While the Big Three manufacturers do a great job of matching turbochargers to the diesel engines used in modern ¾- and 1-ton trucks, these compressors are designed to work best at stock performance levels. If you want to chase a lot more horsepower and torque, you’ll need a lot more air flowing into the oil-burner under your hood. Whether you need more
oomph during your daily drive, have a hankering to build a truck that’s comfortable on the street and a rocket ship on the ’strip, or want to create a full-on competition rig, there are lots of turbo upgrades available.
To gain some knowledge about the best forced-induction enhancements for ’08-and-up diesel pickups, we contacted the experts at Sinister Diesel. The company stocks upgrades from all the major manufacturers in its warehouse and creates a full catalog of unique parts in its workshop. Of course, you can’t just slap a turbo (or two…or three) on a diesel and instantly reap great rewards. To compensate for the increased airflow, the engine needs more fuel, a large intercooler to help maximize gains, ECM programming to take advantage of the upgrades, and a big exhaust system with better flow that will keep the exhaust gas temperature (EGT) in check—but don’t worry.
In this article, we’re only offering suggestions for turbo system upgrades. But, we’re sure the team at Sinister Diesel can help you figure out exactly what’s needed to get the most out of your project. Andrew Sokol and Mike Penfield from Team Sinister collaborated to come up with this list of suggestions. With their help (and the included Sinister Diesel part numbers), you’ll be well equipped with the knowledge you need to let your diesel engine breathe for maximum performance. Here’s what they told us:
| 002 Sinister Diesel Warehouse Full Of Diesel Products
| 003 Sinister Diesel Boost Tube Cutting In Shop
| 004 Sinister Diesel Welding Shop
Sinister Diesel is based in the Northern California city of Roseville. As you can tell by this photo of Ford, GM, and Ram trucks in the parking lot, the employees fully embrace the diesel life. Along with selling products from the biggest names in the industry, the company also has a high-tech, in-house shop where Sinister Diesel–branded upgrade parts are developed.
| 005 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD Z71 Midnight Edition Duramax Diesel LMM
| 006 2016 GMC Sierra 2500HD Denali Duramax Diesel LML
Chevrolet/GMC 6.6L Duramax LMM and LML
Budget ($2,000 or Less)
| 007 Bullseye Power BatMoWheel Duramax Diesel Billet Compressor Wheel
One of the most affordable ways to upgrade a 6.6L Duramax turbo is by installing a drop-in billet compressor wheel. A Bullseye Power BatMoWheel (PN BMW-LMM or BMW-LML; $399/each) may be your best option. If you have a little more to spend, the next best choice is a full replacement turbo. The Garrett PowerMax (PN 773540-5001; $1,890) will bolt right in and increase the power and usability of any truck with a stock Duramax under the hood.
Weekend Warrior ($2,000 to $5,000)
| 008 Sinister DIesel PowerMax Stage 2 Turbo Upgrade
When you’re ready to take your Chevy or GMC to the next level, you should consider the Sinister Diesel Stage 2 Garrett PowerMax turbo (PN 773542-5001S; $2,363). This ’charger will support most driving conditions while being capable of producing upward of 575 hp—and that’s a lot of muscle for the money.
| 009 Fleece Performance Duramax Diesel Turbo Upgade
Fleece Performance also has two Cheetah turbochargers available for late-model Duramax engines that are sized at 63mm and 68mm (PN FPE-VNT63-BW and FPE-VNT68-BW; $2,404 and $2,597). They’re great alternatives to the Stage 2 Garrett unit, and both support more than 600 hp.
Competition Build ($5,000 and Up)
| 010 Industrial Injection Duramax LMM Twin Turbo Kit
When you’re ready to burn up the dragstrip or sled pull track, Industrial Injection has plenty of major upgrades available. The company offers a few different compound turbo kits for the Duramax LML and LMM (PN IISLMMTT and IISLMLTT; $3,350 and $3,450). Coupling either one of these large atmospheric turbos with a stock compressor can result in a huge boost in power. The systems include all the necessary plumbing for installation.
| 011 2016 Ford F 250 Super Duty Power Stroke Diesel Truck At Gravel Pit
Ford 6.4L and 6.7L Power Stroke
Budget ($2,000 or Less)
| 012 Industrial Injection Phat Shaft Ford Power Stroke 6 4L Diesel Compound Turbo Kit
Similar to the Duramax, one of the easiest ways to increase the performance of a 6.4L Power Stroke engine is to install billet compressor wheels from Bullseye Performance (P/N BMW-6.4L and BMW-6.4S; $399/each). These wheels are available for both the low- and high-pressure turbos in a factory-compounded 6.4L.
Weekend Warrior ($2,000 to $5,000)
Industrial Injection has a couple of great bolt-on, compound-turbo kits for Ford’s 6.4L Power Stroke engine. The best bang-for-your-buck is the PhatShaft 71mm/58mm setup (PN IISPS7158B64CMPT; $3,000). The system produces a huge increase in airflow that makes it well worth the investment.
| 013 Industrial Injection Ford Power Stroke 6 7L Diesel Compound Turbo Kit With BorgWarner S474 Turbo
| 014 Industrial Injection Ford Power Stroke 6 7L Diesel Compound Turbo Kit With BorgWarner S474 Turbo
Like the 6.4L, the newer 6.7L Power Stroke engine can be set up with a compound-turbo system from Industrial Injection. The Compound Kit with BorgWarner S474 (P/N IISF67AT; $4,250) provides massive gains in horsepower along with lower EGT. This is a great option for times when you want to hit the track, or just crave a fun commute to work.
Competition Build ($5,000-and-up)
| 015 Industrial Injection Ford 6 7L Power Stroke Diesel Single Turbo Kit
Sinister Diesel also offers Industrial Injection’s bolt-on, single-turbo kit for the 6.7L Power Stroke (PN IIS67FV; $5,500), which features a large, quick-spooling ’charger that’s capable of making a ton of top-end power. The easy-to-install system is complete and only requires custom ECM tuning.
| 015 2016 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins Diesel Truck At Factory
Ram 6.7L Cummins
| 017 Industrial Injection Cummins 6 7L Diesel Phat Shaft 62mm Turbo
Budget ($2,000 or Less)
While the 5.9L Cummins is one of the most commonly modified engines in the diesel market, the modern 6.7L version gets customized just as often. Companies such as Industrial Injection are on the forefront of producing parts for 6.7Ls that create more power, reliability, and flat-out performance. The 62mm PhatShaft turbo (PN SB62PS628067; $1,966) is a great first upgrade, as it’s more responsive, more efficient, and more reliable than the stock turbo, and it’s cheaper to replace than the factory part.
Weekend Warrior ($2,000 to $5,000)
| 018 BD Diesel Performance Super B Turbo Kit For Cummins Diesel Engine
For Ram owners looking for even more diesel power, BD Diesel Performance offers a few different BorgWarner S300-based setups for Cummins engines. The Super B Special kit (PN 1045140; $2,155), which includes a turbo, exhaust manifold, and downpipe, is Sinister Diesel’s most popular package. It’s an easy upgrade that increases performance without compromising a truck’s driveability.
| 019 Industrial Injection Cummins 6 7L Diesel BorgWarner S467 Turbo And Manifold Kit
The folks at Industrial Injection also excel at creating packages for this price and performance category. Their BorgWarner S467-based system (PN 67S467KIT; $3,095) includes everything from the intake filter to the exhaust manifold and downpipe, which makes for a seamless install.
Competition Build ($5,000 and Up)
| 020 BD Diesel Performance Cummins Diesel R850 Track Master Twin Turbo Kit
Priced right at the base amount for this category, the BD Diesel Performance R850 Track Master Twin Turbo kit (PN 1045481; $5,000) supports as much power as you could ever want (maybe). It’s rated at more than 800 hp, and the appropriate fueling upgrades and custom tuning are the only additional modifications necessary for taking full advantage of the extra air. Standard kits include both turbos, an exhaust manifold, cold-air intake, piping, and all the hardware needed for an easy install.
| 021 Industrial Injection Cummins Diesel Compund Turbo Kit With Silver Bullet And BorgWarner S480
Another popular 800-plus-horsepower option for 6.7L Cummins–equipped trucks is Industrial Injection’s Compound Kit with Silver Bullet and BorgWarner S480 (PN IIS67ATPR; $5,300). It comes with everything needed for installation, and folks at Sinister Diesel guarantee it’ll pin you to the back of your seat.
