I am starting a project on the single turbo for our Z's. The problem is, i don't exactly know what it takes to get a single turbo on a V-6. I have friends with all the tools to put one together but its up to me to do it. This is where you all come in! We as a group can do this. Don't worry i am using my car, and please don't tell me i can't do it. I was raised that i can do anything, with enough passion and connections (WOP)!!!

When i get this kit completed i will sell a kit at cost or tell you what you need. That is any member of my350Z. Im in it for the fun not the money!!

So heres what i need help on:
turbo
garette T4 $450 (supports 300 hp - does this mean extra hp or full engine output after turbo install) if so then
Level 5 Frankenstein $1200 (supports 590 hp)
or your suggestions i got my turbo info from http://www.turbochargers.com/

help explain the science

What i think i know:
The exhuast manifold replaces the header which is basically a custom header that attaches to the turbo and then that acts as a spliter to the intake and exhuast to the turbo, right!?

well we have 2 headers that need to become intake manifolds. do i connect the turbo at the fork into the cat? This is a pic fro garette turbo for visualization although its for a 4 cylinder!


In the mean time i am researching, researching, researching and hoping for technosquares answer to boost.

I also want suggestions on BOVs to use, your favorite intercoolers, Turbo timers and anything else i need to get this working!

you efforts will help keep this cost lower than anything out there to date!!

Thanks in advance
-vin

 

I don't think it would be adviseable to attempt this given your questions.

Let someone else do all the research and buy their kit. By next summer I'm sure there'll be lots of options.

 

Whatever you decide on doing regarding this project make sure to take pictures and/or video.

 

what did i say above!!!!! i am not doing this by myself
I have a few mechanic friends but i was seeing what you all had to say. Dammit its my car i will do what i want to it!!

 

Since you are persistent in learning ........Buy the book "how turbochargers work". Seriously, good book. Study that, study possible fuel options (ie: FMU? Knock retard box? Bigger injectors + standalone? bigger injectors + SAFC?). The diagram above is an ok example. I wish they would of made a diagram while all the components were installed on an engine though. Would of made more sense to noobs. Don't worry about "favorite brands" just yet. Have you decided who will fabricate the needed components? Everything before turbo can be aluminum. However, everything on the exhaust side should be at least 409 stainless steel

 

There is A LOT of information you need to know about installing a turbocharger. You can't just pick a TC out of thin air and call it good because it supports the HP you want to make. There is a lot of math involved and researching of compressor maps. You need to keep the exhaust->turbo manifold as short as possible.

There are a lot of things that affect lag, that need to be calculated. Some of it is trial and error, but most of it is science. If you don't have the experience and time to be able to fabricate several test exhaust manifolds, then I suggest you don't undertake this project.

I suggest before you buy anything you pick up these books:


Forced Induction Performance Tuning A Practical Guide to Supercharging and Turbocharging
by A. Graham Bell

Maximum Boost
By Corky Bell

Read those books from cover to cover and it will help you immensely.

 

Finally some good answers

 

I have to agree with those above. Before you really get into this project, you need to read both of those books. They are really the turbocharging bibles.

You will have to ecide on single or twin. Twin may just be easier to deal with because of space to mount the large single, run all the exhaust tubing, as well as intake tubing/intercooler tubing.
Making the turbo headers will be a big job.
A good deal of math is involved in what you want to do. Header size and length, crossover tube size, turbine housing a/r and wheel size, exhaust size after turbo, intake tubing, intercooler size. All needs to be designed for the correct fairflow capacity, as well as air speed(ft/second).
this is NOT a job for the beginner, and most mechanics arent qualified to do it either.
Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

 

Kool Thanks all i am getting on it now! i am looking into Greedy' design I may just buy the Exhuast manifold and put together the rest from there. we will see.

Thanks for all the info, you all helped alot, time to see if my brain can actually work!!!

 

A proven exhaust manifold design will dramatically cut your development time on this kit. I'd say the exhaust manifold is easily 40% of the work involved in a custom turbo kit. It really is better to let the big boys do the research, ie. Greddy.

 

vincenzobar keep your head on your goal, and if a custom single is yours stick to it, as for picking out a the right turbo give turbonetics a call they can and will map out the turbo for you to use, it all depends on the typ of power your looking at. PH. 805-581-0333, fax 805-584-1913, www.turboneticsinc.com.


by the way good luck.

 

I didn't mean that he shouldn't go for it, I was just saying buying some prefabbed parts will help speed things up dramatically.

 

does any one know where i can get a schematic of the engine?

 

I would get some upgrade turbos for the 300ZXTT

Custom inter cooler

bigger 550cc injectors from RC engineering

bigger fuel pump

Apex-i S-AFC to controll the bigger injectors

some sort of bov that dose not leak at idle like the HKS one

Raising rate fuel regulator

dual 2.5" exhaust, with borla or Dynomax ultra flow mufflers

And I hope your buddy is a pro at TIG welding because he will have to do all the plumbing and make the turbo headers........

 

vincenzobar

In building a custom turbo you are looking at spending alot of money and if you don't plan on doing internal work you might want to wait on the kits and play mix and match instead. ultimate racing is working on a single turbo kit and there will be quit a few TT setups. I am not saying a custom kit is a bad idea just make sure you have about 20k available. Is the car really worth that much when its going to put out no more or less hp then a kit? thats the question you have to ask yourself.

 

just might want to call nissan and buy a repair manual on that one. you will need it for other torque numbers anyway. will come in handy.

 

I was just saying you would spend a lot more money, time, and effort than necessary doing it yourself over just buying someone's kit, or waiting for someone else to do it first.

 

exhust manifolds from any of the tt kits won't help you. They are for twin turbos...you need to design exhuast manifolds that are specific to a single turbo setup. ie Topsects turbo kit. also on the 350z it's hard to route the exhuast piping and place a single turbo under the car. that's why most companies that have done single turbo setups are placing the turbos on top of the engine. IMO the turbo on top of the engine looks gansta. Go for it bro!

 

Not necessairly, if you could get twin manifolds and make a collector pipe from the two manifolds that merge into one, like the JUN set-up then it would work.