Do those require new a intake and crossover (or are those just good ideas anyway?)

I was also wondering about the cooling system. The stock radiator doesn't seem all that impressive to me, just by looking at it, and was wondering if there's a higher capacity radiator that'd bolt in.

 

Yes, you'll need to modify the stock crossover pipe or build a custom unit.

The radiator is indeed quite lame in the early trucks. The intercooled trucks have a much larger unit, though I don't know if it'll bolt right in. I know the water outlet from the engien needs to be changed to accomodate the opposite side input. Depending on the terrain you pull in, the stock unit isn't total junk. I've had decent luck tugging around 10k. Once I hit the hills and have to wind the engine up is when the cooling system is no longer sufficient.

 

Yeah, I'll definitely need more capacity than that. Thanks!

 

I've been looking at HTT's site and I'm kind of confused since it doesn't seem they offer a compressor upgrade for 1990 trucks. Is that just because they don't have an intercooler, or is the turbo different?

I'm planning on towing in the neighborhood of 26k, and through mountains. I have no problem being the guy in the extra-slow truck lane crawling up I-70 at 15mph, but it needs to actually have enough power to do that, and without overheating.

 

I've heard that HTT doesn't have the stage III anymore...but I know Gilette Diesel does. Are you talking 26k GCVW or are you hooking 26k to a 7k truck? Knowing that you'll be heading for the mountains, I would be more inclined to run an HY-9 from a 24v automatic. The important thing pulling in the thin air is to keep boost up at all times. The 9 spools super-fast and keeps the fresh air pushing through the aneminc 12v head. At the power levels you say you'll be comfortable with, I don't think the HY-9 would be a restriction and will probably put you into the 40mph range over Eisenhower. Do a search or PM Bearkiller about how he pins his cooling fan. That and a better radiator...and hopefully an exhaust brake...should put you in a pretty good spot. What tranny are you running?

 

They don't have a 100% bolt-on setup for the non-intercooled trucks. You need to change over to a 4" intake system and get an adapter elbow to attach the compressor to the factory crossover tube.

I believe there's info in the sticky about installing an intercooled radiator. It's not too bad, requires an intercooled thermostat housing and some minor bracket fabrication.