Then Theres the hypermax pulse turbo kit for about $3000 shipped. Not as good as R&D but has some decent top-of-the-engine access, *so I’ve read.*
I have two of their kits on trucks. I have worked on trucks with 088 and 093 kits, and first gen banks. Haven’t been around Banks Sidewinder or R&D kits, but I can tell you that while the Hypermax kits themselves aren’t the easiest to install, they aren’t too bad, and they do preserve the ease of repair and maintenance that the other kits certainly do not in my opinion… and in my experience their systems are very reliable and simple, and despite the fairly long uppipes they spool and pull very well. They are very loud, your engine will develop a new kind of howling, hearty, dieselly growl unlike anything. Really, unlike anything. The turbos seem to make more of a screaming noise than a whistling noise. I would recommend their cowl induction and exhaust, they are after all designed for use with their turbo kits.
I have replaced lifters without removing anything turbo related but the intake hat and turbo drain, and had no real difficulty with it.
R&D and Hypermax are the only kit mfgs that make intercooler systems for their kits… if that’s something you are interested in. Hypermax also makes an intercooler kit for the ATS 093/Ford factory turbo, as well as an exhaust system.
If you get one, don’t turn up the pump as much as the instructions say. Do like 2 1/2 flats tops. Unless you like EGTs and crazy smoke. My 86 extended cab long bed (box bed so less than 7000 lbs) will burn the tires off and fly away if you want it to. It’s turned up a little more than it should be, but it does run good. Reminds me that I haven’t driven that truck in a while, I started it and drove around the farm after putting it back together a few weeks ago, but that’s all… ah well.