I'm getting ready to fabricate a turbo setup for my TBI 350. I have several 7.3 turbos laying around as extras off my Bronco, and some piping that I could cut up to make work. I also have the computer to tune the turbo as well, so I just need a few little things to get the project really going. With that being said, I have a couple questions on piping length to the turbo itself. Basically, if I want to keep my AC, I'm going to have to route the piping from each cylinder head significantly differently to the turbo itself.

My turbo is going to be on the front driver side where the fuel vapor canister is. The driver side piping will leave the manifold and go straight to the turbo flange. (I am going to flip the manifold upside down). The passenger side piping is going to have to go back around the motor, and up to the drivers side to the turbo flange. This makes the passenger side piping significantly longer.

I know equal length piping is the most optimal setup, but I read unequal lengths aren't too big of a deal. I'm just wondering if people here have any setups now with unequal length piping, and how big of a deal it is to have such a significant difference.

Also, if I were to tap in for an EGT gauge, would there be a better side to gauge the temperature in? I imagine the shorter side may not read as hot if the exhaust gases leave the manifold to the turbo in less distance, so I'd want to set the EGT gauge on the longer (passenger) side.

For a side note, I currently have hooker 2055 headers and the y-pipe to go along with it. In order to fit the turbo in, I'm using an old set of stock manifolds. I read that while headers are obliviously better, that stock manifolds aren't going to be that big of a restriction on a boosted setup compared to headers. I know a turbod setup with stock manifolds will produce more power than a N/A engine with headers, but how big of an impact will a turbo setup with stock manifolds have compared to a turbo setup with headers?


I appreciate any advice on this! Also, it would be cool to see pictures of peoples turbo setups (TBI/TPI or whatever) so I can get some other ideas on where I'm going to put my turbo.

 

Don’t worry about the unequal length. Really wont make a difference

 

That's good that's what I was under the impression of from the reading I've done, I just wanted to double check to make sure.