Updated 3/20/2007
4/26/2004
Turbo Upgrade
Things I wish I could have known before I upgraded:
- It would have been real nice if I would have already known how bad the Stage 2 turbine wheel in a machined .48 stock housing would hinder flow in the upper end, but spool up was definately increased by around 1,000 RPM faster.
- Common sense can tell you that if you look at the difference physically, but if you have never tried it, you just can't know. That's where all the money spent turns into knowledge with R&D.
( This page is here to help make the decisions I should have!)
- At the top of the page is my new .63 Stage 2 Turbonetics Turbine housing. This will cost you around $175-$220 (individually priced) depending on the situation you get into. What I mean by that is, for example, my screwup.
- The senario: I gave Majestic a T03 Garrett core to see what he could do with it, because the T03 that is on the car now crapped after my 20 psi experiment on a motor that was my 1 year test mule (appearently) that didn't seen to take to it very well after 2 days. They gave me a call to tell me the core was bad and ask me what I would like to do.
- "Here is where I should have stopped, called around, and research a little."
- I ended up with the turbo on the New Turbo page which has a T04E 50 trim compressor wheel stuffed in a stock T03 compressor housing machined out for the huge wheel and the HOT side consists of a Stage 2 turbine wheel in a machined stock .48 housing, (which has been changed to the Turbonetics .63 Stage 2 housing).
- I have talked to Ken Adler, (a moderator on Turbododge.com and TD guru), who runs this same turbo on his 12.5 sec 1/4 mile 2.2 powered GLHS. He has managed to Dyno 289 whp and 342 wtq with this setup on pump gas at 22 psi of boost.
So, with that in mind I think I just might leave as is for now, install it, and do a little personal R&D!
The one thing I have been concerned about is the gigantic T04E wheel in the small T03 stock housing. I can't help but think of what happens to the air flow of a box fan when you slant it up against the wall and reduce some of the air intake which in turn outputs WAY less air than if it were away from the wall. It seems to me like this turbo will have the same effect. I have been speaking with Chris at Turbosunleashed.com where I bought the .63 Turbonetics housing and braided oil/water lines, where the discussion of how high charge temp will be with the T04E 50 trim 54MM compressor in the stock T03 housing. Due to the money it will cost to re-do the compressor side, I have to stick with what I have. At least this will give me a chance to datalog the charge temp for a study on this subject.
On with the facts:
- A pic of the Stage 2 wheel with the swingvalve removed still in the .48 housing.,
- My car has been running 15 psi for a year on the T03 stock Garrett. I know that people has run way more than this on the sane turbo, but I bet they would like to upgrade as well. From the research I have done, it is said by many that the stock T03 Garrett produces very in-efficient hot boost at high pressure. I have datalogged the Charge Temp from the air blowing into the manifold, and they reach 160 F degrees at times on the stock intercooler. When changing to the Spearco 22x6x2.25 custom unit I aquired it seemed to reduce the temp about 30-40 F degrees at most. This is what made me decide to do something different and go with a bigger turbo.
- For right now I will show some pics until I have time to write more.
- These were hard pics to take!! These are pictures of the 2 housings inside through the exhaust manifold flange to show the big difference in size that the exhaust exits.
A top view of the two.
The Stage 2 wheel with the housing removed. Measurement of the Stage 2. Measurement in Millimeters of housing exit. This Turbonetics 2.5" swingvalve is a real nice piece. The inside of it. - Stay Tuned, more info to come very soon!