for those interested in turbocharging....my thoughts

For those interested (or anyone who cares for that matter)....I bought a Holset turbo from a Cummins turbo diesel a while back with intentions of using it on my 2.3 4 cylinder in the SVO. How does this apply to Mavericks? Read on...

First thoughts: I got it installed along with the home made header. First question--Does it spool? yes. Do I have boost at a low RPM? No. I have 3 psi by 3000, 10psi by 3500, and at about 3800 it's like getting hit in the rear end by a Mack truck. At first, it's kind of laggy, but just as soon as you think "jeez, this thing ain't gonna work"....it hits HARD.

Back to the question. How does it apply to Maverick/Comet? Well...I can see a pair of these babies on a 302 or better yet, a 351w. Keep in mind the 2.3 is basically half of a 4.6. Put a pair of these on a 351 and you should be able to have full boost around 3000 RPM. Perfect, IMO for a spirited street car. Be aware though, these things are capable of over 500 HP EACH...so if you've got the 'nads to turn it up, assuming everything works along with it, I don't think 1000 HP would be out of reach. How about putting one on a 250? Well...that seems like it should work out pretty darn good, at least by my figures. I'm guessing full boost by 2000-2500. BTW, the one I'm using is a HE351CW (basically an HY35W hot side with a HX40 compressor) which is box stock on '04-later cummins dodge pickups with an auto tranny. They are the ones with the forward facing compressor outlet. In factory trim, the wastegate is set around 38 psi which gives an idea how much boost they're capable of. Plenty. You'll want to mod the factory WGA or just go with an external (or a pair of externals WG's) to keep it down. BTW, they can be bought on Ebay for around $200, which must be some sort of record for a turbo with this kind of potential. Be warned though, the rice crowd is getting wind of them....and they'll start running the prices up QUICK.

Just figgered I'd add a few notes, seeing how turbocharging has been on some folks mind lately.

 

thanks...good write up!

 

Cool deal. A guy on tm.com is running a pair of similarly sized turbos(hx35s) on a bone stock longblock and has run 6.19 in the 1/8. They have alot of potential.

 

Mavman, How does the wastegate operate on your turbo? Is it vacuum operated or electronicly controlled? I have one of those SVO engines out of a 1980 Mustang,, it was vacuum operated. I remember one time, I took that assembly off, installed a push pull like choke cable on the linkage to control the wastegate. As soon as I took off, I closed the gate, and it took off like a rocket from about 1000rpm on up! Made about 20 lbs of boost at 5000. I guess why im asking this,, is if it is lazy at first, maybe you could adjust the wastegate to get that boost pressure up a little faster upon acceleration in the lower rpm. they do it on the Diesil turbo pulling tractors that way,,, Some, have even rigged up an electronic solenoid with a toggle switch to do the same to close the waste gate. Kinda like Knight Rider,, when Hasslehoff hit the turbo boost button,, ol Kit took off like a rocket! Just remember to turn the switch off when your done,,, you could hook up a rehostat switch (spelling) kinda like the dimmer on a light switch in a home,, it progressivly opens and holds the switch at a certain rpm, or where ever you set the switch to... You could hand control the turbo boost pressure,,, Food for thought,,, ChadS

 

mavman,
What do you know about the HX55 turbo?

 

The HE351CW is a vacuum operated wastegate. I have thought about making an adjustable Electronic WG controller though.....

As for why it's a little laggy, it's just a big turbo...for a 2.3. There's no real way around the lag, but it does kick some serious arse up in the upper RPM though. A single HE351 will work fine on a 5.0...if that tells you the approximate size.

I'm kind of wanting to put my old T3 WG actuator on it to LOWER the boost. Right now as it sits, it'll finally pop the WG open at about 35-38 PSI....which is a LOT more than I wanted for a street car on cat pee gas. I'd like around 15. You can't lower the opening pressure, but you can raise it easily......with a manual boost controller like I have already made.

Shadowmaster......the HX55...I don't know much about it. It's BIG.....that's about all I know. Good luck getting it to spool on a smaller engine. I do have an idea on how to cheaply make a variable nozzle turbine though (like the 6.0 Powerstrokes have)....pretty easy to do but it only works on a split-entry turbine like an HX. BTW, the 6.0 PSD turbos supposedly are awesome on a 2.3..full boost by 1500 from what I'm told. Better have some good rods!

 

mavman, this he351cw, would someone with a stock botom end expect it to live on the street? I'am building a stock 5.0 with a little head work and I think I'am going to carb it instead of e.f.i.. Does compression have anything to do with turbocharging like it does with supercharging? since the motor is still apart I can go a couple different ways but would machining for o-rings be in order or would a dead soft copper head gasket do the trick? I already know that I'll have to build a box if I go carb? Just asking, don't know alot about turbos but I'am very interested in doing it.The price seems to be right. thx for the informative write up! Jamie

 

You can make the wastegate open pretty much wherever you want it to. Cut the actuator rod and thread it. Then use a nut, washer and spring of the proper tension to preload the actuator. Adjust tension and test using compressed air and a gauge. Reconnect the end of the actuator rod using a threaded barrel. I did this on my t-bird gates to turn them down to 5psi.

 

opps, didn't see the other thread that answers ALL my questions labeled (twin turbos?) dooh.

 

That is exactly what I was dreaming of last night. Haven't had time to mess with it yet though......or the $$$. Seems like every time I work on this thing, it costs another hundred $$.

 

Thought I might drop a line.Im into High performance diesel trucks if anyone has any quetions on turbo housing sizes or wheel sizes let me know.I may be able to help.Also if anyone is interested I have a single hx35 in good shape if anyone is interested.Most guys in the diesel crowd will chuck the hx35 if they are doing mods I kept mine on my 93 dodge and made 396hp and 903ftlbs at 36psi. It would have made much more if we could have loaded it harder on the dyno it would make 48psi on the street under load.Hope I can help.

 

Yes, you can. Next time one of your customers chucks the HX35 turbo...give us a shout. :evilsmile

 

In your opinion, what kind of turbo should us guys be looking for?
Taking into account:
302-351 cubes
Tight engine bay
Light car
And of course, ease of install/retrofit to custom applications.

What I have in mind is also choosing from readily available common parts...
Like:
Dodge truck turbo
Powerstroke turbo
Late Dodge car turbo

Something we can get at a good price.
Thanks!
Dave

 

This may sound kinda crazy,, but has anyone thought of finding a turbo off of a farm tractor??? most of those are set up for peak boost under 3000 rpm, and come in many flavors,, sizes, and there is a million of em out there that has an simple flange to hook up exhaust. Look at a turbo used on a IH 1066 farm tractor with a DT414-436 ci engine,, pretty neat little setup that gets big boost for about half price. Chad

 

"In your opinion, what kind of turbo should us guys be looking for?
Taking into account:
302-351 cubes
Tight engine bay
Light car
And of course, ease of install/retrofit to custom applications."

Well it depends on what you want to do with it, street or strip
For the street I would think a Hx35with a 14cm waste gated housing would work well.The Hx35 has I belive a 55 mm compresor wheel and should spool very well on the street.

For the Strip I would use an Hx40 with a 16cm w/g housing it is a 60mm turbo. Mustangs and fast fords did a few articals on turboed engiens and used a 60mm turbo. For a 351 This turbo should spool very well and you may be able to get a little more out of a larger charger.

This is just a start of things turbos that are "cheaper" and should work well.Also the A/R of the 16cm holset housing is I think .86 but someone correct me if I'm mistaken.