Intake/Exhaust For FWD w/ A/C and P/S

[mdb4879]

So I'm hoping to get my Pulsar back driving in the next two months and I'm wanting to put A/C and P/S on it. Well I went out the other day and put the A/C bracket, compressor, and FWD alternator on it and I'm not entirely sure I can do this now. Right where my suction pipe goes now is being blocked by the A/C compressor and I can't seem to find room for it anywhere (even making all new plumbing). If I had a standalone and was running a MAP sensor instead of a MAF this would be much simpler. My suction pipe currently goes from the turbo inlet down and over to a hole cut for the MAF/air filter in the frame (directly under the frame through the metal sheeting). It looks like I have enough room for the hot pipe to go through the hole I made for it in the radiator support next to the radiator, but there's no room for the suction pipe. Also, right now my turbo is on a RWD manifold and in it's factory position. The hot pipe makes a 180 degree turn right out of the turbo to go downward.

So what I want to do is clock the turbo 90 degrees and remove the pipe bolted to the 3-bolt outlet and make a new outlet so the plumbing is already facing downward (getting rid of that 180 degree bend). The exhaust is going to be kinda funky, but I've got that figured out. It's just trying to figure out what to do with the suction pipe. The only solution I've come up with (aside from running the FWD alternator and P/S, but doing away with the A/C compressor) is turning the whole turbo 180 degrees on the manifold, making braided stainless lines for the coolant and oil feeds, and making a new oil drain. Then I can put the suction pipe where the battery was, the intake plumbing can travel just a little further, and the exhaust will fit better and be less awkward. Does this sound reasonable? I dunno how much trouble that'll be to do and making the braided stainless lines. But if it's really that simple does that sound like a viable solution? What else can y'all think of? I can take some pics tomorrow if that helps. I also need to know this so I can go ahead and figure out where all my wiring is going.

[boost_boy]

Yeah, takes some pics and let me see what you're working with. I believe your turbo's inlet is facing the passenger side chasis leg, no?

[float_6969]

I'd have to see pics, as I'm not that familiar with the FWD clearances.

[boost_boy]

If indeed you FWD guys are using the RWD manifolds and facing the turbo's inlet toward's the passenger side chasis leg, then you're already at a disadvantage because that area is already tight to work in and now you're factoring a turbocharger with accessories into this area. It's just going to create a mess and will most likely eliminate some some already tight accessories.

[mdb4879]

Here's what I'm working with (please excuse the wires everywhere. I'm in the middle of a wire tuck):

This is an old image. The suction pipe and MAF did a 180 and go down under the right frame rail and into the wheel well behind the splash guard. Also, you can see the immediate bend the hot pipe does right out of the turbo.


Here's a shot from the top. You can see where the alternator and compressor sit and you can kind of see where to turbo inlet is.


This is the same shot, but from the bottom.


Here's the hole where the MAF and air filter went. The compressor is in the way now.


Just another view of the turbo.


I've got all this space now where I was thinking of putting the suction pipe if I can turn the turbo on the manifold and face the inlet towards this area. So far this seems to be my only solution. Only problem is I'll need braided stainless feed lines and a new oil drain. But that's probably not too big of a deal I would think.


So what are y'alls thoughts on this? I'm almost tepted to just go again without A/C or P/S. I've never had good working A/C in a car before so I've never used it. And the car is actually pretty easy to drive without P/S as well. But I'd really like to know I can run both just for future reference and for bragging rights.

[Liquid_Neon]

dude your crazy mounting the turbo the the same direction as rwd cars. I 180degree'd mine and made a custom dump pipe. If it was made tight and u made heat shields u could easily squeeze ac in once u trim the radiator support a bit. Check these two pics out, my alt is where the stock ac compressor goes. PS is fully intact on the other side You could with some thought and planning work around the area for the alt to move up too. Even better would be having a front mount with the in/out on the same side (drivers side).

[mdb4879]

Yeah, I've decided to just have stainless line made and flip the turbo around. It's much simpler that way. I'm thinking about get an intercooler with the in/out on the same side. My intake tract would be considerably shorter that way so I figure it'll help with boost response. Now I've gotta see if I can come up with a way to squeeze the piping in between the radiator and the frame. Sure I could cut that section out, but the A/C stuff would still be in the way right there. I could bring it around the long way like it is now, but I'm gonna try to make my intake as short as possible. I'll think of something.

[Liquid_Neon]

I had to cut the side supports on the left and right of the radiator. I cut out the area where my horn went, I never reattached it either :P Thats where i ran my intercooler pipes. My intercooler is mounted to the front crash bar with L brackets welded on.