DON’T LOSE YOUR HEADS PT. II

impeller to prevent it from ever walking or spinning on the shaft. The kit also includes a high-quality cast housing powder coated and laser etched for a nice look under the hood. Of course, new OEM O-rings and seals are also included to complete the install.

Max Flow Manifolds

To offer the absolute best turbocharger performance and efficiency, replacing the factory log style exhaust manifolds and restrictive up-pipes was a no brainer. The new Max-flow system from Dmaxstore.com uses a much better designed manifold with individual runners that enter the common collector to better draw exhaust from the engine, improving flow to the turbine side of the turbocharger by 55 percent. The fabricated up-pipes use 0.120-inch thick 304 stainless steel with an internally sleeved bellow, which offers better strength and flow that the stock pieces would. Improving exhaust flow before the turbocharger without hurting velocity means better spool-up and quicker on-throttle response from the engine, which means better acceleration, lower back pressure, less smoke at low rpm’s, and cooler EGTS under load.

WC Fab Piping Package

With the fuel system side of the engine taken care of in the previous part of this build with all new injectors from Merchant Automotive and a Sportsman CP3 pump from Exergy Performance, the charge air system could really benefit from some improvements as well. Wehrli Fabrication (WC Fab) of Sycamore, IL offers everything under the sun when it comes to improving airflow for your Duramax. From a basic intake kits, their unique high flow Y-bridge system or a complete single and compound turbo kit to fit any drivers use or horsepower goals. WC Fab started building custom hand fabricated piping and turbo kits for Duramax trucks clear back in 2010 and their complete Y-bridge, hot/cold side piping, intake and coolant reservoir was perfect for both better efficiency and cosmetics on this LB7 overhaul. Every piece is engineered, developed, fabricated, and powder coated in-house, it’s all test fit on engine stands to ensure your install goes easy with OEM like fitment. For this build, the stock turbocharger was also replaced with a quick spooling 64.5mm Promax SX-E from High Tech Turbo, because of its great street manners and towing performance with ability to support 600 rear wheel horsepower. Using the latest Borg Warner S300 SX-E turbocharger platform, the HT Turbo Promax offers a unique internally waste gated T4 exhaust housing on their cast high flow T4 pedestal to offer optimum turbine flow without sacrificing spool-up and low RPM turbo response. Pushing 550+ horsepower and 35+ psi boost, the larger journal bearings, 360-degree thrust bearing, and a better flowing turbine side make the Promax SX-E turbocharger more durable than a OEM or modified OEM LB7 turbocharger.

To help get all that extra airflow to the engine the WC Fab piping kit uses mandrel bent high flow 3-inch intercooler pipes along with a super trick high flow 30-inch Y-bridge to eliminate the restrictive factory

 To improve turbo performance, a good set of aftermarket up-pipes and manifolds can really help reduce back pressure and EGT’S in a towing application. The Max Flow up-pipes and cast manifolds from Dmaxstore.com offer a 55-percent increase in exhaust...

 The Max-flow Manifold was designed to increase the engines exhaust output with a gradual increase in internal diameter allowing better volume while keeping the maximum velocity. The increased flow allows exhaust to enter the turbine side of your...

 With the cylinder heads off the engine for the head gasket replacement, this was the perfect time to replace the up-pipes and manifolds, since half the work was already done. But this is an install that can be done on its own just by removing the...

 Before being installed, the truck owner opted to have the exhaust pieces all ceramic coated to help prevent future corrosion and limit overall under hood temperatures. Plus, that gloss black finish looks incredible and will for years to come.