I have a 1990 camaro rs the 3.1L v6, sadly, but never the less i would like to turbo charge it. would i be better off setting up a single or twin turbo. i am goin ot get the tutbos from a junkyard so is there any certain cars i should look for? thanks

 

I always though it would be neat to build a turbo 3.1 in a 3rdgen. I don't have any experience in turbocharging the 6 cylinders in camaros, but as a general rule I feel a single turbo system has the most advantages. A single turbo can be more efficent, easier to install and package, and make the same (or more!) hp. But twin turbo does have a nice ring to it!

I twin turbocharged the L98 in my 89 IROC using small Volvo turbos. This was because a single JY turbo large enough for the V8 can be hard to find. I also used 2 intercoolers from 89-90 ford probes GTs.

For your application I would suggest a T3/T4 hybrid turbo off eBay. They can be obtained fairly inexpensively, and will have a lot of poitential on the 3.1 v6. You will need to do some research to see which turbine/compressor sizes will work the best.

Good Luck!

 

well that sounds great because my best friend and i just took the turbo off his 83 volvo its a t-03 so from what u say it should work!! thats crazy that u took urs outta a volvo though too. the only concers i have is what to do about the headers. how do i go about connecting them to the turbo do i need to find a shop to cut the holes in them to fit or wut?

 

2 turbo's from 2.2L dodge min van should work good

and cheep

 

That volvo turbo may be on the small side for your 3.1- but it would certainly boost it. It would be restrictive on the top end.

As far as the exhaust plumbing, that is one of the gremlins of turbocharging. I modified my factory manifolds to mount the turbos. You might have trouble finding a shop interested in doing this for you. If you can weld, I would recommend fabbing the exhaust up yourself. If you do a search, there are some other guys on this board running 2.8 or 3.1 turbo setups. Pictures of thier setup will help you layout your system.

 

about how much do thinkn that custom piping is gunna cost?

 

How much power do you intend to make? Do you want a single or twin?

FWIW, the Volvo turbo will only move enough air for about 200-240hp.

Plumbing… well that’s up to how creative you are or who if there is someone that you can leave your car with to do it. I really doubt that anyone could do it without a v-6 car sitting in front of them, and would be surprised if you got away for less then a couple of grand if you just left it with someone and told him, here, 2 turbos/turbo + car, make me plumbing…

I'd just charge you by the hour for a custom setup since this is the kind of thing that could get to be a real hassle depending on what you really want and how many times you change your mind while building the setup.

 

damn so the pipings gunan be the hardest part. wut exactly do i need to make, can i get a exhaust manifold off another camaro and take the turbo and try to make sumthin fit, and then when its time to install juss replace the exhaust manifold with the ones i get from the yard?

 

get a turbo from a buick t-type or grand national. that should suit you fine.

 

puttin in that garrett t3 i think. any able to give me an estimate of how much boost im gunna have? how much horsepower im gunna gain?
how much time off the quarter mile?

 

i was thinkin bout goin to carb wen i put on the turbo, but some have told me that its not a good combination. why is that? am i goin to get more fuel easily through fuel injected or carbed?

 

I would suggest keeping the FI. If you add a rising rate FPR into the return line, it will add the needed fuel under boost by driving up the FP. I would suggest 95-100psi FP with 5PSI. This will retain factory drivability under normal conditions, and should give proper AF ratio under boost. Get a AF ratio gauge to tap in to your O2 sensor to aid in tuning. This should get your tuning close enough for a mild turbo system.

Most carbs will need some mods to suppot a blow thru application, but it can be made to work. I just think it will be tough to beat the drivability and simplicity of factory FI with a boost sensitve regulator.

PS- rising rate regulators are all over eBay for cheaper than it would cost to buy a carb and manifold.