Just wondered how many people in the group have had a turbo fitted to a non-turboed car? Where did you get it done if you didn't do it yourself, what costs are involved, and what did you notice in the way of increased performance?
John
I doubt many people have done it I'd guess Burgerman has done it himself but I've not seen him about here for a week or so. You will need to lower the compression ratio and/or run low boost most places will charge you around £2k for a kit + fitting
most of the time it's cheaper to swap for a engine that was designed with turbo charging in mind than to turbo an NA engine.
Chet had a go too I think. He bought loads of bits, cost a few bob. Buy him some Guiness or some whiskey and he'll tell you all about it. Probably. (c:
Douglas
Supercharging is much easier. And swapping out the NA lump for a turbo one is probably easier again.
Fraser
In news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com, John decided to enlighten our sheltered souls with a rant as follows
I had a twin turboed Sierra 4x4 V6.
Differences?
It went like stink, didn't use that much more fuel - less on a run than a standard one, but eat spark plugs and required a much more diligent approach to servicing.
Don't know how much it cost to do it though, I bought it like that.
Been there, done that.
There are 2 main ways: either you buy a kit, either you walk alone.
The first is certain success, the second can be more challenging.
I did mine on a stock engine, without intercooler and wastegate set at 400 gr overpressure. Engine produced a healty 190 HP at the wheels (from 140 at the wheels). It became quite hot under the bonnet. Fuel comsumption went up 60%, I think due to cam overlap (nice long 3m-flames out the exhaust which I noticed but when the cops pulled me over...)
Just this: if you think that turbo-charging your NA-engine is the ticket for cheap performance, think otherwise. You won't stop modifying the car and all the bits cost money. First the turbo/ exhaust/ controller, then the (bigger) brakes, the better gripping clutch, then tires and brakepads every 3-4 weeks, then suspension, then more turbo-pressure resulting in blown gaskets, then a new engine because detontation due to no intercooler, etc...
Oh yes: DO NOT do it on a car you need to go work or needs to be reliable. Do it to learn and play. Know that education can be pricy.
Costs? I started at a car worth 2000 UPK and put some 2000 UKP on equipement to it. A year later it develloped 270 HP (at the wheels) and had drained another
2000 UKP. Sold it for 5000 UKP as a dedicated track car when it finally became more or less reliable (meaning it doesn't need a new engine /gearbox/ clutch every 5000 km). It still lives but not on the street anymore.Tom De Moor
Did one myself, and I am re-doing it again for the usual reasons of what you learn by doing it the first time. This was on a 1.3 micra, it should make a healthy 200bhp+ when I'm done.
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