Yes. The Hypermax kit comes with a cover that goes over the intake where the old air filter used to go and it comes already drilled and tapped for a boost gauge hookup. I pulled the tubing for the gauge out of the fitting tonight and ran a piece of mechanics wire down through it to make sure it was clear. No affect. I'll pull that cover tomorrow to make sure its o-ring and boot are ok, but I would think any leak so bad as to bleed off almost all boost would be audible to say the least.
Belafonte Reboot....Ambulance to 4x4 Camper Conversion
- Thread starter tgreening
- Start date
Yes. The Hypermax kit comes with a cover that goes over the intake where the old air filter used to go and it comes already drilled and tapped for a boost gauge hookup. I pulled the tubing for the gauge out of the fitting tonight and ran a piece of mechanics wire down through it to make sure it was clear. No affect. I'll pull that cover tomorrow to make sure its o-ring and boot are ok, but I would think any leak so bad as to bleed off almost all boost would be audible to say the least.
From what Ive gathered I should be showing somewhere between 6-8 psi just cruising on the highway. Maybe 15 if I'm really getting on it and/or loading it up. I went out today and give it a go on some backwoods roads with some steep hills. If I'm getting in it pretty good heading up a hill or really romping on it up an on ramp I "might" hit 4 psi tops. I pulled the dog house and checked the turbo boot, the o-ring that seals the intake cover to the intake, turbo bolts, and even pulled the intake/exhaust side connections off so I could see the blades on both sides and make sure they were actually connected. Everything looks good. I went to Summit Racing and picked up a new mechanical boost gauge just on the chance something in mine was bad. Plumbed in all new stuff and same reading.
At this point I think gauge is good but something in my system isn't right. I'm guessing the turbo kit is fine but I need some serious tuning. I thought I read some bodies thread somewhere that was suffering from low low boost and it turned out to be a timing issue.
At this point I think gauge is good but something in my system isn't right. I'm guessing the turbo kit is fine but I need some serious tuning. I thought I read some bodies thread somewhere that was suffering from low low boost and it turned out to be a timing issue.
patoz
Expedition Leader
Hey Tom, would you see if you can answer a couple of questions for this guy. He is a very new Ambo owner, and has one like yours. He's having a problem with the belt tensioner, and needs to replace it. I figured if anyone knows about this, you would. See post #8 -
http://www.expeditionportal.com/for...II-Ambulance-Family-Van?p=2053666#post2053666
http://www.expeditionportal.com/for...II-Ambulance-Family-Van?p=2053666#post2053666
At this point he probably knows more about it than I do. He has a serpentine system and mine is individual belts for Every. Freakin. Thing. I've replaced those tensioners on other Ford products and they weren't that bad. I'm guessing as long as he can get the part it won't be too hard. It's right on the front of the engine. How hard could it be(famous last words)?
guidolyons
Addicted to Gear Oil
Well, that sounds like you got it hooked up correctly, and it sounds like you can feel the added power, so you must be getting some boost...I hope you get it sorted and enjoy the turbo power!
I dunno man. Ive tried everything I can think of. I mean I held my breaker bar up in the air, chanted Thunder Thunder THUNDER!, followed by "I have The Powerrrr!" I got nothin...
naterry
13 Cheeseburgers
This might help for leak detection:
"Go to the hardware store and get a 4" fenco fitting, and a rubber tire valve. Cut a small slit in the center of the fitting push the valve through and cement it in. Clamp it over the turbo intake and pressurize to 15psi. Spray soapy water on intercooler boots and listen for leaks in the intercooler and intake manifold area. Absent any leaks it will leakdown through any open valves so dont be alarmed if it doesn't hold pressure forever."
"Go to the hardware store and get a 4" fenco fitting, and a rubber tire valve. Cut a small slit in the center of the fitting push the valve through and cement it in. Clamp it over the turbo intake and pressurize to 15psi. Spray soapy water on intercooler boots and listen for leaks in the intercooler and intake manifold area. Absent any leaks it will leakdown through any open valves so dont be alarmed if it doesn't hold pressure forever."
Bikersmurf
Expedition Leader
Me too. Interested, but I've never seen under the hood of an idi in person... So don't have much to add.
Forgot to update this. All seems to be good on the boost end of things. I'm seeing about 2-3psi just cruising on flat highway at about 65. Load it up and I can see 6, maybe 7, but it doesn't stay there long usually. I think I had leaks where the up pipes fit into the turbo pedestal, which are just a slip fit, which have sealed themselves. Boost got better and better the more I drove it, to the point where it is now.
Little smoke. I only usually see smoke if I load it up while in high gear. If I romp on it from a standstill and let it run through the gears, no smoke.
Fuel mileage blows great big goats. Pre turbo I was seeing about 14 mpg on the highway. Not stellar mileage by any stretch but hey, it's a 10.5K mini building on wheels. Took it for a 275 mile jog a week ago and pulled down about 11.5 I think. Eleven something. To be fair there were head winds and tail winds and crisis cross winds and maybe even some up down winds the whole trip, but I was kind of disappointed there were ANY highway conditions that could drag me down into the 11s.
I'm thinking I can improve those numbers with a timing change and maybe some more fuel tweaking, but it's going to take an almost $300 investment in tools that I'll only use to do this one thing, and probably never use more 2-3 times EVER.
Little smoke. I only usually see smoke if I load it up while in high gear. If I romp on it from a standstill and let it run through the gears, no smoke.
Fuel mileage blows great big goats. Pre turbo I was seeing about 14 mpg on the highway. Not stellar mileage by any stretch but hey, it's a 10.5K mini building on wheels. Took it for a 275 mile jog a week ago and pulled down about 11.5 I think. Eleven something. To be fair there were head winds and tail winds and crisis cross winds and maybe even some up down winds the whole trip, but I was kind of disappointed there were ANY highway conditions that could drag me down into the 11s.
I'm thinking I can improve those numbers with a timing change and maybe some more fuel tweaking, but it's going to take an almost $300 investment in tools that I'll only use to do this one thing, and probably never use more 2-3 times EVER.
guidolyons
Addicted to Gear Oil
Glad you've seen an improvement in you boost, still seems a bit low, but hopefully you've seen an increase in power for the decrease in MPG.