Wastegate

Get rid of it. Put a Borg Warner 171702 on it. You won’t regret it.

 

You should first look at the connections between the turbo and the intake, this is more likely going to leak any boasted air than the wastegate.

 

It would be a good idea. Why ? Because you can add more fuel with a good program and still gain mpg’s. Use the search box to gain more information on your engine. Lots of threads on this topic. I’m not a Detroit guy, I’m a CAT man.

 

In this specific case it shouldn't. Changing out that junk stock turbo for a non wastegate bw 171702 is the first thing ya do when trying to get more out of that detroit.

 

White a good ecm tune will do wonders for that engine, it isn't necessary when changing the turbo for the bw. Being a 99 it should be a ddec iv. Read the tag on the valve cover and get the engine model number and see what it was set at, at the factory. That will tell ya how much juice you can put to her.

To increase performance, First thing you should do is install a pyro and boost gauge, then put a borg warner 171702 on it.

 

Have you got the money to do a rebuild on that engine?
If not........i would be carefull off turning up a 19y old engine.

 

I use to climp the line on every truck I drove!