Would there be a problem running a single turbo off of just one manifold? I've noticed most 'V' engines use a twin turbo setup where there is one turbo per side. If you ran just one turbo on one side would it kill your motor or do wierd things with the backpressure?

 

I do beleive that its not good (long term) to run 1 turbo off of 1 side of the engine. Although the kits for the 4th gens do this ( i am pretty sure) You will get better performance if you run a crossover pipe to the turbo.

 

I boils down to cylinder balance. If the drivers bank has a turbo and the pass bank doesn't, then you'll have *much* more backpressure on the drivers side cylinders. more backpressure = less cylinder combustion pressure = less hp. The engine could have a balance problem if the backpressure difference is severe enough since 1/2 the cylinders push the crank that much weaker. It isn't a good idea to only run one bank if you can make the Y-pipe to bring both banks of cylinders together.

 

Go find a Ford F-250 Diesel Powerstroke engine and look how they do the tubo on that. This is the way to do it.

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84 Z28 383
Stripped w/Cage back halved w/ladder bars and coil overs and 9 inch
700R-4 3.73

 

Since I don't have a powerstroke Ford lying around...

So it would be a better idea to attatch a turbo to the end of the Y-pipe somehow and do more plumbing for the turbo intake and output air? (turbo would basically be right in front of the cat)

 

Alot of OEM and low power aftermarket systems just have the turbo running off one bank, but real single turbo systems run it off both.

The reason is as Skulte said, cylinder balance. OEM systems don't generate that much backpressure, so no problems. If you look tho most any race system has both sides Y into the turbo.

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"American made baby. 100% American iron. The muscle among the masses. My hero. Yep, you can take your ergonomically designed, space age, computer controlled, 4 door, cup holding map lighted split double wishbone split fold down retractable cargo covered moon roof piece of transportation and keep it. For I have felt the thunder. And I know the difference!"
JSP Motorsports
ICON Motorsports

 

I'm just thinking about throwing together a simple low-budget small turbo and intercooler combo on my 3.1 to keep me happy until the V-8 gets here. At most 200 HP at the wheels. Now that you know the application, would running it off one bank be that bad?

 

The forth gen turbo kits use a crossover pipe. It gets exhaust from both banks, although one bank's exhaust travels further than the other. The first gen 300 ZX Turbo was set up this way, as is the GN



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Edwin
1986 IROC, 1992 Body Kit, 1989 5.7 IROC Engine, Crane Cam, 3" CVX Exhaust, ADS Superchip, 24# FoMoCo Injectors, Gutted Cat, AFPR (45 psi), Airfoil, 3.42 Gears, MAF Screens removed, Gutted Airbox, K&N Filters

2001 Camaro SS
2000 ZX-12R

 

THere is not enough room for the turbo down by the cat. There needs to be too much plumbing for that space, i don't even think the turbo would fit down there. Since you have a V6, you might want to see if it would fit inbetween the block and radiator. That way you might be able to get away with switching the manifolds and have the exhaust exit in the front of the engine.

 

Holy isht! I didn't even think of that! You're a genious! I had this idea in my head of maybe flipping a manifold upside down, but I never thought of backwards.

So, does anyone know if running a small intercooled turbo at maybe 8 lbs of boost will kill my engine. It's only got 80,000 miles and I only need it to last for about 2-3 more years when I get the LS1. Anyone forsee any problems?

 

You shouldn't have too many problems as long as you retard the timing and make sure you don't ever get knock. I've probable got anywhere from 60k-100k on my stock L98, and about 10,000 of those are with the turbos. The first 9k were non-intercooled 5 psi, and the last few hundred are with the IC. So far so good, but I'm already getting some blowby through the breathers, etc. Just be ready for the engine to give up any time. Enjoy the ride while it lasts!

 

Did 5 psi make a significant difference for you? Are you running the same psi with the intercooler?