tpi turbo with ac - Third Generation F-Body Message Boards

SiCkRs · 08-10-2011, 03:29 PM

Hey there im thinking of adding a turbo onto my z28 only wondering if theres a way to keep the AC. Also are the ebays kit worth it? Since i aint got any welding skills ima have to be paying for all custom fabs so if theres a basic bolt on turbo kit or with lil mods required i will take also this will be in within a $2k budget.

ZZ3Astro · 08-10-2011, 04:23 PM

I don't think you'll find a way to keep it inside that budget even doing it all yourself. I have figured up my costs to duplicate my setup at $3600 intercooled or $3100 non intercooled.

A big challenge on the 88 and up (serpentine belt) cars is that the AC compressor is on the passenger side. This limits your mounting options quite a bit. One build on this forum put the turbo under the AC compressor where the A.I.R. pump would normally be located. We'll have to see how well the AC handles that arrangement when he gets it all going. There is a lot of heat coming off of the turbine housing and downpipe.

You could move the turbo out into the area where the battery is normally located, but this inceases your under-hood tubing quite a bit. You can forget the Ebay kits as any kind of cheap, direct bolt on solution.

Normally I wouldn't recommend centrifugal superchargers, but considering your $2000 budget and lack of resources for fabbing, I would suggest considering a used Vortech for TPI. You should be able to pick up something for under $2000 that would bolt on 6-8 psi with an FMU, all of which keeps your cost down to budget and will get you a nice increase in performance. I've seen several on the for sale forum in recent times asking $2000-2500 complete with FMU, ignition upgrades etc.

sailtexas186548 · 08-10-2011, 04:27 PM

I second the centri supercharger idea

Or you may even be able to do a rear mount turbo, front mount with a/c is not going to be done without extensive custom fab = $$$$$$

$2000 is gonna be a difficult budget for a turbo especially, but if you only trying to make 450hp or so you could do it

SiCkRs · 08-10-2011, 05:19 PM

Oh alright thanks for the quick replies. So those rear mount turbos like STS would work well too or no like the STS universal kit they sell.

SRTH8R · 08-10-2011, 05:46 PM

What about a single turbo on the drivers side. I would think even just one manifold pushing it should be able to get 6-8 lbs pretty easy. Then tie the exhaust back into the y-pipe. Opinions?

sailtexas186548 · 08-10-2011, 05:57 PM

I imagine running the turbo off of only one side exhaust would lead to an impossible to tune set up.

The sts units are expensive, and the fab to make your own rear mount is fairly simple, I would build your own, or get an exhaust place to mount the turbo and waste gate out back on your current exhaust system, then the rest (oil lines and pump, cold side, intercooler,fuel) is all bolt/clamp together stuff you could do yourself for parts cost only

project89 · 08-10-2011, 06:04 PM

check ebay there is a guy that makes a rmt setup for the third and 4thgens
for 450 bucks u get everything but the turbo and piping

turbo hotside pipe
oil pump
oil lines

that would leave u with having to buy a turbo
coldside pipeing and couplers
and a way to tune if efi
if efi add in
injectors and fuel pump as well
if carb u need to do carb mods and add in a fuelpump and boost refrenced regulator

SiCkRs · 08-10-2011, 06:56 PM

Do you have a link to the kit? I would like to give it a try. This is my first turbo build so I wanna make sure I get the rite parts.

Quote:

Originally Posted by project89

check ebay there is a guy that makes a rmt setup for the third and 4thgens
for 450 bucks u get everything but the turbo and piping

turbo hotside pipe
oil pump
oil lines

that would leave u with having to buy a turbo
coldside pipeing and couplers
and a way to tune if efi
if efi add in
injectors and fuel pump as well
if carb u need to do carb mods and add in a fuelpump and boost refrenced regulator

project89 · 08-10-2011, 07:47 PM

this is the guy who sells them he dosent have any listed right now

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/REAR-...item33675fe964

he usually has just the hotpipes with oil pump listed
the turbo he has listed with that kit is to small for a v8 u would have to buy a minimum 60mm turbo

SiCkRs · 08-11-2011, 03:25 AM

Oh alright thanks. I will send him a message it's because I really want a turbo car to keep it more stock looking instead of going with lsx.

ZZ3Astro · 08-11-2011, 08:38 AM

Well a front mount single is definitely possible, but you might want to get a night job for about six months and double your budget to ensure success. A driver side single presents a difficult problem of getting a 3" down pipe back to the other side. It can be done but you will not have the best ground clearance in the world. It also means a lot more pieces of 3" elbows at ~$25 each, which increases the budget requirements. You also still have to use a crossover from the passenger side and it needs to follow factory crossover routing. This is another problem because you can't use use the stock passenger side manifold to accomplish that. Perhaps a different manifold from a driver side would work, but I don't think the outlet of the third gen driver side manifold will work because of the engine mount location.

If it were mine, I'd probably do a vbelt conversion. You'd need the AC lines from that style as well. That would put the AC safely on the other side and the alternator to the passenger side which would give you the clearance you need for a minimum piping single install like mine is. Of course once again, this adds to your costs.

However, I must say it is totally worth it to go turbo!

Orr89RocZ · 08-11-2011, 08:48 AM

You should invest in a budget welder and start practicing. You can fab up manifolds and turbo parts and have someone finish weld for you if you arent great at welding.

I tacked my setup together and had a buddy tig weld it for looks and durability, since I dont have a tig. Other exhaust parts I welded myself.

ZZ3Astro · 08-11-2011, 09:07 AM

Agreed.. I bought my welder back around 02 with intentions to some day put a turbo on a car. Ended up being 7 yrs before I did, but that was lots of time to practice! It's easy to learn decent welds with practice and lots of fun too. A mig and a good chopsaw will get you a long ways in life!

Orr89RocZ · 08-11-2011, 10:50 AM

I got mine just to do custom exhausts/ypipes and then subframe connects. Worked great for that stuff, and then I caught the turbo bug. I had a perfectly fresh 383 with spray that was great. No idea why I got rid of that after 6 months of use.

SiCkRs · 08-11-2011, 11:25 AM

Oh alright thanks. From the looks of it I should just save up some extra more cash, and try to learn some more fabricating and welding skills since it's what's gonna be needed the most. What type of welder do you guys recommend?

Orr89RocZ · 08-11-2011, 12:04 PM

I'm using a simple flux core wire welder you can get at home depot / lowes these days by Lincoln. Its capable of MIG welding with gas you just have to add a tank and set it up. I think it was around 450 for the unit. Works great on alot of thicknesses you'd run into.

sailtexas186548 · 08-11-2011, 12:28 PM

Get a MIG welder

I have a lincoln "weld pack" 160 or 180 cant remember, its flux or gas, was like 650 or something and can weld anything I need it to on a car. I've got an old cheap stick welder for the THICK STUFF

SiCkRs · 08-12-2011, 08:50 PM

Oh alright sounds good i think ima just do that. Also on the for sale section i found a complete turbo kit a fellow thirdgen member made for his car and is now selling it so i might just with that if it fits with the AC.