Turbo upgrade time

[Growlerbearnz]

I've just been to the turbo shop and ordered my first hybrid turbo- a TD04 49177-01510 with a 13G compressor instead of the stock 09B compressor wheel. So excited! Also, probably not going to explode like my current one is!

Basically, I've finally got the van running the way I like it with a bit of extra boost and the fuelling nicely sorted, and decided to plot my current boost range onto the stock turbo's compressor map.

09B copy.PNG (44.15 KiB) Viewed 3532 times

Not sure how familiar you are with compressor maps- the vertical axis is boost (2.2 equates to about 15psi on our vans, 1.4 is about 5psi), the horizontal axis is airflow (which goes up as the engines RPMs go up) but the important bits are the whorls in the middle (where the compressor's most efficient), and the right side boundary (beyond which the turbo is working beyond its specifications).

The pale red area I've added is the range of boost and airflow that my engine is capable of. The red dots are points that I was particularly interested in- from left to right they are: 1500rpm taking off from a stop, 2500rpm motorway cruise, 3000rpm powering uphill, 4000rpm power peak. From the way the red area hangs off the right side of the turbo's map you can tell that almost everything my turbo does is outside of the turbo's efficiency zone, and a lot is into the over-worked explodey turbo badlands. Not good.

Here's the same range on a 13G turbo:

13G copy.png (36.67 KiB) Viewed 3532 times

That's more like it. I might have lost a bit of boost around 1500rpm, but Highway cruise happens right where the compressor is most efficient, 3000rpm pulling uphill is still plenty efficient, and even at maximum revs and full boost the compressor is not being over worked.

Just for a laugh, I tried the same thing with a 15G compressor:

15G copy.png (79.71 KiB) Viewed 3532 times

Well, the turbo's not going to blow up, but it's hardly going to do any work at all either. I'll stick to the 13G compressor, I think.

The turbo shop reckons it'll be ready early next week. I'll keep you updated...

[Big-Bird]

What were you using to map the real data your van was giving you?

I was looking at the ATX system from Australia for the L200 equipped with the 4M40. Their kit is liquid cooled and can put out 20psi max. but the system is adjustable.

Not sure if the L200's manifold system is more like a Pajero or the Delica. their stock turbo castings are slightly different in how they bolt up. Paj's have a 5 bolt config...L400's have a 4 bolt setup.

Would be nice to find an Aussie or N.Z. owner who can speak to the ATX kit in more detail. The supplier/dealer had no data on the subject.

[Growlerbearnz]

Data capture was by a real-time organic system: while driving, I looked at the boost gauge and rev counter while playing with the accelerator pedal to see what range of boost I could make at various RPMs.

Displacement (x 0.90 for efficiency losses) x RPM x boost = airflow (CFM). It's fairly inaccurate, but close enough for turbo matching.

I've not come across AXT turbo kits, but looking online they seem to know what they're doing- their facebook page has lots of lovely pictures.

[Growlerbearnz]

Righto, it's done. Finally. The shop had my new turbo all ready to go and then, as I was driving there to pick it up, they dropped it. So I had to wait another 2 weeks.

IMG_20150628_111628 copy.JPG (38.07 KiB) Viewed 3450 times

IMG_20150628_111619 copy.JPG (39.84 KiB) Viewed 3450 times

They used a new TD04/09B turbo, and machined the compressor cover out to take the 13G compressor wheel. The old 09B wheel is *tiny*.

IMG_20150628_153201 copy.JPG (38.96 KiB) Viewed 3450 times

All shiny and in place. Took it for a test run last night, and it's working as I hoped: full boost (15psi) is available slightly earlier (about 1800rpm rather than 2000), and it doesn't lose power in the higher rev range. It's also much, much quieter! Time will tell if it improves my fuel economy.

[Big-Bird]

I almost forgot about this string Growler....I was reviewing some old turbo upgrade footage from Mighty Car Mods on YouTube. Moog's Forester, which he calls 'Gramps' had a TD-04 in it. the. He swapped a WRX turbo and got mad power gains.

I am still thinking about a turbo upgrade on my L400.....that would be MAAAAAAADDDDD!

I did find this rebuild kit selection...
http://www.turborebuild.co.uk/webshop/p ... -Core.html

could use some advice on what these 3 kits would really do in a stockcasting.