So, the car will be going up on blocks for a while as I'll be doing the semi-starving student routine - to a point - and among other things I plan to do (dual snorkel, cat-back, etc..) I got to thinking about turbocharging...

Keep in mind, I'm by no means a mechanic, and learning as I go... one reason I came here. So...

1) Does anything else besides the normal procedure for installing a turbo need to be looked at... ie, anything in the engine I'm not aware of that would self-destruct if not replaced prior to having a turbo helping it along?

2) What brand of turbos have been used commonly in this application before, and what PSI levels have worked

3) Would supercharging really be the way to go insetad, at the expense of having the mileage droped anyways? I know it sounds kinda dumb to say that, but I like the idea of the turbo giving the oomph (and sucking the go-juice) only when called upon...

Thanks in advance...

---inaugural post! woo!---

 

installing twin turbos would be expensive. There are much easier, saner ways to get power. The short block itself would probably hold up to it, especially if you have the stock heads and cam, those will really block the engine from making any sort of power. Youll also probably have to look at how to encase the tbi, since the tbi will be a blow-through application. Theres also the usual issue of welding up a complete custom exaust to accomodate teh turbos, where to put the turbos and how to mount the intercooler. Youll also have to do alot of ecm tuning to get it to work probperly. Its plenty possible to do. But it would be alot cheaper and easier to do all the usual stuff before considering the turbos.

 

Hmm... indeedy it does seem that way overall. I wasn't really thinking twins, but the concept would be appealing. I'm guessing it's not a common mod for the 305 then...

Thx for the information though.

 

i plan on one day doin the twin turbos and from what i can tell and it looks really cool is ::: mount battery in trunk move purge canister thats where you mount the turbo's get custom headers that go up and forwards then run the exhaust down and out like a header ... thats how im gonna do it, my friend did it on his grand national and it was the coolest thing ive seen in a long time and thats when i decided i had to do it that way.....

 

Might get a copy of Hugh McInnes, book Turbocharging, and Corky Bell's Max Boost.

 

Hmm... interesting... maybe I'm not as alone with these thoughts after all... I'll be forum browsing...

 

Check the sig, LOL. I've been working on a plans for a tt-tbi. Noone here has turboed a tbi setup as far as i know. I plan on venturing into the unknown and giving it a shot. Basically I can get a tt runing for about 600 bucks. The 305 is small enough to where it would be a good match to a couple used T3's off of some used volvo's. And guess what, there is a volvo junk yard a mile from my house.

In reference to "will it work", I think so. I've talked to a few people on here that understand the tuning aspect and it seems feasable. Twin turbos respond well on carbs, well we seem to have a fancy version of a carb. Except we don't have to buy special floats to keep them from imploading during boost. With a little prom tuning I think I could make it happen.

But of course I am at the moment in debt due to the mods in the sig that I just completed so soon, very soon. It might just happen

 

hey guys

The mechancial part of making the turbo's work is not a problem. Getting around the fuel delivary will be the problem. Since our little TBI's use a constant fuel pressure for very one pound of boost you need to raise the fuel pressure 1 puond also. The other thing is how are you going to boost reference the ECM. our cars have a 1 bar map sensor that reads vac only. You will have to modify the ECM to be able to use a 2 bar map sensor thats 14.7 psi of boost. also you will also need to change the driver's for the injectors to low impedance because of the need for a bigger injectors and bigger injectors use low impedance drivers to make them work then count in a high flow pump. it would be easier to use a older MAF tpi setup with a turbo or blower.

 

Why would you even bother, you can keep researching it which you will do anyways since you are dreaming but I can make it real easy for you, its a dumb idea. . First off you yourself say you have no money, secondly, people have trouble working out the details to even get these things in the 13s n/a. I gauge that you probably couldnt tell me the details of the system as it sits right now much less what happens on a wet flow fi system under boost. Do you want to run an FMU? do you know about eprom programming such that youll be able to make the necessary adjustments to the timing and fuel curves. How about the engine itself, do you really think it would be worth the time and the trouble for the lackluster gains youd see on a stock engine? Plan on changing the cam? how about the cyl heads.. what kind of headers do you plan on fabricating? Care if you keep AC or not?
how about emissions requirements.. have any? What makes you want to turbocharge a wetflow system like TBI. Some people use carbs, its cheap, its been done... not particularly the best idea.. but with TBI its allready FI why not just go to MPFI while your at it it would essentially cost you the same amount and deliver much better performance under boost

 

Well, I was reading a little into the <http://www.eecs.tufts.edu/~askulte/htmls/camaro.html> TT305TPI here. Yeah, I could even forego the turbo idea and just go to a 305TPI engine, and get increase in power by simply doing that, and also making it easier to try turbos by what SC2 put in... but in a way I'd kinda like to see what the old TBI can do with some tweaking... obviously it won't hit the levels of something bigger but to have people look at it and say 'that's TBI you're running?!? Whoa...' could be worth the work, particularly since I'm learning as I go. 89fast - one of my more mechanically inclined relatives has a mid-80's turbo volvo (2.4L I think?) with the boost running about 14psi, and I know from experience that thing has some kick to it. I think I see where you're coming from with the Volvo idea now.

And hey, badxs you happen to have any pics of that setup from the gn at all? I have a couple people here who'd love to see that...

Appreciate the input and info guys, it'll have some bearing on what ends up happening during my spare time from classes this next couple of years... keep it comin'.

 

Didn't see your post afore I droped my last one - yes, pretty much the case... I do have money though, so that's the only part you've got slightly off. Like I said, I'm learning and yes, it is a dream, but feasibility comes from research... which is here. Cam, heads, etc - if necessary. AC - not on the car. Emissions reqs - no Aircare or equivalent. Couldn't tell you what happens on a wet-flow fuel injection system under boost, don't know yet if a fuel unit would be needed, am assuming it would help out a lot given what little capacity the car has for this kind of setup stock. Heck I've not been thru any kind of mechs class/training (or real experience cause I've nowhere at this point to do any of this and feel safe about where my car/parts are left), but with the time I will have over 2 years worth of classes, I figure to have enough time to learn some stuff as I go... and mistakes will be made, but the risk is taken only if I have the money to compensate for it so I figure that's playing it fairly smart to start. I've got the ambition so I figure to set a goal for what I intend to accomplish turbos might not be a bad idea... research now - save money, save time, avoid possible mistakes in future, this possibly being one of them

 

well heres the thing, the knowledge you require you likely wont get from any classes. I am frequently dissapointed by peope who have been "schooled" in things automotive. The guys that really know their stuff went out and got the information themselves.

Ive not had any training or classroom time on this subject at all. Just have personal experience, lots of screwups along the way, and alot of reading. Books, old message board posts (this one is a biggie), and website articles are all good places to start. THeres bad info out there and youll soon be able to pick out the good from the bad

 

dont spend your money trying to rengineer the 305TBI. Just convert it to a 85-89 MAF TPI setup and then you can maybe fiddle with the turbos.

 

I have found many 93 LT1 4L60 and 94 LT1 4L60E Pullout engines with 90 to 100K on them for 1500 to2500 including all accesories and PCM.This is my plan for the 91 Firebird.

 

TheAnomaly...what part of BC you in, i;m in Abbotsford

 

hey dude


If money is not an option why not just buy a 89 TTA(turbo trans am) they are a f-body with a turbo. they use the same engine and turbo as the grand national does. then you can have your cake and eat it too! with out the head ache of making it work.


i love boost since i use to own a 87 GN.

 

Hey sleepybu, I'm going to be in Abby this weekend, I'm from 'tha Wack' :lala: Ever heard of Stream, er, Solectron? Ahh the glory and suffering that goes with that territory...

Yeah, a TTA was something I looked at when shopping around, but I didn't really have an option (then) to buy anything but local and the RS I have now was the best deal IMHO compared to what I saw at the time - 1 owner car, older lady, with 155000kms on it, and all records indicating regular maintenance with no claims on insurance and 2 smaller-than-dime sized rust spots on the underside of the car by driver's door was all to be shown for any real weak points. The fuel pump had been replaced at 149500 approx, new water pump, replacement (ie - pick-a-part) wiper motor, brand new alternator already on it. Plus, I've always been a fan of the Camaro body as opposed to the Firebird (including pop-up lights, although cool, methinks a possible problem in Edmonton cold seeing as that's where I'm heading), with the exception of some of the 4th gen birds that look pretty damn muscular. Maybe trying to find the engine and acc. from a TTA/GN would work out, cause with the exception of possibly some of the later Firehawks/SS's they were the fastest f-bodies built. There's that something about the rumble and purr of a V8 that's irresistable in my mind that really influenced my first purchase... but you can't ignore the fact that both the TTA and GN rocked

Engine swaps are on my to-do-list for reading, so if I come into troubles there I'll ask about that in another post, items about LT1 series engines and scrapping the TBIturbo until greater levels of insanity and/or money kick in duly noted.