Just wondering if I was to add a single turbo to a stock L98 and run it at 6 psi(street) and 9-12 psi max(track) what kind of turbo should I be looking for? I read that someone used headman s-10 headers for a V8 swap and rotated flipped them. Does this work?
Would running a y-pipe from these headers to a single turbo work? Also Could I use ATI Intercooler and piping from there supercharger kits then fab the pipe from the intercooler to the turbo.

Thanks for any input, Mike

PS: Where can I find those books on turbo charging here in Canada?

 

ttt

 

I'm assuming the books you're talking about are Maximum Boost by Corky Bell and Turbochargers by Hugh MacAinnes. I'm not sure what kind of book stores you have up there, but you might want to try amazon.com. I believe Jester used the S-10 V8 headers, so it should work. I plan to use the same headers for my setup, but its going in a G-body. To get an idea of what turbo you'd want you really need to give an idea of how much power you want to make/ how fast you want to go. For the intercooler you could probably buy a core from CAS and weld up your own end tanks then run your own piping. HTH's.

 

How much does it cost to have a core welded up? Do I take it to a radiator shop to have it done?

I have actually looked into maybe getting two Garret TO3s off a couple thunderbirds. Found one already but didn't take it because Im not sure if im gonna go that route and wasn't sure which year thunderbirds had the bigger Turbine A/R. What kind of psi range do these two turbos have together?

As for horse power I really haven't set a goal but want to start low say 6 psi and get bigger. Nothing over 350-400 hp in the end because I would want this car to be a daily driver.

I really need to find those books! So many questions

 

If you're only looking for 350 - 400 HP (flywheel or wheels?) then a turbo setup really isn't cost effective. If thats all you're going for just get a good set of heads, cam and intake.

 

Here is what I want out of the car. I want it to have about 300 RWHP for on the street(under boost) and the ability to crank up the power for the track that is why I was thinking turbo. I know price wise there are better options for my goal but I really like turbos. Also I will be gathering these parts over time and not buying them all at once, plus I will try to do as much work myself as I can.

 

Okay, I'm starting to see what you want, but lets start off at the beginning.
1. What engine are you planning to be running? 305/350/383? Specs?
2. How much you have to spend?
3. How fast do you want to go?
Those three things should be able to give a better idea on how you're going to do this. If you don't plan on shooting above 500hp I think two T03's off of the automatic turbocoupes (.60/.48) would work okay.

 

It will be a stock 350 L98 TPI and I will purchase parts as I get paychecks. I plan on having the turbos, IC, headers ect. before I even get the car.

So what range of boost can I expect with two T03?
Also what is better for turbocharging MAF or SD?

By the way I ordered those books off amazon.com and they should be here in about 2-3 weeks.

Thanks for all your help it is much needed

 

Okay, that helps a bit.
MAF Vs Speed Density - I'd go with Speed Density (actually am one of these days) for the fact its easier to tune, and you are going to want to burn your own proms. I think you can use a Sy/Ty ECM, but don't quote me on that. You might want to do a search on the PROM board.
Boost - Kinda depends. I think that the stock turbocoupe turbo's make about 10psi, but you can make an adjustable wastegate and change it. There are two versions of the T03 off the turbocoupe. The automatic versions have a smaller exhaust A/R (quicker spool, less power potential) while the manual tranny versions have a larger exhaust A/R (slower spool, larger power potential). I believe that Brian Scharer (?) was pushing 20psi with them, but at that psi its probably blowing a lot of hot air.
That help?

 

Ya that helps alot. I guess I'll go do some research over on the prom board for now till I recieve my books.

At what level of boost I need to get a Sy/Ty ECM?

 

The ford 2.3 turbo engines basically used one of 3 turbos
- a small IHI used on most of the later T-birds and cougars 2 of which would probably be good for about 450-500hp. I probably wouldn’t use these for anything larger then a 305. On a 350 it would be much like a factory combination, it would spool really early and be done by about 5000rpm
- The 60trim/.48AR T3 (the trim is the compressor trim, how which determines how much air it can pump, the AR is the exhaust turbine size, basically how fast it will spool, also how much of an exhaust restriction it is). These were used on the earlier automatic equipped 2.3’s These should be good for 550-600 or so hp.
- 60trim/.61AR T3 used on the early manual equipped cars, the SVO’s and Mercurs. These will spool slower but will give you a little more ultimate HP. Probably in the low 600range before you start heading out if it’s efficiency

Boost is relative to the restriction that you’re blowing through, but within reason the compressors will basically pump a specific amount of air and the boost seen is up to the restrictions (how good your heads… are) and where you set the wastegate. Any one of those turbos were used in factory applications from 4.5 to 18psi boost (not just used by ford, even some mercerizes diesels used a version of the T3). Most turbos have parts of their efficiency island going up to about 30 or so PSI, some as high as 40. There are actually 2 points here. The boost produced is more dependant on the engine that it’s bolted to, and that just because a turbo can pump enough air to feed 600 hp that doesn’t mean that that’s what you’ll make. If the engine is too restrictive, the boost level will go too high to pump the amount of air that you need and you’ll have problems controlling detonation…

WRT the Sy/Ty/Sunbird code… I wish I could find the answer to that. Everyone suggests that, but I haven’t been able to find anyone that claims to have done it and is willing to talk about it. If you do I’d appreciate links or information. Remember that at the power levels that we’re talking about you’ll need to run 42, 50, 55#... injectors, and I don’t know of anyone running anything larger then 30’s tuned well (I know of a few people that have things ‘running’ with 36’s but I wouldn’t call it running well, you won’t pass an emissions test).

 

Well, first find out how much cfm a L98 flows. Turbocharging a big displacement engine is going to be alot different from the smaller displacement sport compact engine (ex: 2.3ltr ford turbo motor) ... You will definately need bigger turbo's. If a turbo is small (like a T3 or even a T4) then it will spool fast, but not produce as much power. If the turbo is bigger (like a T66 or a T76, T88) then it will take longer to spool (turbo lag) but will produce alot more power. Running a big displacement engine you have an advantage over the sport compacts because of the pure cfm your engine flows. It can be anywhere from 3 to 5 times the ammount the 4cyls produce. So you can afford to run bigger turbo's (that produce alot more power) and they will spool up alot faster then they do on the 4cyls. So find out how much cfm the L98 flows, and then look @ what the other v8 guys are doing. Check out some of the LS1 turbo guys out there and compare what they flow to what you flow and see what turbo's they use. Check some of the turbo v8 guys on this board like Monty, Guido, or GMI Fast (even tho GMI sold his). I know its not accepted around here, but even check out what the bigger displacement ford guys are doing and see how they have stuff setup (the turbo 5.0's and stuff). That way you can get an idea of what to expect from certain sized turbos on a big displacement engine (cfm is all that matters). You can also use that cfm figgure to get the proper sized intercooler. I would say a T66 would be a nice turbo for a single setup on a L98. Q-trim Garret T66.

 

Did a quick search on the PROM board about the 749 ECM and the two people that came up the most were Saturn5 and Bobalos. I'm not sure if the info they have will help or not, but they seem to have it working okay.