turbo task force

[akdg87]

thanks for the kinda words, i may try the watco finish if i can find it up here.

So i was struggling with tuning the new turbo initially, but after countless hours of reading i got it figured out and im slowly dialing in the VE table (Volumetric Efficiency, basically its a table used for fueling and its an assumption of how much air is in the cylinder at any given RPM (x axis) and MAP(y axis) sensor reading).

I was skeptical of it making a big difference but i can definitely tell. It pulls solid all the way up to 130 (guesstimate as my speedo reads 15-20 higher, my latest log had a max speed of 153). I need to change the speedo gear in the trans. Whereas the 70 mm choked off at about a 100 and it was struggling to move enough air.

Pretty happy I am figuring out how to tune it myself, sure beats paying someone else too!

[lower50's]

Sounds like fun. Learning how to tune and set up stuff like that is very satisfying. I'm slowly learning what I need to do.

[Kim57]

Love the bed wood.
Kim

[akdg87]

Here's a video from last night: this is my buddy's fully built Silverado SS awd: 408 stroker, s480, 4l80, meth injection. It runs an 11.6 quarter mile at 7 psi. He can't turn it up anymore or they will kick him off the track if he breaks into the 11.5 and under time without a cage. I have some go pro footage of the other runs (from a dig and from a 45 mph roll, he destroys me from a dig. Put 3 lengths on me but I can start catching up)
I let out because I lost my windshield wipers never did find them. It's running pretty healthy. He said if we had gone any longer I woulda have started pulling on him.

[Kim57]

Video didn't work for me.
Kim

[akdg87]

Heres the youtube version, this is a pretty terrible angle and I have some Go Pro footage (just haven't been able to edit it yet).


<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UhWpNBY8PXE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[lower50's]

Well that sound nice and healthy. How fast did you get going before you let off?

[akdg87]

Originally Posted by lower50's

Well that sound nice and healthy. How fast did you get going before you let off?

not sure why the you tube link did not embed properly. oh well.
we got to a 100 before i let out.

[akdg87]

Well my th350 took a dump, second gear starter slipping pretty bad. So I found a th400 and dropped it off to be built. Just yanked the th350 out, set a record time of 40 minutes to having it on the ground. A lift would be so much easier but maxing out the height on the jack stands works fine for now.

So I will end up doing a remote mount trans cooler with fan and a thermal switch to activate it. There just isn't enough room up front for a decent size cooler.

Need to have the driveshaft modified and flip the trans crossmember around. Still unsure of what to do with my torque convertor; the fluid was dark. Thought about flushing it with some clean trans fluid and mineral spirits, anyone ever done this? The other option is to send it out and have it cut open and cleaned.

[Kim57]

The TH400 should be a nice up grade.
Personally I would just get a new torque converter.
Less chance of something going wrong with the new rebuild.
Kim

[lower50's]

I agree go with new converter.

[akdg87]

So my builder highly recommended trying the th350 again, he built it up a little bit. I did end up putting int he remote cooler with fan. So far so good. If it breaks again im seriously considering a powerglide since i only run 2nd and 3rd on the th350 anyways. First gear just blows tires off...LOL

Had the th400 built up for my dads 1974 firebird we are swapping a carb ls3 in. Its been raining here for weeks on end, so plenty of time to work on stuff in the garage. Would much rather be driving the truck.

[akdg87]

Well the TH350 did fine over the summer, a group of us paid to have a tuner come up out of Alabama and tune our vehicles in person. He was thoroughly impressed and figured about 550 to the rear wheels on my cameo.

His webpage: https://www.facebook.com/atomicFandP/

Need to fix my crossover pipe for the turbo as the flex section has expanded from heat and back pressure. So i ordered a turbo specific flex section that has interlocking rings instead of a bellow type. Also going to be wrapping the manifolds and the crossover pipe to keep down heat. To battle the back pressure issue i ordered a 7875 T4 turbo; this should also flow a bit more air then the 7665 turbo that's currently on the truck.

Tentative plans for the winter upgrades include:

1. Repair Hot side
2. Wrap Exhaust
3. Install 78/75 Turbo
4. Install New Deep Trans Pan, Gear for speedo and Type F Fluid.
5. Reroute Trans Cooler
6. Install Sound Deadening Material/Stereo
7. Cutout in Down Pipe
8. 295/50r15 wheels and tires for rear
9. New breather
10. Retune
11. Meth Injection/3 bar MAP and OS

Currently we are building a new shop/hanger, 60x60 with a 16' ceiling so that's been eating up most of my time. working on the vapor barrier now and should start hanging tin on the walls next month.



Also finished my dads 1974 firebird with a carb ls3/th400 swap.

[lower50's]

Is that a bush plane I see sitting outside the shop? I used 2 rolls of this wrap work's great.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Basalt-Exhau...JXczp7&vxp=mtr

[FAKKY]

Just read your build. Nice.
How was clearance under the engine and Xmemeber for the turbos as well as up front.

Keep thinking about turbo for mine.... Clearance is concern. Did you use a kit or go from scratch

[FAKKY]

Never mind looks like you went over the top and not under for exhaust feed to turbo.

You running AC ?

Hood clearance OK.

[akdg87]

Originally Posted by FAKKY

Never mind looks like you went over the top and not under for exhaust feed to turbo.

You running AC ?

Hood clearance OK.

I wish i had run it under but it was pretty tight between the frame rails, im actually going to replace the flex section above the alternator as mine has failed. (looks like an accordion). We may try rerouting the pipe to make it look a little better.

No A/C as it doesn't get very hot up here in the summers (80-90 degrees for maybe 10-15 days in the summer). Hood clears just fine.


So ive been stockpiling new parts over the winter and just about wrapped up the hanger work.

So far i have accumulated:
7875 T4 turbo
Methanol Injection Kit-Devils Own
Deep cast transmission pan
upgraded AEM 380 inline pump with fittings to run -10 line from tank to inlet of pump.
New SFI rated flexplate with ARP hardware
drop springs for the front to bring it down 1" more
New filler pipe for the fuel cell to get rid of the aircraft style cap.

Still need to purchase a better converter- im looking at a precision industries vigilante 3400 RPM stall. The current hughes converter i have is not up to the task for the power i want to make and its struggling right now. Im going to relocate the remote trans cooler/fan for the last time (i hope...)
it just never seems to kick off once its activated and i think the budget hughes converter is creating too much heat.

Also im hoping to get some custom backspace 15" rear wheels made to be able to run a 275/60R15 drag radial.

[lower50's]

That's a nice list. Where is your trans cooler now? I was fighting mine last summer till I put it under my inter-cooler behind the bumper. Have you had it on the dyno yet?

[akdg87]

Originally Posted by lower50's

That's a nice list. Where is your trans cooler now? I was fighting mine last summer till I put it under my inter-cooler behind the bumper. Have you had it on the dyno yet?

so initially i had it under the cab...then moved it onto the bottom side of the bed and then between the outer bedside and inner bedside. Now im going to put mine exactly where you are talking about. It needs to get airflow while the truck is in motion. The places ive had it before are just pumping hot air in circles.

Im really not sure why i put it in those places, i was more excited to just get it put on and didnt give much thought to natural airflow.

[lower50's]

Same thought and fight I had with mine lol Now no problem even when it is hot out.

[akdg87]

another change of plans! and a few pictures. So i should have the 4l80 back tomorrow and i got the new precision industries converter in, its really nice just a god awful purple color though.. Ill post pics once i pick it all up.

So i had the wheels listed on craigslist for the past month and they finally sold with a full price offer. While i did like the wheel i feel like they were the focal point of the truck and i wanted something more subtle and practical for my goals. So i ended up ordering a set of wheel vintiques series 37 ralleys (15" diameter) and some decent nitto NT555r 275/60r15 tires for the rear. they are in transit now but should be up here in about 10 days or so.

also i cut out the flex section in my turbo piping as it had "grown" over the past two years. Lesson learned for turbo systems is to use a interlocking flex section, if you look closely this one opened up like an accordion.

[lower50's]

Interesting about the flex expanding like that. That new rubber should give you some traction.

[akdg87]

I have been in and out of town for work; new wheels came in, had to grind the rear calipers ever so slightly. The front has too much wheel gap so i'm gonna throw some lowering springs i have laying around on. Transmissions in, i wired it up last night, need to plumb the coolers, attached linkage and have a drive line built. I wrapped the exhaust manifolds and new crossover pipe. Slowly chipping away at it. need some cool center-caps now!

[akdg87]

Cranking away at things, getting sick of being up until 2 am working on this but nearly done installing "hardware" and almost time to work on the 'software"

I mounted secondary trans cooler (with fan below front bumper). Also wrapped up most of the 4l80 harness conversion and methanol kit wiring. Upgraded the PCM OS to a 3 bar map so i can safely run more than 14.7 psi New turbo is hung, mounted exhaust back up; took some slight modification as the 4l80 is much larger. Also had the drive-line shortened and a new slip yoke put on.

Ordered this really cheap electronic speedo on ebay which almost matches my previous speedometer. Its actually a really nice piece and has some optional features like a high speed or rpm warning where the gauge will start flashing red. Only caveat is that the gauge back light is blue and there is no bulb to change...

Still trying to decide on centercaps, i like the police rallye caps but unsure if they will clear the dust cap on the front.

Couple Pics for inquiring minds:

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by akdg87

...Still trying to decide on centercaps, i like the police rallye caps but unsure if they will clear the dust cap on the front....

I like your old wheels but I understand why you changed them.

May I suggest '51-'52 Chevy car hubcaps? I had them on my old '46 truck and they looked good. Not sure if Wheel Vintiques makes their rim so it will accept them but not to hard to make it happen with the addition of clips if you need to. '55-'56 truck caps are also very nice on Rallys.