Turbo my Tahoe

[MikeL.]

......I know there is the STS kit's and other's out there but has anyone done this to their truck/tahoe without using a kit (DIY)? How difficult, was it worth it (as in TQ/HP increase)?

I have a TE-62 lying around now because I jumped on the DBB turbo craze and have a new 6765. I looked at the 62 then at the Tahoe and was considering the possibilities. Maybe the turbo and the .63 housing is too small for the 5.3...not sure on that. It's still winter so these ideas come easy this time of year.

 

[jwillettgn]

My friend put a STS kit on his Trailblaser SS and was running a TA 61 Turbo running 7.5 to 8 PSI. I would run somthing other than the 5W-20 oil though if you do install the turbo. Good luck.

Turbo Trailblazer!! 8psi - CarolinaRides.com Community

Jim

 

[Pablo]

I still don't understand why people buy STS kits, you can accomplish the same thing they do for a third of the price. Their prices are insane.

check out this thread on thirdgen.org.. ironically it's about how a guy put a DIY rear mount turbo setup on his DD cavalier in an afternoon and a day using a spare turbo from his camaro project.

Another Remote Mount Turbo System - Power Adder - Third Generation F-Body Message Boards

cliff notes: you need a shurflo pump, wastegate, turbo, flanges, and a bunch of piping and couplers.

Later in the thread he swaps out his tired original engine and drops in a stock 3.4? from a chevy venture minivan. He puts on a larger turbo and proceeds to run low 12s in his daily driver fwd chevy cavalier.

I wish I had money to buy some project cars and do this. A thirdgen F body with an RMT and methanol and eng management like what we have for buicks would be killer.

 

[GregInAtl]

Its fairly easy to boost most stock vehicles we've found, as long as you stay low boost (less than 10#s)add an FMU, and pull timing. You know act like you have sense, and don't get greedy w/ the crack pipe that we call the wastegate.
Examples;
1986 Bronco fullsize. 19 sec 1/4 if lucky stock, an e-bay T3/T4 turbo,cooler range plugs, some random pipes and clamps.... mid 15s no prob!
96 Nissan 240KA and T3/T4, injectors, pulled timing was pullin low 13s full of stereo on cobra wheels and low pro tires.
90 mustang, same T3/T4 as the others, FMU, on 12 PSI would haze the tires as far as you like, never made it to the track before someone offered too much to resist.

I dont know all the exact times, and every single part that was on these cars, my buddy did them at his shop on the cheap, and in all honesty it was straight up red neck done....but they all ran VERY well, giant improvements, and never had problems. All 3 cars sold very easily after adding boost.

 

[jwillettgn]

I still don't understand why people buy STS kits, you can accomplish the same thing they do for a third of the price. Their prices are insane.

My friend's Kit was Free:biggrin: It's good to know people. But you are right they cost too much.

Jim

 

[Roc87]

I was bashed in that thread that pablo mentioned for what I was going to do to my '97 K1500, a rear mount turbo like STS sells. I had most of the parts needed like the turbo, FMU, oil pump, a few flanges, a 4 bolt flange for the turbo and a couple sticks of 2.5" exhaust pipe, and had contacted a guy to flash the ECM to make it work with boost. Ended up selling the truck to pay off a bad debt from a "great franchise" opportunity, and then sold all the turbo parts to my cousin who still hasn't done anything with it.

 

[MikeL.]

I had heard..

of reversing and/or flip the exhaust manifold to keep the turbo under the hood vs a rear mount. I'm not sure if there's room enough with all the plumbing under the hood. I'd prefer it this way vs the rear mount but if it doesn't work out then rear mount it is.

I'm not looking to make this tank into a rocket but at least keep it respectable and I could always use more power for towing the GN. If I can't make this work for a reasonable sum of $$$, looks like I'll be selling parts. Thanks for the links and the suggestions guys.

 

[BOOSTBROTHER]

I am thinking about selling my wifes 96 Sub and getting her a Tahoe with the 5.3 so I can put a turbo on it please keep me informed on what you find.

Thanks
BOOSTBROTHER