I recently bought a 92 d250 2wd automatic 3.55 rear truck it has 150k miles and runs great. i am looking to inprove mileage and power. I am planning on purchasing a 4" exhaust, 3200 spring, reground fuel pin, and a different exhaust housing as well as tweaking the pump. My main question is what would be the best choice for the exhaust housing. I mainly use the truck as a daily driver. I also tow cars with a tow dolly 5-6000 lbs max. I was also wondering are there any relatively cheap ways to improve the transmission shifts and or torque converter. Any help would be much appreciated.

 

A pyrometer is probably a good idea. It should be installed before any other mods. I have had good luck with my 12 cm wastegated housing and I have no trouble towing 10,000 +. I have also installed a Hughes torque converter, which was worth the money. When purchased, it set me back about $350 including shipping, but that was two years ago. Even with the Hughes, the transmission is terrible for heavy towing, but 6000 pounds should be no problem with a stock torque converter. A transgo? shift kit could improve the shift quality, and costs about $80.

With a $600 dollar budget, you could probably get the guages, exhaust, gov. spring and pump adjustments (of course). A different exhaust housing might also fit this budget. According to my own personal experience, these are great mods and they will make it feel like a different machine!

 

I agree on the pyrometer. I'd change to a 16cm2 non-wastegate (in fact, I did) as a good all-round compromise between towing and light. Pump tweaks will give you enough power.

I'd put all the rest of that $600 into a *good* torque converter, and valve body adjustments or shift kit. You can put lots of power into the stock A518 and just generate heat, but if the trans is solid it all goes to the wheels. Get a trans temp gage so you know when to slow or downshift on steep hills as heat builds up. Gages are cheap compared with transmissions.

My stock 92 put out 134 rwhp. Just the TC and VB plus pump-tweaks took it to 200+ at the rear wheels and it felt great. I tow a 7500# 5er.

Regards, DBF

 

16cm housing 195$ or under

i think the 16cm non w/g is the most cost effictive and efficent for an auto

 

Get a hughes converter and a shift kit.

By the time you buy new atf and beer you will be around 600.

That will help with getting the power you do have to the ground and definately help with the mileage as well.

 

dont forget about the 366 spring

 

a 16cm exhaust housing can be had from PDR for $165, that would be an improvement over the lagmaster 21cm that the 92 has.

 

are the second gen exhaust housings interchangeable with my turbo? is the wastegated housing better?

 

I'll let others handle the compatiblity question. I run over 300hp with a standard H1C & 16cm2 non-wastegated housing.

Everything has a tradeoff. The smaller wastegated housings allow the turbo to spool up faster, perhaps a good thing if you're a drag racer. They also slightly choke the exhaust flow at high rpm, maybe not so good if you're using high rpm to tow a trailer up a hill. Either will do better than the 21cm2 you have in there now.

Regards, DBF

 

Yea for the trans..the transgo is the way to go..it will save your trans's life down the road and help with shifts when the tranny is warmed up. It really made a difference in our 727. However, it is not the easiest thing to install but it can be done by anyone as long as you can read and you have the tools.

 

What kind of truck do you have?

 

How about two tanks of ULSD a couple of qts. of 2 stroke and a pyro?

 

You can find 12cm w/g housings for $75 or less. I may have a total of $600 in all my mods so if you shop around its not too bad. With the auto I would definatly work on the tranny.

Yes a second gen exhaust housing will fit out turbo's and they do make a huge difference. With just pump tweeks you'll make good power and have safe EGT's.

 

I would stick with the bigger housing on an auto. The 12s are nice on a 5 speed, but restrict exhaust flow more than a bigger one, which makes for hot exhaust. Autos only have to spool once.

 

your right about only spooling once but you do have a w/g to bleed off the extra pressure, and with stock injectors EGT's wont be an issue towing. Once your cruising on the highway it doesnt matter if its auto or manual, but the smaller housing will jump to the desired boost much quicker. Till your in the 300whp range EGT's and restriction arent an issue with the 12cm w/g IMO.