GTA Sammy

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Every year as soon as the snow flys I get TURBO FEVER!!!
I've been looking around for awhile now and there's not a lot of options that I can find for a SBC

Has anyone here used the newer CXRacing single turbo kit?

https://www.cxracing.com/turbo-kit/t...AMARO8292-NOIC

Opinions?

Anything else out there worth using?
Tons of LS Stuff but...... If I wanna boost an LS it'll be my CCSB

GTA Sammy

iTrader: (1)

The kit without the turbo is here $850

https://www.cxracing.com/header-mani...AMARO8292-ONLY

WaterPumper

I bought this kit http://xs-power.com/gm-turbo-manifolds-3.htm
The people at xs-power were very helpful and the manifold seems to be very good quality. I've only put about 1k miles on it if that and I haven't really gotten into boost so time will tell. I bought ARP header bolts that have longer threads because the flange is very thick and everything went together smoothly. Finding a compatable set of plug wires was another story...

GTA Sammy

iTrader: (1)

I appreciate that you chimed in!!!

Does the xs-power kit interfere with anything? Starter, spark plugs etc?
Hood clearance?
What about clearance over the passenger valve cover?
Any pics?

WaterPumper

Sure I'll get some pics in a few days... be warned, my work is never pretty. I have a 2" tall turbo adapter on mine because I bought a turbo with the wrong flange, so I had to cut a pretty big hole in my cheesy fiberglass hood. My heads are angled plug world product units, no issues with slightly shorter ngk plugs. Huge GM starter had to go for the high torque small guy. No issues with valve cover clearance.

ZZ3Astro

CX sure loves to use 3 inch crossovers.. Looks like an interesting kit for the money though. I spent 3x that building my own and that isn't adding my time into the equation!

Street Lethal

iTrader: (16)

Don't waste your money, and don't get caught up just like everyone else on this website in theory. It has been proven time and time again how fast a Grand National can go, and how much power it can make, using the stock turbo header system that it came with from the factory, and it is very limited in comparison. Hell Ed Brewer came damn close to 10's with a stock turbo header system and stock turbo, and both are tiny. I'm talking full weight vehicle too. You can buy a cheap header system specific to the third gen on craigslist for next to nothing, then break out the welder and let the fun begin; 1 5/8" primaries and 2 1/2" crossover is all you will ever need. Anything larger is overkill.

Out of the two choices above though, go with the XS-Power system.

- Rob

GTA Sammy

iTrader: (1)

Thanks for the input!!!
At a quick glance I woulda thought the cxracing kit to be a cleaner/better choice.

I have been looking at shorty headers and contemplating making my own crossover....
Just thought a prefabricated kit would give me ahead start...

Hey Astro, how's the Holley EFI install coming along?

Street Lethal

iTrader: (16)

Sammy, the biggest problem with the XS-Power system, and we've known this way before this video, is the size of the wastegate. A few other areas needed attention, but the wastegate flange size was the biggest problem. Most guys just cut the wastegate tube off and relocated a larger flange elsewhere on the system, or in the same area with larger diameter tube. In the correct case, a 44mm wastegate flange, not a 38mm which is what I believe they still come with. Don't waste your money on a header system, trust me. It isn't worth it. The XS-Power system does in fact work just fine, all you need to do is focus your money on a good turbo and wastegate, not the other way around. The headers themselves are fine. I used to have one of the first kits like them, years ago, before XS-Power bought the rights. Wish I kept them myself, but I sold them. Spend your good money on areas where needed, the turbo and wastegate. The headers aren't really that much of an issue, and these have already been proven...

- Rob

ZZ3Astro

Holley is partially sitting in the car but I'm kind of stuck at the moment trying to find the perfect locations for the coils. Once I have that handled I will know my options for routing the harnesses for everything. Right now I'm out of motivation and running low on ideas (more house remodeling taking my time and energy up). Hoping to get some shop time tomorrow to work on it.

Badass355ciz28

iTrader: (17)

The XS kit also has isues with spark plug clearance with the number 8 cylinder.

ZZ3Astro

If there is one thing I've learned about these cars over the years, it is that the very limited space to run turbo plumbing puts the spark plug wires in peril. A front crossover is an absolute must to keep that heat away from the plugs. Dibs to CX for figuring that out. Up and forward headers, but not too up, lest ye radiate tremendous heat into the intake, AC drier and everything else (don't ask how I know). Again, CX covered that pretty well. Almost makes me want to replace my setup with this one.

GTA Sammy

iTrader: (1)

Hmmmmmm.....
Thanks for the insight...
This is what I'm looking for...

Street Lethal

iTrader: (16)

... lol, the XS-Power kit as well as the BBS kit replicate the Grand National system. Not to mention, the Grand National guys on here, like Bruce (Grumpy) and RBob started this whole turbo craze by bringing it all over here back in the day. No Grand National guy has had problems with spark plug temperature due to their crossover running under the engine. One cannot fabricate their own kit, have trouble, then blame the routing as opposed to their own design when countless others have been successful. That's like some members on here who are local cried about the '165 not controlling boost back in the day and blamed the system, then enter Bob Bailey and suddenly it was just fine. Short memories people have, but to each their own. The CX kit seems like a decent kit, but don't expect to run any faster than someone with a more basic kit. The reason why I posted that video was to show the headers allowing for 13-psi and making excellent power, with way more on the table. Compare that to some on here with 3" crossovers while running more boost and making the same numbers doesn't say much for the latter...

If it makes you happy though, that's all that matters...

- Rob

Drew

iTrader: (58)

Is the 3" downpipe really big enough? Curious because I'm running a 3" downpipe on my 2.3, seems like it'd be a restriction at the power level of a turbocharged small block.

GTA Sammy

iTrader: (1)

With the vast amount of experience here I knew I would get different opinions ...
That's what makes this community great, the sharing of knowledge!!!

I think I wanna keep the 165 ECM for now as I have the APU1 autoprom hardware and will do the LT1 MAF with MAF translator to measure airflow.

After looking at the way the GN ran its exhaust it's obvious that it's smart.

I did have thoughts about using shorty headers on opposite sides facing forward as it would skip the passenger side exhaust log fabrication.

Any other ideas out there?

Decisions, decisions...

GTA Sammy

iTrader: (1)

Here's a couple of pics

TurboedTPI

My car has 3in downpipe as well as 3in all the way back, I'm sure it would pick up some power going bigger, but I wouldn't say it choking it too much. And I run a restrictive flowmaster muffler too

BBSDesigns

XS Power and all the other "China" turbo headers are cheap versions of my original design. I seen and read that the tubing used by these companies tend to crack after some use. How much use? That I don't know. Apparently the other problem with their wastegate system is that although they literally replicated my design for some reason those headers have problems controlling boost, could be the cheap wastegates. If I were to run one of those kits I would replace the wastegate with one of a brand name. The other problem that I've read is the 8th spark plug and tube. Apparently those headers have an incorrect angle and shape at #8 thus having problem with A/C clearance, downpipe and or spark plug getting roasted.
If you or anyone buy on of these headers just make sure that the #8 tube has sufficient clearance for a 3" downpipe and for the plug, if not you will need to modify it, otherwise you'll end up changing plug wires every now and then. I would also add extra bracing to support the turbocharger. Also make sure you cover everything up with heat shielding wrap.

zz17iroc

iTrader: (4)

Here are some results with the BBS header prior to swapping to CXRacing kit. Keep in mind the only reason I switch is because I was concerned about the log style manifold being a restriction. On BBS's website they said that it was good for only a 70mm hot side and my turbo is a 7875, so I took a chance and it's paid off for the most part. As with any turbo kit they all have their pros-cons.

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/powe...-hot-side.html

But I will tell you to buy a quality waste gate and use rem flex exhaust gaskets because the one supplied are junk. I also had to repair a few cracks here and there of course, 304 SS is not the best. But all the cracks have been on the welds not the tubing. As you can see the factory serp set up will not work with this kit. I also thought the 3" crossover was a bit much but I left it as is, I may build a 2.5" crossover for comparison on a rainy day to see the difference.

This is what makes this hobby so great and interesting, what's good for one person may not be good for another. But at the end of the day all that matters is the results you are looking for. So GTA Sammy whatever turbo kit you choice to buy, just do your best to make it work for you. And if it doesn't then move on and find the one that does. Major shout out to BBS and CX Racing, I made them both work for me!

GTA Sammy

iTrader: (1)

Well, I did it!!!
The turbo is bought!
Classic eBay T76 .96AR Turbine, .80 AR Compressor.
And mid 90's Tahoe headers that I plan on doing a forward facing system.
Next Is EBL and the rest....
I'm pumped!!!

Street Lethal

iTrader: (16)

Finally Sammy, it's been quite a few years but I'm glad to hear you pulled the trigger.

Time for a new build thread...

- Rob

Badass355ciz28

iTrader: (17)

Excellent. I just got my CX racing twin turbo piping kit in. Its getting coated then going on the car. Then I need to sell my existing hotside setup.

GTA Sammy

iTrader: (1)

It's finally here!!!

Street Lethal

iTrader: (16)

Haha, very very cute lol. Reminds me of Project89 back in the day, I think he slept with the turbo squeezing it tight the first night after receiving it in the mail lol. Get it done Sammy...

- Rob