Build OL'BETSY ZX: 1991 HZJ77

[JDM Journeys]

First test drive .. blew the cap off my plenum (no boost gauge yet) but still... I cannot believe how much of an effect it has on EGTs. I mean... That was goal in the first place but still. Seeing it in the wild is... Wild!

My test loop (which I've done hundreds of times) saw me going up a hill in 4th gear, foot on the floor (on purpose) and EGTs never got above 580F. Now before you say it... Yes this is after turbo but still. Even if I add.on 200 I'm still below 800f. That was pretty much it's "leisurely going down a flat highway temp" before.

No I haven't touched the fuel yet. Need boost pressure gauge first. But as a start with just forced induction? I'd call it the ultimate altitude compensator. Even if I NEVER touch the fuel, this truck is way easier to manage in the mountains.

No exhaust yet whatsoever, so I'm sure I'll see a rise in EGTs but I'm planning on side exit/3 inch so shouldn't be too terrible.

I think I've proven time and again that I really don't know what I'm doing, but in my humble opinion this is going to preserve this engine rather than destroy it.

Here is a short for its first real startup...

 

[JDM Journeys]

I will have to come up with a new dump. The one that came with the 80 series ct26 is on there right now but will not work I don't think. One of the studs is really close to the steering shaft.

I'm assuming an exhaust shop can make one up for me when I'm getting the exhaust done?

 

[JLH]

All our hashing this out on the trail is coming to fruition. Nice!

 

[JDM Journeys]

All our hashing this out on the trail is coming to fruition. Nice!

It's all yours and Chris' fault buddy! Oh, and Pocatello's. Lol. 9000 feet was an eye opener.

 

[Rigster]

First test drive .. blew the cap off my plenum (no boost gauge yet) but still... I cannot believe how much of an effect it has on EGTs. I mean... That was goal in the first place but still. Seeing it in the wild is... Wild!

My test loop (which I've done hundreds of times) saw me going up a hill in 4th gear, foot on the floor (on purpose) and EGTs never got above 580F. Now before you say it... Yes this is after turbo but still. Even if I add.on 200 I'm still below 800f. That was pretty much it's "leisurely going down a flat highway temp" before.

No I haven't touched the fuel yet. Need boost pressure gauge first. But as a start with just forced induction? I'd call it the ultimate altitude compensator. Even if I NEVER touch the fuel, this truck is way easier to manage in the mountains.

No exhaust yet whatsoever, so I'm sure I'll see a rise in EGTs but I'm planning on side exit/3 inch so shouldn't be too terrible.

I think I've proven time and again that I really don't know what I'm doing, but in my humble opinion this is going to preserve this engine rather than destroy it.

Here is a short for its first real startup...

Nice work Phil! Glad you are liking the mods. It does make a huge drivability difference, and this is truly suited well for where you live. When you do attack the passes in the mountains, just watch the long sustained pulls under load. Though if you are not pulling a trailer like I do, ol' betz should be just fine. Congrats on the progress so far!!

 

[FJBen]

Even if I NEVER touch the fuel…

 

[JLH]

It's all yours and Chris' fault buddy! Oh, and Pocatello's. Lol. 9000 feet was an eye opener.

Always happy to oblige!

 

[JDM Journeys]

Third test drive, but this time with boost monitoring. Still zero exhaust...

I do have a boost controller, and it's dialled about half way through its range. I saw 13psi at max, somewhere in the 2400 range under load, going up a hill. I'm surprised it's making that much boost since I didn't touch the fuel. I may dial it back... But the big surprise is still the EGTs. Max I saw this evening was 550°F. I was able to get the water temp to 210° F briefly, with foot flat on the floor going up a hill (and accelerating lol ) in 4th, so lugging a bit for sure. But under normal circumstances it is staying way low: like 180-190. It's also quite warm out today, just under 30°C. (@Gun Runner 5 would call it just under 86°).

Overall, this is way better than I imagined. It's early, but I'm happy so far. Part of me keeps waiting for it to blow up, but it hasn't so far.

I even added my "snailrated" decal!

 

[Rigster]

I even added my "snailrated" decal!

Wait... now that you have installed some boost juice... isn't that sticker a misnomer?

 

[Gun Runner 5]

Wait... now that you have installed some boost juice... isn't that sticker a misnomer?

Perhaps this would be more appropriate.

 

[JDM Journeys]

Snail=Turbo

Snailrated is mine and my buddy's little poke at our jeep friends who are "trail rated".

 

[Rigster]

Perhaps this would be more appropriate. View attachment 3707078

mmm... too mazda-ish methinks... I was thinking go BIG or go home and just commit 100%:

 

[Gun Runner 5]

Perhaps have this made into a bumper sticker.

 

[JDM Journeys]

This came in the mail:

But it can't replace "OLBETSY" so will have to go on the little Honda Fit. Lol.

Also, my first exhaust piece came, and is now bolted up. It has a CT26 flange on one side and a v-band on the other. It fits a lot better than the stock 1hdt dump did so I'm hoping a smooth 90° bend will clear the firewall and give me a starting point towards building an exhaust.

 

[JDM Journeys]

I am another step forward with my exhaust. Or backwards, as it were?

The v-band downpipe connected to the flange pipe and happily gives me enough clearance to just exit the mouth of the wheel well. I used a piece with a flex on it, just in case.

You can just see it here...

It has a couple of threaded holes too but I have no plans to use them. Egt is already plumbed closer to the turbo.

Here's the same pipe as it peeks out through the wheel well. I did clearance a little bit, and this pipe may pivot a little (v-band makes this easy) once I add the last bend. But at least I'm no longer preheating fuel lines. Lol. Now I'm just warming up my tire. Goes with the whole racing stripes thing right?

My next piece is another v-band -sweeping-90 without the flex, which I'm hoping will be the start of a straight shot back to my side exit exhaust...

 

[JDM Journeys]

New piece came this evening. The length looks really good, but I haven't put it in yet. Tomorrow I'm hoping to start measuring for the straight run back to a resonator/muffler...

 

[JDM Journeys]

The rest of my exhaust system is now on order. Hopefully I can put this together next weekend? I went with a Flowmaster tubular "muffler". I did originally want to do a full 3 inch but ultimately I went with 2.5 inch. The bends are full mandrel, and there are only three of them in total, so a lot less restriction than before. Because I'm doing a side exit, it will be quite a bit shorter too.

Looking forward to getting this out on the road again for more testing and tuning!

 

[JDM Journeys]

Today I used a brand new Diablo blade and made a lot of noise! Here is the result:

Some pieces are only 3 years old but much of it looks a lot older. I'm not sure what the net difference in weight will be since I'll be using a larger diameter plus turbo, but also a shorter run and a small resonator in place of that muffler?

Here's my new bend and exit from the wheelwell, waiting to join the straight side exit... I'm pretty happy with it so far.

Ask me how the sound is later on and I may have second thoughts but for now?

 

[JDM Journeys]

At long last it is done. At least for now. My exhaust is now 2.5 inch side exit with a Flowmaster slim muffler. Haven't even started it yet to test for leaks and rattles but it feels solid. It slopes a bit toward the back which I'm not super keen on but I guess it would help with condensation. I may make some adjustments but for now my fully stainless bolt on exhaust is done!

Feedback and sound clips soon.. And then turbo tuning...

 

[JDM Journeys]

Just back from a test drive.

A recap first: This is a diy turbo using early 1hdt parts including a CT26. 1hz manifold is mated to the turbo via a Simpson off-road adapter. Fuel has not been touched. Boost is set at 11 psi with a controller. Exhaust is a 2.5" side exit, with a Flowmaster Flow FX muffler.

Despite my home brew exhaust, it sounds glorious! Not annoyingly loud, just a slight whistle on accel/deccel. Actually the unpleasant rattley sound that has plagued me since I got it is all but mute.

Rolling on throttle around town is a way different experience from before - instead of simply dumping fuel (and heat) into combustion, it actually moderately accelerates as that little bit of extra air helps the fuel burn a little more completely. I don't have a lot of newfound power obviously, but simple things like starting from a traffic light are a lot less trying than before. My EGTs are staying very low no matter what my right foot does. It's early and I'm sure I'll have kinks but so far this appears to be doing exactly what I'd hoped.