than 37inch, but are otherwise good and lighter.

What to get?

Edit: ordered the KM3s. Should be here mid next week.
Edit2: managed to save another $50 and I'll be selling the old Toyos.

 

[HemiAlex]

lil tiny km3 tires but they work well.