To TURBO or not to TURBO? What Does it all mean?

[Muad_dib77]

I've been offered a Turbo kit - but I haven't a clue what it's capable of.
Yer man is saying the his GPX was running 8psi boost, and he was getting 180KW.That's all completely Greek to me.

Is there anybody out there who can enlighten me - I'm clueless.

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Update
I googled 180kw to hp ..and I got a figure of 241hp.. Pressuably the PSI has something to do with pressure..and I'd assume that "more is better"..but I'd also assume that fitting a Turbo would increase engine wear.?.

8PSI, is that a lot?

I seem to remember hearing about startlets running something double digit figures..however, since I don't fully comprehend it would have gone straight in one ear and out the other...

[Muad_dib77]

Didn't buy it in the end. Bloke said that it would give me 40-60 extra bhp.. I dunno I recon I can find better ways to spend 2000euro.

[Dave]

I'm in the process of fitting a turbo to my GS (I use the word process lightly)

Who was offering you this kit??
The major problem with fitting a turbo to the GPX is not only the room for it but also the mivec causes an issue when it comes to re-mapping the ecu!!
what was he offering for that sort of money??

Did he actually have it fitted to his car?

[Muad_dib77]

Yeah it was a bloke in Melbourne (Australia). He had it on his GPX - but he was selling the car .. So he had taken it off, fitted all original parts - and was selling the car seperately.
Wouldn't mind a bit more under the bonnet - the GPX is by no means weak or anything.. it's just..power is good... so more power = more good..

[Myfeckin FTO]

Wouldn't mind a bit more under the bonnet - the GPX is by no means weak or anything.. it's just..power is good... so more power = more good..

You've gone from a 60BHP 1.4 Astra to a 200BHP GPX and you're already looking for more power?

I'd be very careful of buying a secondhand turbo kit for a Mivec - trying to pull it all together over here and mapping it correctly could create a few probs. I have a few mates with modified turbo'd cars and they all seem to have some issue or other. A turbo on a GPX really has to be treated like a project you are going to have to spend time (& a lot of money) on - it won't be as simple as slapping on a few parts.

Try sorting the handling and brakes first - and getting the most from what you already have - and then think about extra power.

[Muad_dib77]

Ah yeah..I'm aware that I'm nuts ..I actually never drove the Astra - a friend of mine drove&broke it. My previous car was a 98 Civic SOHC 1.5 vtec jobbie..110 - 120bhp me thinks - Understeer galore! - Never again!
Turbo came completely with standalone mapping computer thing and wires and stuff. I was really only considering it because it was there - I realise that neato parts are few and far between for the FTOs. One of my considerations about buying a 2nd hand turbo was that there was no way I'd be able to tell if it was a dud before it got here.
Getting my 18" alloys next week (fingers crossed) - then I'll look into some nice shoes - and probably some new springs.

[CJ]

Try sorting the handling and brakes first - and getting the most from what you already have - and then think about extra power.

Couldn't have said it better myself. Turbo'ing a GPX is by no means a walk in the park and is fraught with difficulties, you would want an extremely competant mechanic\engineer, a couple of grand knocking about for the labour and be prepared to have the car off the road for an extended period. I don't want to scare you off the idea, but its not an easy job. In the mean time, go and take a look at the turbo articles on the download page.

CJ

[Muad_dib77]

Never actually fully answered Dave's question.. the kit included the following stuff,,

GT28 turbo
7th injector
cooler pipes
down pipe
frount mount cooler
Microtech computer
microtech wiring loom (used)
blow off valve (X2)
all hose pipes and clamps
exhaust mainifold
oil and coolant lines
small amount of heat wrap.

[Myfeckin FTO]

Never actually fully answered Dave's question.. the kit included the following stuff,,

GT28 turbo
7th injector
cooler pipes
down pipe
frount mount cooler
Microtech computer
microtech wiring loom (used)
blow off valve (X2)
all hose pipes and clamps
exhaust mainifold
oil and coolant lines
small amount of heat wrap.

That is a good list of kit for €2K - I can see why you're tempted alright.
Even allowing another 2K to further uprate your engine and labour costs it would seem good value. 241BHP would not seem to be much of an increase in power though I'm sure the torque figure would be much better - If I was going to the trouble of putting a turbo on a 2.0l V6 - I'd be looking for at least 280BHP to make it worthwhile.

[CJ]

Hmm, that list is very similar listed in the turbo articles on the dowload page, apart from the turbo itself that is (which is a GT25). Can you find out who it was fitted by (possibly RPW?). Out of interest, how did you come across the kit for sale?

CJ

[Myfeckin FTO]

Out of interest, how did you come across the kit for sale?

CJ

I saw a thread on this kit on the Aussie forum - presume thats where you came across it Muad?

[Muad_dib77]

I found it on the Australian eBay.

[ http://www.ebay.com.au ] there seems to be more fto gear going in the Asian region than up here.

Got in touch with the seller, just to make sure that he wasn't some w@...r who was out to rip people off.. Seemed genuine..

[Myfeckin FTO]

.. Seemed genuine..

Hes a member off the Aus FTO site - only an enthusiast would be bothered with turboing an FTO in the first place - kinda suprised he wants to sell the turbo separate to his car though? You'd imagine if it was running right he'd have plenty of takers for a turbo GPX.

[Muad_dib77]

Must be a money thing. Dunno ., Didn't ask too many questions about the car tbh.
Drove to Tynagh and back over the weekend ...I looooooooove my car.
On the way down I used just about 60% of the petrol I would have used in my Honda (No BS!!!)..granted I was sitting in traffic most of the way and the top speed was 110km/h..which wasn't exactly thrilling..was comfy though.


On the way back on the other-hand..

I used abooooot 150% of what the honda would have gussled, but then there was very little traffic and I managed to hit the restrictor on a couple of occasion..oh dear oh dear.. I need to get this car on the track before I stick it up a tree..

Maybe it's not so bad I didn't buy that turbo after all

[Dave]

This is all the gear i got with my turbo, it obviously doesn't include the intercooler and plumbing so that's to be added!! Not mention the time and hassles of it all!!!
It also cost a little bit more than €2K


254MM Thermo Fan Kit
228MM Electric Thermo Fan Kit
GT25-HT12 Air Outlet Gasket
Air Outlet Flange (3Bolt)
Air Inlet Flange M/S (2Bolt)
Gasket Air Inlet TB25
Gasket S1B Single Entry
Turbo Manifold
Garrett Ball Bearing Turbo 300Bhp
1:Garrett T28 0 - 300Bhp Ball Bearing Turbo
2: Wastegateed and water cooled
3: comp TB03 A/R 0.60 - Turbine A/R 0.64
4G93 Dump Pipe Turbo Kit
Gasket EXH Steel T2/T25 Garret
Oil Drain Flange
TB25/TD04 Oil Drain Gasket
8MM Stud Kit
GFB Type 2 Blow Off Valve
Thermo Shield Adhesive
4G93 Turbo Oil & Water Hose Kit
1: Turbo Oil Line Feed to Turbo including Brass Nipple for Turbo
2: T Piece for Oil Feed and Nipple for oil line. Fits into oil pressure outlet switch on side of engine block. Fit oil pressure switch into supplied T-Piece.
3: Turbo oil return Teflon line and steel fittings to weld into sump pan.
4: Brass water lines - two sets - for turbo including washers and special water nuts
Injectors Mitsubishi 275CC
FSE Rising Fuel Pressure Kit
4G9 1.50MM Thick Head Gasket Kit
1: Tension head cold to 55 psi on 1st stage
2: Pretension to cylinder head hot at 66 psi once vehicle is running
3: pretension cylinder head after 1000km
4: RPW recommends replacing the head bolts every time the cylinder head is removed
Camshaft Gear 4G9 DOHC 1997+
1: This is the surety charge price on the camshaft gear
2: Value to be refunded upon return of this unit to the RPW Service Centre
Vernier Camshaft Gear 4g9 DOHC 1997
Hex Head 8*1.25X30MM Long
Hex Head 8*1.25X20MM Long
Hex Head 6*1.25X20MM Long
K&N Pod Filter for MAS Sensor Kit
Air Inlet Temprature Unit


Greddy Profec E-01 Boost/Screen Pro
Greddy E-Manage ECU (Main Unit)
Greddy E-Manage Injector Harness
Greddy E-Manage Ignition Harness
Greddy Profec Map Sensor Harness

[Muad_dib77]

Holy schmokes - That's one long list. When it's all said and done - what do you recon the performance gain will be?

[Dave]

yeah it's pretty extensive alright, and there were still a few things missing and what not!! the intercooler piping is a bit of a messy job as well!!

Gains i suppose, in theory it could see BHP increase by about 50% and torque by anything up to 80% so for my GS that would see her going from 125bhp standard to 187.5bhp and about 100lbft torque to 180 or so.
But these are all theory figures, we will be running low boost until i get her onto a rollers and get it finely tuned!! This is all without changing the internals as well so i might look at that option in a year or so!! That's if i don't blow them in the mean time!!

[Myfeckin FTO]

Gains i suppose, in theory it could see BHP increase by about 50% and torque by anything up to 80% so for my GS that would see her going from 125bhp standard to 187.5bhp and about 100lbft torque to 180 or so...

I'd like to see this baby on the 1/4 mile next year.
It would be interesting to see how you do against a manual GPX.

[Dave]

Gains i suppose, in theory it could see BHP increase by about 50% and torque by anything up to 80% so for my GS that would see her going from 125bhp standard to 187.5bhp and about 100lbft torque to 180 or so...

I'd like to see this baby on the 1/4 mile next year.
It would be interesting to see how you do against a manual GPX.

Yeah well it would be interesting, i'll look at doing the pistons and camshafts maybe next year, with buying the house i don't have any cash anymore so it'll be a while!! Then i'll increase the boost and we should see it tipping over the 200 fairly easily!!

But this is all on the proviso that i actually get the turbo in!! it's always been one thing or another!!

[Muad_dib77]

Sounds like you'll be going pretty fast - but would you not consider sticking 2.0l lump in there and then adding the turbo? 6 cylinders rather than 4.. And you'd definately be way over 200bhp then.

[Dave]

a lot of people have said that i'm mad i should have just bought a scooby or an older evo or something, or even just changed to the GPX, and i would agree sometimes! But how many turbo'd FTO's are flying about Ireland????

oh and the 4 cylinder block is well capable of over 200bhp!! it's the same block as the GSR's, only difference with the block in mine and an EVO is the EVO is a DOHC and bored out to 2litre!

[Muad_dib77]

I have no doubt that when it's all done it'll be absolutely awesome - and it'll sound amazing. PPpphhhhhiiiiiiiiiiissssssssssccccccccchhhhtt.