First real drive since turbo, ?'s, opinions

[WAbernethy]

My turbo KA is now complete except for some exhaust work and some much needed tuning. I put in a log style manifold with a CT26 from the Supra/MR2 family (was thinking of putting a TRD sticker on my car :pface ), piped through a Starion I/C with some 2" exhaust tubing. I'm using some top feed 460cc injectors with a SAFC2 set to run really rich. It has a 90 degree elbow coming off the back side of the turbo about 4 inches that holds the EGT probe and the o2 sensor. I'm sure it's really load and obnoxious when I run it:D .

Anyway, I've driven it around the neighborhood a couple of times and fixed all the little sh1t that was wrong; Pipes blowing apart from the pressure, vaccum lines poping off, a coolant leak-which leads me to my first question. I had to remove water cooling from the turbo alltogether, the guy at the welding shop screwed up my water In/Out flange and now it leaks. I just re-circulated the water back to itself for now. I've heard that these turbos will be fine without it, true?

So today, I took her for a longer trip to get some gas since she was almost out from idling in my driveway for 2 weeks. I got to really step on it for once. It really moves with some urgency now! The turbo sounds like a Mack truck since there's a whole 4 inches of exhaust. It studders from gear to gear when I floor it but if I ease into it, it willingly accelerates. Most likely a tuning issue because it's set to the rich side of things until I finish and get it to a dyno. Anything else cause that type of behavior?

My EGT's were only getting up to about 1200. I'm running full timing so I thought it might be a little higher. The probe is on the outlet of the turbo with the 02 sensor, what temps should I expect there?

I'm pretty impressed with the power it has now. It's only running 6-7 pounds and I know that with tuning, it'll run even better. I couldn't help myself on the way home. I live on the more rural side of town so I did a humongus powerslide with a couple of dognuts to finish it off. When I pulled out of the last loop, I could feel the clutch slipping. I kinda thought there was a little slippage in 5th too, I guess I'll be getting a better clutch sooner than later.

Thank you all for the input and advice over the past 2 years that I've been putting this thing together. Yes, it has been 2 years since I bought the first part for my setup. What can I say, I'm a poor mofo. Hopefully, I should get the rest of my ehaust done within the next couple of weeks. I can't belive 3 feet of pipe is going to cost me 250 bucks. Then I'll be out spanking ricemobiles (and hopefully some american muscle too) with the best of em':)

[:: orion ::]

SOunds liek my KA-T build-up - I ran with only a 14" DP for the first week - Then it became too much for a daily driver, and had the exhaust done.

But one note from above - If the timing is still stock, your EGT will INCREASE as you retard it.

Retarded timing + rich condtion = combustion mixture still burning in exhaust and high EGTs.

So it's no wonder it's low - Lots of extra fuel to cool it down.

Later- Brian

[KApwr]

I would be careful with not running water through the turbo because water cooled turbos have a smaller oil jacket because it has to share the center housing between the two. You prolly will toast the bearings if you don't get that fixed. Also, i would advise you to put the rest of the exhaust on because you can hear what's going on with your engine which is important when you start tuning. Also, since you are running stock ecu your timing will be unsafe once you start cranking the boost past 9 psi. Good luck!!

[MarkEmark]

460 cc injectors? Dayamnnn those are huge! I'm sure you're increasing the boost soon?

What size turbo do you have? I hate how my turbo starts losing boost at 4500 rpm, I know it's mismatched, but I don't really ahve $500 for a THIRD turbo...

Ditto on the exhaust..I ran mine with just a downpipe for a week and I absolutely LOVED how burly it sounded...like a mack truck is a good description, but god, at stop signs, it sounded like a jet engine cooling down.