Homemade 1600 SINGLE draw through turbo combo and results

With Turbo and Super charging you can create massive horsepower with vw motors.
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MO Looker
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Homemade 1600 SINGLE draw through turbo combo and results

Post by MO Looker »

Hi folks,

I haven't been on the board for a LONG time but thought I'd drop in to update the progress of my 1600 single port turbo.
Remember, every iota of this project was done by me.

The engine:
Your basic budget rebuild 1600 single-stock crank, rods, 4 dowel stock weight flywheel, stock cam and lifters, aluminum pushrods, rebuilt stock heads with single hi-rev springs (MUST HAVE!) and bolt-together rocker shafts (for peace of mind).
Turbo:
T25 from a '95-99 Mitsubishi Eclipse from Ebay used. Rebuild kit from gpopshop.com including Carbon Seal.
Boost control is by the stock internal wastegate controlled by a GRAINGER valve (that allows me super fast boost rise and spot-on 18 lbs. boost on a 10-12 lb. wastegate).
Carburetion:
390 Holley used from Ebay (rare dual line model, easier to tune!).
Jetting: 52 primaries and 66 secondaries.
Lightest spring in the vac. canister
Boost reference 1.5 power valve (easy to do with JB Weld!).
50cc accelerator pump and huge squirter (drilled out by me).
Electric choke even works!!!
Fuel System:
Holley Red, no regulator.
Ignition:
009 set at 30 degrees total timing (NOT locked!).
MSD 6A box and BTM module set at 1.25 degrees of retard per lb. of boost resulting in approx. 10 degress at full boost.
Taylor wires, blue coil, stock plugs.
Engine monitoring:
Auto Meter boost and A/F gauge (used from Craigslist) using a Denso heated O2 sensor, Summit racing tach with shiftlight.
Exhaust:
2.5" bends and flanges from local auto parts store. Dynomax stainless muffler used from Craigslist. Muffler unbolts in about 1 minute and wide open sounds amazing. Sounds like a BIG CC motor and boost response is better.

This combo may not be pretty but it's been running successfully since spring.
Only valve adjustments and oil changes since.
It averages 23-25 MPG with my HEAVY foot......take it from me, boosting is ADDICTIVE!
I couldn't be happier.
Just driving around town, the motor behaves just like a smooth stocker but boost is always a downshift away.

It will build boost starting about 2750 rpm AND, courtesy of the GRAINGER valve, it'll ramp up FAST to 15 lbs. BY 4500 and 18 if I stretch the motor to 5000.
Let's just say it'll bury the speedo at will!
93 octane pump gas, by the way.

It starts up perfect hot or cold (choke works GREAT!) and runs stupendous.

That's it in a nutshell.
Reliable, ignorant power from a beloved 1600 single.

I mortally wounded a stock swingaxle tranny in July (spun third and fourth hubs).
So a monster swing was built by Archway Imports in St. Louis.
Comparable to a "Super Pro Street", it has every conceivable mod including 3.88's.....I HIGHLY recommend 3.88's, they load the motor nicely for building boost, make first gear usable (!) and really make driving the car MUCH more of a pleasure.
Remember, you don't need deep gears for a turbo....no need to spin the bejeezus out of a turbo motor.

An MSD two-step and line lock have been purchased so I can master my launches.

Here is a picture from back in March.
Nothing has changed but the air filter assembly (K&N style now) and a couple more braces for the carburetor:
Image
bt
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Post by bt »

That thing is mighty purdy!!!

Do you have any advise to someone that is thinking about a turbo(in the future) but wants it under the engine lid(ghia)?
Ron Perkins
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Post by Ron Perkins »

that will be similar to my back up motor. Are you using a huge amount of locktight and large gland nut....4 dowels would be my worry there. Love that enginuity and low buck thinking. nicely done.
warp
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Post by warp »

Nice project. I like the simplicity. :-)
Do you have any dyno results?
It would be cool to compare the dyno results with a stock 1600 engine.
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MO Looker
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Post by MO Looker »

warp wrote:Nice project. I like the simplicity. :-)
Do you have any dyno results?
It would be cool to compare the dyno results with a stock 1600 engine.
Sorry, no dyno results.
It's really hard to put into words.
The power is amazingly linear and normal stop-and-go is just like stock.
The beauty of the turbo......it's always there when you need it and not when you don't.

Do a search of the various turbo sites.
I think AJ SIMS has a dyno test of a stock 1600 on there.....it may even have a T25 turbo like mine on it?
I did a couple online dynos to try and guesstimate some sort of power figure and came up 128HP, another site was even higher (148).
That sounds VERY possible, what with 18 lbs. of boost and how incredibly strong it pulls.
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MO Looker
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Post by MO Looker »

Ron Perkins wrote:that will be similar to my back up motor. Are you using a huge amount of locktight and large gland nut....4 dowels would be my worry there. Love that enginuity and low buck thinking. nicely done.
Yessir, I have a HUGE amount of torque and ample locktight on that gland nut.
But, alas, it's a stock washer/stock nut.

Maybe some of the things I've done are "iffy" but, the proof is in the facts....it's been together since March and has merciless floggings (it's seen my 6000 rev limiter, not intentionally, numerous times) every time it's out with NO failures.

I can credit the longevity of the combo to my ignition and fueling.
MSD 6A and BTM keeps my timing curve safe with NO detonation EVER.
The 390 Holley keeps the motor fat and happy with no lean-out issues and NO detonation.

Detonation is what kills motors on boost.
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scott the viking
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Post by scott the viking »

I wish you were closer to me...I would like to run that on my dyno just out of curiosity.
At 18 pound....150 horse is not totally impossible.
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MO Looker
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Post by MO Looker »

scott the viking wrote:I wish you were closer to me...I would like to run that on my dyno just out of curiosity.
At 18 pound....150 horse is not totally impossible.
I'd love to know.
150 hp? Whew. Could be!
But I prefer to err on the low side. :wink:

I just got back from taking it for a spin.
Totally anhilated one of the new Eclipse V6's.
Surprised that character! ha ha ha
He was cool about it, though.
After we met at the next light, he gave me the thumbs up.

Words cannot explain how that little buggy takes off when boost arrives.
Amazing.
With how strong that wee 1600 single is, I keep having visions of a 1915 with the same turbo and carburetor.......THAT would be a white knuckle ride! :twisted:
mat3833
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Post by mat3833 »

man, i need to get my settup going... im getting about 10 mpg with a NA 1600... maby i could get beter MPG on boost!

Matt
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scott the viking
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Post by scott the viking »

mat3833 wrote:man, i need to get my settup going... im getting about 10 mpg with a NA 1600... maby i could get beter MPG on boost!

Matt
I think you might have something haywire.
mat3833
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Post by mat3833 »

yea, we know but we dont kno what it is...

Matt
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scott the viking
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Post by scott the viking »

I'm thinking carburation. What are you running?
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Leatherneck
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Post by Leatherneck »

MO Looker wrote: I just got back from taking it for a spin.
Totally anhilated one of the new Eclipse V6's.
Surprised that character! ha ha ha
He was cool about it, though.
After we met at the next light, he gave me the thumbs up.
What else could he do other then slink away. :lol:
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MO Looker
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Post by MO Looker »

Leatherneck wrote:
MO Looker wrote: I just got back from taking it for a spin.
Totally anhilated one of the new Eclipse V6's.
Surprised that character! ha ha ha
He was cool about it, though.
After we met at the next light, he gave me the thumbs up.
What else could he do other then slink away. :lol:
I hear you.
More than likely, the kid had NO idea what I was driving. :roll: :lol:
Ron Perkins
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Joined: Wed Apr 12, 2000 12:01 am

Post by Ron Perkins »

MO Looker wrote:
Ron Perkins wrote:that will be similar to my back up motor. Are you using a huge amount of locktight and large gland nut....4 dowels would be my worry there. Love that enginuity and low buck thinking. nicely done.
Yessir, I have a HUGE amount of torque and ample locktight on that gland nut.
But, alas, it's a stock washer/stock nut.

Maybe some of the things I've done are "iffy" but, the proof is in the facts....it's been together since March and has merciless floggings (it's seen my 6000 rev limiter, not intentionally, numerous times) every time it's out with NO failures.

I can credit the longevity of the combo to my ignition and fueling.
MSD 6A and BTM keeps my timing curve safe with NO detonation EVER.
The 390 Holley keeps the motor fat and happy with no lean-out issues and NO detonation.

Detonation is what kills motors on boost.
the proof is in the pudding for sure. Well done. I agree on timing and fuel delivery...seriously important when boosting.

Stay with the 1600...or tranny issues will be next.
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