[2003_Ram]

I have a 2003 2500 with a banks 6 gun, banks exhuast, and 100,000 miles. I want to swap to a bigger turbo, the one on it currently only gives me about 22-24 PSI max.

I was looking into a few options and wanted opinions.....

option 1: Get a turbo of a later gen truck, but the wastegate is then electric, how can you wire this to work without a flaw and be super reliable??

Option 2: A big BD turbo (whatever the biggest single they have is)

Option 3: Twin BD turbos..... This is super exspensive, but I can save for it if its worth it. I tow with this truck though daily, and drive it every single day. I am worried these might be too loud....? Also they produce around 60 PSI, what precautions would I have to take to avoid blowing something up? Will having twin cut down on the reliability of my truck? How much power should I have at the rear wheels.... 450 RWHP?

Want advice, whats best for me. I want the most power I can get without sacrificing drivability.

Also should I see a increase in MPG?? By how much?? Would it be better to get a bigass single turbo or twins???

Thanks for the help guys.

 

[2003_Ram]

Okay really leaning torwards going for a twin turbo upgrade, or the super B and then upgrading to twins down the line.

Either way I am worried about my truck being 100,000 miles and 60 PSI boost, anybody have experience with this?

 

[Dusty]

With that much boost Im sure you will want head studs. If you are going to do a single make sure you dont go to big or it will be very laggy especially when towing and your EGT's will be very high when towing with a big laggy turbo. I am looking into upgrading mine and I was told if I kept my 50hp injectors to go with a 62mm or upgrade to 90hp injectors and get a 64mm turbo. I am also looking into maybe going with twins. As far as I know with twins your truck will still be as reliable as with a single turbo also I think twins are quieter than a single but I may be wrong. If your looking at BD look at the towing twins I have heard that that is a great set up. Good Luck

 

[2003_Ram]

Thats the one I was looking at. Head studs? Where do I get them, and what exactely do they do? Is it worth the $4500 for that kit? What other upgrades do you reccomend?

 

[Dusty]

You can get head studs from ARP, or any diesel performance parts dealers. They will keep you from blowing a head gasket with the high boost. Some other mods that you are going to want is a lift pump upgrade like a Air Dog or FASS system, and guages if you dont already have them. You might want to look into injectors as well. If your looking to make your truck a worker but somthing you can tune up and have some fun racing at the track or dyno comps I personally would get rid of the Banks six gun. I would either get a Smarty or since you have a 2003 look into the Diablo Predator. Both of them are going to make alot more power than the six gun and from what I have heard and read better mileage. Also you are going to want an upgrade your clutch you will burn through the stock one pretty fast with the power you will gain from the twins. I would call BD and tell them what have and see what they reccomend. Or find a diesel shop in your area and go talk to them they might steer you in a different direction. $4500 is alot of money to spend so I would make sure its what you want and its what is going to work best for you before you drop the cash.

 

[driftsquid]

24 psi max? that sounds super low, i would get a hx40, save money, then get studs, and then stack on a s475 with that hx40 if you tow a lot

 

[Dusty]

24 psi max? that sounds super low, i would get a hx40, save money, then get studs, and then stack on a s475 with that hx40 if you tow a lot

24 to 25psi is normal for a 2003 truck with the stock turbo.

 

[2003_Ram]

You can get head studs from ARP, or any diesel performance parts dealers. They will keep you from blowing a head gasket with the high boost. Some other mods that you are going to want is a lift pump upgrade like a Air Dog or FASS system, and guages if you dont already have them. You might want to look into injectors as well. If your looking to make your truck a worker but somthing you can tune up and have some fun racing at the track or dyno comps I personally would get rid of the Banks six gun. I would either get a Smarty or since you have a 2003 look into the Diablo Predator. Both of them are going to make alot more power than the six gun and from what I have heard and read better mileage. Also you are going to want an upgrade your clutch you will burn through the stock one pretty fast with the power you will gain from the twins. I would call BD and tell them what have and see what they reccomend. Or find a diesel shop in your area and go talk to them they might steer you in a different direction. $4500 is alot of money to spend so I would make sure its what you want and its what is going to work best for you before you drop the cash.

Awesome thanks for all the info. I have a centerforce dual friction already installed in it now. I would like to ditch the banks tuner but it's already there and setup, so I figure I won't dick with it.

I'll call BD and talk to them, not sure of a good diesel shop around phoenix here.

 

[firemanram]

Look into Shane's (Wickied Diesel) twins! I have them & they tow great. That's alot of money for the BD twins & I think they use a smaller turbos in the towing twins. I sent him my factory turbo & he did his magic on it, to use in the twin set.

 

[2003_Ram]

Sweet I'll look him up! I am definitely leaning into twins now. Whatever I do though I want it to be done right, because if I am spending $4k on it, I wouldn't mind spending $5k is it made the difference from good to best.

So turbo and head studs is what I need right, and 90 lb injectors????

 

[gator6]

my 03 with just a juice with attitude would hit 34-35 psi all day long. you might want to look for a boost leak.

 

[2003_Ram]

my 03 with just a juice with attitude would hit 34-35 psi all day long. you might want to look for a boost leak.

Very possible....... Whats the best way to check? Wouldn't I hear it?

 

[Dusty]

my 03 with just a juice with attitude would hit 34-35 psi all day long. you might want to look for a boost leak.

I saw in your sig that you have a boost fooler and if you were running a boost fooler and reading your boost off the edge monitor it probably wasnt reading correct because the edge reads the boost from the computer and the fooler screws thoes readings up. My 2003 with a Diablo Predator and RKL tune and a Smarty when I tried a friends out could only hit 25psi. After I installed an adjustable boost elbow I could hit 40psi on the stock turbo until I backed it down to where I wanted it. The boost fooler on the 2003's doesnt give you more boost like the 04.5 and up because it is a manual wastegate not electronic it just keeps you from throwing an overboost code. I may be wrong on this but I'm pretty sure the factory wastegate on the 2003's was set at 25psi (correct me if I'm wrong.) If you bought your truck used it could have had an adjustable elbow already on it or had the line pinched shut by the previous owner (happend to a buddy of mine when he bought his 2004) and his would hit 40psi all the time.

 

[TacSat1]

my 03 with just a juice with attitude would hit 34-35 psi all day long. you might want to look for a boost leak.

I top out at 29 psi consistently with the Smarty, which I'm told is at the top end of what the stock turbo can reliably handle.

 

[zsoccerdude17]

I hit 39 psi with my edge, and stage to AFE intake. I can stay around 30 all day no problems.

 

[2003_Ram]

Okay guys, still dont know what to do. So save up for BD twins? Or should I start with the super B single and add on? It would run $400 more to do it that way though.

What do I need to buy besides the turbos? Intake manifold? I need help making a list. Here's what I think:

Turbos
Intake manifold
Injectes
Head studs

That it? I am worried about 60 PSI boost being too much because right now all my truck see's is 22 PSI max. I just checked it too, flooring it all the way through 5th until 3000 RPM I hit 22 PSI. It's that sad.

What about getting a turbo off a later model dodge??? Or is the super B still better?

Still need help guys.

 

[snowman475]

dont mean to help with the hi-jack
but my 03 will snap to 30 psi and stay there.
cant get it higher but it will get there even with a little over 1/2 pedal.
thats with the BD off and everything stock

 

[Krizay]

Go with the twin rather than a large single because of the lag you are going to encounter.
LIST:
Your turbo(s)
Head Studs
Injectors: 90's will work
New lift pump: Air Dog or your preference 100gph or more
Fire the rings
New intake

 

[JonnyLightning]

24 to 25psi is normal for a 2003 truck with the stock turbo.

i get about 42psi. I would think you'd get at least 30+ but i have never seen banks on anything so maybe thats a normal psi for it...:confused013:

 

[2003_Ram]

The banks doesn't do much, vs. bullydog on my dads truck.

How much more money am I looking at besides the turbo cost? Like $2k? Or less?