Z31 T3 Turbo Questions

[driftMachine]

Hey Guys,

I know there are a number of you running (or have run) a Z31 t3 setup and I have a couple of questions regarding this turbo (mine is off a '86):

- I'm going to be using the z31 turbo elbow that attaches to the exhaust outlet but I bought this peice and the turbo separately so neither came with the necessary studs, bolts, nuts, etc that are used to connect both together. Does anyone know the parts I will need for this? Meaning the stud/bolt size and where would I be able to get these? Will I have to go to a Nissan dealer? If so, anyone know the part numbers? From pictures I have seen, there seems to be two studs and five bolts.

- I want to use the water cooling feature of this turbo so I'm wondering what size the water port holes are on this turbo so that I can buy the correct fittings. Anyone know? Am I better off getting the OEM ones from the dealer? If so, do you know the part numbers?

Thanks

[Jookmasta]

the bolts can be had at lowes......i personally took my turbo to lowes and matched up the right bolt with the elbow and turbo........sure people were eyeing the turbo but u gotta do what u gotta do. lol. o ya, get grade 8 or grade 5 ss bolts.............

[crzycav86]

- I'm going to be using the z31 turbo elbow that attaches to the exhaust outlet but I bought this peice and the turbo separately so neither came with the necessary studs, bolts, nuts, etc that are used to connect both together. Does anyone know the parts I will need for this? Meaning the stud/bolt size and where would I be able to get these? Will I have to go to a Nissan dealer? If so, anyone know the part numbers? From pictures I have seen, there seems to be two studs and five bolts.

- I want to use the water cooling feature of this turbo so I'm wondering what size the water port holes are on this turbo so that I can buy the correct fittings. Anyone know? Am I better off getting the OEM ones from the dealer? If so, do you know the part numbers?

Thanks

So the two studs coming from the turbo are broken? You can try getting them from an autoparts store, but the dealer should have them.

As for the coolant fitting specs -i'm wondering the same thing. I plan on using it on mine, but I just haven't gotten around to it yet.

Also, good luck on your setup. Which manifold are you using? JGS? The reason I ask is because I also used the little elbow, and there's exactly ONE way to make everything fit. You can look at my "nico's member rides" gallery for a various pictures of the manifold, etc.

Also, free feel to email me if you need advice on the whole process with the manifold- it was pretty frustrating for me, but had a happy ending.

[driftMachine]

Thanks guys for your help, really appreciate it. I'll probably drop into the dealer to see if they can help me out with the bolts/studs, if not I'll head to the hardware store.

crzycav86, if I find out anything about the coolant fittings I'll let you know.

Yeah, I have a JGS mainifold and I'm sure it will be an adventure getting that done right. I have followed your build in the thread you created earlier this year. Looks real good. Doesn't seem to be much room for error though with the placement of the elbow! I'll probably use the zip tie method you did, thanks for the idea. This is a way down the road for me though, hoping next winter, as I'm still gathering parts and cash is tight. Thanks for the offer of help too, I'll most likely take you up on this more than once in my build

[hannibal]

Though I have no personal experience, Ive heard people have cut off the elbow at the flange and just welded the 7 bolt flange to their downpipe.

[crzycav86]

Though I have no personal experience, Ive heard people have cut off the elbow at the flange and just welded the 7 bolt flange to their downpipe.

Yeah. In hindsight, this would have been much much easier, and it's what I'd recommend anyone do.

[Titan]

Yeah. In hindsight, this would have been much much easier, and it's what I'd recommend anyone do.

Not quite. Considering the elbow is cast iron and your downpipe will most certainly be steel. Not impossible to weld, but not ideal.

I also run a Z31 T3. What I did was cut the flange off the elbow containing the wastegate flap (Approximatly 3/4"). I milled both faces flat.

I then I cut a 3/8" steel plate to roughly the shape of the flange. Transfer punched the hole location and drilled through. Milled the port opening.

Welded a 3" steel pipe to the plate, which required some swedging. I later built my downpipe off this pipe.

Done. This creates a sandwich. Turbo to elbow section containing flapper, elbow section to plate and ultimatly downpipe. Since all the faces are milled, there is no need for gaskets.

I then studded and double nutted the assembly together, forget bolts. Works perfect.

[crzycav86]

Point taken.

I just want to make certain to try to avoid using the stock elbow because fitting it on the manifold was the biggest hassle. (well, that and the oil return hose, which came about due to the manifold placement).

[hannibal]

titan, your way is definitely better. If you made a few of those flanges, you'd have no problem selling them.

[driftMachine]

Titan, this sounds like a very good idea. I don't have the tools to be able to go that route, but I would really like to see some pics of this setup, do you have any? Great idea!

[Titan]

Titan, this sounds like a very good idea. I don't have the tools to be able to go that route, but I would really like to see some pics of this setup, do you have any? Great idea!

Here is a pic of my setup. You can see the sandwich consisting of the original elbow section containing the flapper and the steel plate, which ultimatly becomes the downpipe flange.

[Craving4Boost]

your manifold looks like a lobster

[WDRacing]

your manifold looks like a lobster

LMAO

[240DRFT]

it kinda looks like a hermit crap and the turbo would look like its the shell if it was rounder

[driftMachine]

Here is a pic of my setup. You can see the sandwich consisting of the original elbow section containing the flapper and the steel plate, which ultimatly becomes the downpipe flange.

Thanks Titan, that looks really good. Great idea. Looks very neat. Thanks again for the pic.

[Titan]

LOL!

Bastards... haha.

[crzycav86]

Thanks Titan, that looks really good. Great idea. Looks very neat. Thanks again for the pic.

Definitely do something like that if you can. It will make everything much much easier... I promise.

[driftMachine]

Definitely do something like that if you can. It will make everything much much easier... I promise.

I agree that it looks like the best solution, but can you explain a bit further on how it would be much easier to go this route. By this I mean, what kind of problems did you hit using the complete elbow? I took a look at the pics of your build in your thread and it looks like you got the elbow to fit in there pretty good. Can you just explain any problems you had to overcome to get it to fit so well?

Thanks,

[crzycav86]

The fitment was pretty much luck.

Some things I had to do was hammer the firewall a little so the elbow would clear.

The oil line was a straight shot in between the motor mount. I had to align it so that it would clear the left, right, and bottom of the motor mount bracket.

Also, the exhaust elbow comes very close to the transmission. In fact, the flange sits just above the bellhousing. It was just enough to fit a 1/8" flange for the downpipe under there(which I grinded down a little to clear up some space).

The intake piping had to take a very sharp bend just before the compressor inlet because it faces the back of the powersteering... and that was with a 2.25" pipe.

That's pretty much the major stuff to consider. It just took a lot of time to get everything to fit perfectly/safely. If I had thought of that flange thing, I definitely would have done that instead. Good luck man.

[WDRacing]

I had to cut my motor mount in half on my Skyline to fit my TO4, damn HKS bottom mount manifold. Then I just welded 1/4 steel all the way arounf both mounts...a DIY solid motor mount mod. Huh, I should do that on the 240.

WD

[driftMachine]

The fitment was pretty much luck.

Some things I had to do was hammer the firewall a little so the elbow would clear.

The oil line was a straight shot in between the motor mount. I had to align it so that it would clear the left, right, and bottom of the motor mount bracket.

Also, the exhaust elbow comes very close to the transmission. In fact, the flange sits just above the bellhousing. It was just enough to fit a 1/8" flange for the downpipe under there(which I grinded down a little to clear up some space).

The intake piping had to take a very sharp bend just before the compressor inlet because it faces the back of the powersteering... and that was with a 2.25" pipe.

That's pretty much the major stuff to consider. It just took a lot of time to get everything to fit perfectly/safely. If I had thought of that flange thing, I definitely would have done that instead. Good luck man.

Thanks crzycav86, I'll keep all those things in mind.