Turbo Upgrade Time.. Which Is The Best Bet?

[TeamSleeper87]

My Buddy With His 1987 Buick GN Asked Me To Post This... He's Not To Damn Computer Savvy, But He's About To Swap Out His Stock GN Turbo In Search Of Bigger Power, He Wrote Down A List Of Turbo's He's Considering, And Want's To Know The Pro's & Con's Of Each So He Picks The Right One.

Garrett T04B15 Turbocharger

Garrett T04e turbocharger

HOLSET HC3 turbo charger

Turbonetics T3/T4 Turbo(The compressor side is a T4
.71 AR With a 60-1 Compressor wheel).

IHI RB6 turbocharger

That's The List He Gave Me. I'm Gonna Post What All Is In His Car To My Knowledge So Ya'll Can Factor That In As Well.

- Exhaust Dump After The Downpipe Near Passenger Door
- Some Kinda Chipped ECU
- Hard Wired 8 Gauge Fuel Pump Wire
- Ford F-350 Turbo Diesel Intercooler Up Front
- Cold Air Kit In The Bumper

That's All I Know Of... And I Dunno Alot About Turbo's, So What Do Ya'll Think Would Work Best With This Given Application, I Think He Needs A Boost Controller, A Turbo Timer, And To Put His Dump Pipe Cap Back On Cause Don't Ya'll Turbo Guys Need That Backpressure For Turbo Spool Up? I Wouldn't Know Which Turbo To Pick.

His Future Mod's Are A Terry Houston Downpipe (?), Alchohol Injection, And Head Work

Keep In Mind This Is A College Guy, So Cost Is A Factor, We Need Reliable, Cost Effective, And Somthin He Can Still Race Reliably Instead Of Just Eating Pricey Rubber.

 

[KEVINS]

Maybe it's just me but I don't recognize the turbos listed.

For his current buildup I recommend the stock turbo because you can run very low 12's to high 11's with it. Now given his future mods I'd go with a TE44 or TA44 (same turbo but different inlet bell) since it has spoolup as fast as the stocker but will make more power in the upper range..

Do a search on TE44 or TA44 and you will have all kinds of answers..


ks

 

[Dan Thompson]

Look over at this website

http://www.gnttype.org/techarea/recipes/recipe.html

hth

 

[gnx7]

He will need a new chip with the turbo upgrade and injectors as well.

IMO.... stick with Garret turbos as Holset and Mitsubishi IHI style are pricey.

First things first..... FUEL. He needs 50lb injectors which are good to 600hp. With stock heads/intake/cam he will be safe with these. Also he needs a chip for the 50lbers and a few vendors can help him out there.

#1 choice:
TE-44 supports 580hp and will get any GN with stock long block (stock bottom end, stock heads, stock cam, stock intake) to run high 11's@ around 112-114mph with 25psi and high timing chip/traction/race gas. The beauty of this turbo is that you can run the stock stall convertor which saves anywhere from $200-1000 depending upon which route you go. Totally streetable and minimal lag. About $700 cost

#2 choice:
TE-63 is the entry level big shaft turbo that can support 690hp+ but it requires at least a 3500 rpm stall convertor (4000 prefered). About $1000 and a higher stall convertor is definately needed. Should run low/mid 11's at 118mph+ with 25psi/high timing chip/traction/race gas.

Personnally tell him to go with the TE-44 as it is very responsive like the stock turbo and much more wallet friendly. He can get the stock D5 convertor restalled to 2800rpm for the abovementioned turbo for about $200 and he will have lightening quick response however many say the stall stall convertor works fine.

He may also want to add an SMC alchy kit...... so that he can run high boost every day with pump 91 octane gas.
http://www.geocities.com/rad87gn/tech/SteveCkit.html

GNX7

 

[GNSCOTT]

sent you mail..hope it helps

 

[UNGN]

Turbo selection for T-R's shouldn't be an episode of "Junkyard wars". Tell your buddy to forget about using a Diesel pickup turbo and buy a turbo that will fit and work without major mods.

The perfect stock upgrade is a TA49 or a TE44. He will need at least 36lb injectors, though to keep the headgaskets on when he turns up the boost.

A turbo shouldn't be the first place to look when wanting to increase performance on a budget. The stock turbo will work well into the low 12's @ 110 mph.

 

[UNGN]

Originally posted by TeamSleeper87
That's All I Know Of... And I Dunno Alot About Turbo's, So What Do Ya'll Think Would Work Best With This Given Application, I Think He Needs A Boost Controller, A Turbo Timer, And To Put His Dump Pipe Cap Back On Cause Don't Ya'll Turbo Guys Need That Backpressure For Turbo Spool Up? .

One more thing, your buddy needs NONE of the above. The stock wastegate can be made adjustable for $4 (no boost controller needed), A turbo timer is for idiots who never change their oil or treat their car like a cat, and a dump pipe HELPS the turbo spool. Backpressure is the ENEMY of the turbo. The less backpressure the more power a turbo car will make.

Tell him to spend the money he would have spent on this CRAP on a SCAN TOOL so he doesn't blow his car up when he runs too much boost and not enough octane.

 

[BUICKTR]

Call Limited Engineering! John will guide you in the right direction.