Sleeper Turbo Setup Help

[tfj]

Alright. Lots of questions. I rarely post on the boards, because i just end up searching through it and reading everyone elses posts. but now it's time for me. just so you know, this will pretty much be my first project for my car, so i'm doing lots and lots of research, cause i don't want to just hand my car to a shop with a wad of cash and say, put a turbo on there. i just need to learn as a go.

here's the basic goal. 4-7lbs boost, stock internals1991 240sx Fastback

very basic turbo. as few gauges as possible, sleeper style.on a very limited budget

now here are some of my questions.

can i use a sr20 SMIC? although a FMIC would be nice, and the saab or starion ones seem pretty inexpensive, i'd like to stealth the IC. i don't care about the "aggressive" look. or how about a DSM stock IC?

stock exhaust? can i run new 2.5 inch piping and keep my stock exhaust? or am i better off getting a new exhaust? i'm not looking for anything fancy again, just better airflow. nothing loud or agressive (unless i'm on the throttle). A stockish looking dual outlet exhaust. HKS' sport exhaust looks nice, but since i'd be running new piping, i figure i could use a universal exhaust.

BOV? any cheap ideas here? i'm thinking DSM again...cause it doesn't have to be fancy. just has to work.

overall, the turbo and other parts will probably be used, and if anyone knows where i can get a used turbo manifold, let me know. or who i could talk to for more info on welding those JGS manifolds (i don't know how to weld). those will probably be my two biggest purchases.

and ideas on electronics. ways to stealth gauges...etc. i'm looking at blitz's dual turbo timer; it has a built in boost gauge; do i have to get a separate boost gauge if i have that?

ok, those are all my questions for now. try not to flame too much.

thanks.

[aleph1]

I dont know what you mean by a basic turbo...If you are on a limited budget get a T3 from a Z31.

Are far as an intercooler, I suggest getting a starion core and just spray painting it black, not very noticable.

I thought HKS Sport exhaust was cat back, so you wouldnt need new piping. I heard that the HKS Hiper is actually decently quiet, but it is 3" and has a can so I dunno about that. I guess you could always just get some random, toned down universal one and get piping done at a shop...that is definitely cheaper.

BOV, ya, just use a BOV from a DSM and recirculate it.

Good luck finding a used KA turbo mani. I suppose a muffler shop could weld the JGS one for you...eh?

You could put gauges in the glovebox or in the area where the headunit goes and put a homemade cover on them when not in use, my friend does that, it looks slick.

[vwluv10338]

I think a stock SR side IC would be fine, I mean my engine is running a stock 7psi on it. If you get that IC the bov is right above it if you use mose of the stock piping then you could use that bov.

Eric

[tfj]

very basic turbo = inexpensive setup.

used parts, probably. except for the manifold...i'm curious how many people are using the JGS one.

what are the specs on the SR SMIC? are they rated up to a certain hp? i might take a small side mount or FM and just mount it diagnol in the front so it's still hidden...

[aleph1]

You could do what SCC did with their project silvia-mount the FMIC behind the radiator, it increases response because of less piping.

[red240ne]

The JGS is very expensive for just being a crappy log style manifold. The realnissan is pretty good, and has decent welds.

For any KA-T, you want at least 370cc injectors almost no matter what. For a ka24e, just get some CA-ET injectors.

[tfj]

i thought realnissan's manifold was a rev hard...at least for the DE anyway. 370cc injectors...now can i get drop ins from somewhere for that? like off a 300zx or something like that?

and fuel management...for 4-7 lbs of boost, am i still going to want a FMU, like a vortec...or not? or something else entirely?

[float_6969]

Don't bother with the SMIC, it's practically useless. More of a heat sink than an intercooler. At least get a Starion or Saab. Z32 Turbo is a T28 (I think) Kinda smallish, but a good start. You could probabally get a Z31 Turbo (T3) but you'd probabally want to rebuild it/get it rebuilt. As for the exhaust, I'd just have one done at the local muffler shop from the turbo back. Get a generic flow through muffler and put in a glass-pack. Use a Saab or DSM recirc valve. Gauges should be easy to hide. And if your worried about it, tint your windows. hehehe.

[ftrs13]

Im looking around for CA injectors and actually am finding them rather difficult to come across. deciding to go with a FMU for right now and keeping the stock injectors, upgraded pump.

side mount is small, can hide in the front if you want to do it. Im putting mine in the front, tiny front mount. it will require a little piping/tank mods.

Im also thinking of making my own manifold. tack welding a log syle (or tubular if im daring) in place, and then taking it to a muffler shop to finish the welds. that way I dont have to worry about pressure failure. probably wouldnt cost much more for the shop to weld everything together from parts if you bring them pipe and flanges.

the way to make it cheap is to do as much of the work as possible yourself.

[red240ne]

Im looking around for CA injectors and actually am finding them rather difficult to come across.

me too

[Nathan]

96 300zxTT injectors are 370 side feeds, get a starion or NPR intercooler, spraypaint black, put black mesh/wire in the grill...it'll look ghetto but NOT like an intercooler (at least I hope not, it's what I'm doing), use a Z31 turbo...use a rising rate regulator (not sure what rate, you'll have to do some research on that), a nice walbro fuel pump, jgs manifold, muffler shop exhaust, boost and egt gauge and you should be in business for relatively cheap!

[GatorS14]

You could do what SCC did with their project silvia-mount the FMIC behind the radiator, it increases response because of less piping.

this works and is exactly what i wanted to do.brian(orion) brought to my attention that you have to remove the a/c condensor(thus no a/c).this set up to me is ideal.So if someone does the intercooler/radiator scc set up and still manages to keep the a/c ,do tell!

[aleph1]

OR you could mount the intercooler, perpendicular to and on top of the radiator...like this:

{=====} <---Intercooler /\|||| <---Radiator||||\/

Then have like a scoop or something for the air to go in where the grill is (a la a Starions intercooler setup) and then maybe a vent on the hood to let the air out. This is the setup on Signal Autos "Drifter XL" car. This would probably be more effective if you have a Silvia front.

[cosmo]

Would a Supra side mount work good? I know those can handle far more power than I ever plan putting out.

[cosmo]

here's a nice cheap turbo for ya

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...33742

yea dats nice

[tfj]

is anyone using their stock exhaust on a turbo system? either KA-T or SR? with new piping...i'm curious if it can be done.

and...

am i going to need bigger injectors and an FMU of some sort to reach my 4-7 lbs boost goal?

[Nathan]

I know someone boosting 10-15psi on a stock fuel system with a T04s I think...but they are on their 4th or 5th motor Seem to have it worked out now with the 12:1 FMU though.

[aleph1]

You would definitely need this for a basic fuel setup:

a higher flowing pump- Walbro duh.Rising Rate FMU- 10:1 or 12:1 are both good I thinkand at least 370cc injectors (from SR20 too, about 150)

Nathan- that is the dumbest thing Ive heard all day, you would definitely have to have a higher flowing pump for that, not to mention the stock injectors are probably waaay past a safe, reliable duty level (anything over 80%).

A FMU setup is ok for a first, basic fuel setup, but it puts extra stress on the lines, injectors, etc. I would recommend getting at least some sort of fuel piggyback computer (Apexi SAFC, SS ARC2, etc) instead of a FMU, you can program in bigger injectors directly, rather than just raising the fuel system psi.

[Dante]

Didn't SCC actually put their intercooler in FRONT of their radiator?

[aleph1]

No. This would be a conventional setup, I clearly remember it being behind, as I was thinking it was a very odd thing to do.

[cosmo]

No. This would be a conventional setup, I clearly remember it being behind, as I was thinking it was a very odd thing to do.

I'm looking at the article right now, and no the radiator is BEHIND the intercooler.

[GatorS14]

radiator was behind the intercooler,but they used a thinner radiator and electric fans.

[Nathan]

Aleph, did you read my post? I also mentioned that they were on their 4th or 5th motor...it doesn't take a genious to realize I wasnt exactly recommending to try it, just saying that it HAS been done and has been running for over a year. I'm certain her injectors are just locked open at higher rpms dumping as much fuel as they possibly can at over 100psi of fuel pressure, and yes...I'm sure she has an upgraded fuel pump. I'm just saying it CAN work, just isn't normally recommended. You can tell I agree that it's not a safe way of doing things...I have 75# injectors on the way for a JWT ecu...I LOVE safety

[aleph1]

I'm looking at the article right now, and no the radiator is BEHIND the intercooler.

Ok, I just looked at the article, You are correct the radiator is still behind the IC, the part I got messed up on was that they placed the FMIC on the top half of the radiator, where the grill would be, rather than the usual lower part. They used a upgraded thicker Koyo radiator.

Nathan, I know what you mean, but even if its "worked out now" (after 5 engines) I would still advise against that setup. You should have added "Note: DONT DO THIS!" hehe....

[Nathan]

haha, ok...I'll try to include disclaimers from now on

[vwluv10338]

Not only did they go to a thicker radiator but they also did some madness of moving the radiator back 5 inches. They seem to do everything the hard way.

Eric

[tfj]

so back to my question on the stock exhaust on a KA-T....

[detforme]

for 4lbs you dont need injectors or any fuel pump depending on your setup. i did my mafs push through, and at 4lbs. i had to lean the map out. im now at 6.53 lbs. on a stock fuel map, i might even lean it out slightly if i get the car on a dyno. the highest egt i run is 750c. although at 6.53 lbs. my mafs is at 99.2 of capable metering. i doubt i could push 7 into it without the z32 mafs. just food for though. i do plan to upgrade my fuel though. i know that running my injectors at that duty cycle they will eventually fail. also your car will never be a sleeper. i had the same idea. i made my gauges fit under my radio and left stock rims and all. everyone in my town tries to run me all the time. every time you accerlerate and shift, it will be know that you are boosting. besides its like some wierd sterotype that every 240 is boosted. people will always be looking for some hint.

[tfj]

oh i know my car will never really be a sleeper...people try to run me all the time, even with the stock setup. but i'd like to go turbo but retain as much of the stock look as i can...and make the only noticable thing the BOV, and the increase in HP.

[detforme]

that pretty much what will happen. you like it a lot. good luck with the setup. let everyone know how it works out.