400 big cam 3 cummins heavy haul setup

The more I learn, the more I realize how much I don't know!
I DO however know that the Switchblade Turbo didn't work out so well for me.

 

Always love these “want more power” threads. Stuff is getting ridiculous out there nowadays with parts quality and price on anything. And the biggest thing that is happening is the guys who actually know what to do with the old mechanicals because they were there when they came out new and ruled the roads are passing away. Their knowledge is gone and everything is now becoming 6th hand rumor like info. The small group of folks still around that know what to do with the old stuff are ignored by others because they are not telling them what they want to hear. Like you ain’t getting that from that or whatever bs. Just run and enjoy what you have while you can. Heck of a lot better than having a big chunk of scrap iron sitting in the “shouldn’t have done that” pile.

 

Their named Switchblade for a reason .. cause you want slit your wrist after you have 1.. JMO

 

You're not first person to say that. @Oxbow what happened to yours if you don't mind my asking?

 

Hahaha!

 

Don't get me wrong, I've spoken to the owner and I beleive that he has tried to produce a good product, and he seems to be an honest individual, but it really didn't work as I had hoped for me. The 177148 was the most dramatic change for me compared to the stock turbo, but I like what I have now better than the waste gate turbo.

 

Well, I mentioned that I had (still have it on another truck) a 177148. It was a great improvement over the stock turbo, but I always felt I was losing a bit on the top end of the RPM range. I then tried the Switchblade. Boost wise I did end up with more as it is different than a wastegate turbo, but I also ended up with more heat, and really didn't feel that it performed any better than the 177148 at the high end, and much worse spooling up. Also, the shaft going into the body of the switchblade would hang up occasionally. Mr Blaylock did send me a replacement with an improved set up.

 

Oh ok I gotcha. I was just curious as the one I saw had broken off where the actuator setup mounts to it. It's possible that entire deal has been re-engineered. Never have tried one personally. 177148 is a hard one to beat on a B or C, in my opinion.

 

Turbos depend on what you’re doing or what you expect. Down low that 177148 works better than any. That said it won’t work for me.


What most will never believe is you get a 4 an a quarter right not anything fancy just right they would swear it’s 600 I believe. Most have never seen what a big motor will do and how easy it makes it look. When in reality just waiting on it’s very next chance to break your ###. I have driven 400, 600, and north of 700. There is a point the difference is phenomenal. There is also a point you’re going negative. If you can’t apply it for fear of breaking loose or breaking off it’s useless. When my truck was still stock with a 7FB pump it done as good a job as you want. Being a 460 it already had a good turbo for the time on it. Can I tell a difference now sure, but can I actually say I benefited time, money, or anything. Nope I still run 1100 in 18 hours. I still fill them twin 150’s up every day I use it.

 

And that's where we finally ended up on ours. With what we do and where we do it I need to be able to pretty much keep my foot in it for long periods of time (maybe 15 minutes or more in some places). While I do watch the pyro and water temp like a hawk when pulling a grade, I do not want it turned up so that I have to constantly back out of it. For the most part now, about the only time we have to lift is at higher summertime temps, and especially at high elevation, and more to keep the water temp in line than the exhaust.