Homemade 1600 SINGLE draw through turbo combo and results

[MO Looker]

Get a carb with vacuum operated secondaries. It will open them if it needs the flow.

That's what I have.
I used a vac. sec. spring kit from Holley to tune it's opening point.
It's been running great since I tuned it in the Spring.

[MO Looker]

Hell I have a new stock complete engine lying around and I am going to build one of these just to see what it will really do in a 1500 lb race car

Take it from me.....these little motors on boost are a BLAST in a light car.

My buggy weighs 1220 lbs..

My wife, daughter and I took it for a little roadtrip this afternoon then to dinner.
The thing is as smooth, easy-to-drive and reliable as a stock Beetle off boost.
You don't even realize it's more than a stock motor until you really lay into the throttle.

Ahh.....the beauty of turbocharging.

[FITNESSFORYOUTOO]

That is how my old race car was, it drove like stock then on full throttle it was scary fast on the street in fact there was only one place I could hit the nos and hook up without heating the dot slicks first.

[FITNESSFORYOUTOO]

MO Looker

Hey I asked about a carbon seal kit for the TD05H and got this answer. What is the model number for the turbo you used in this build?

Hello Jeffrey,

Thank you for your interest. No, we are sorry, there are no kits w/ carbon seals made for a Mitsubishi TD05H. You would need to go with a different turbo if you wanted to do a draw-through setup, like a Garrett T3 or T25. Let us know if you have any other questions.


--
Jim & Gerry, G-Pop Shop

[VdubsNWPA]

I appreciate all the info you guys have provided.
I'm going to turbo my rail... it is probably right around 1000 pounds, and i'm going for as little cost as possible.
MO, my goal is to get as close to your setup as I can, minus the MSD stuff for now.
My friend has a pile of old carbs laying around, as soon as i get the time to go over there, i'll look for the holleys with small bores and start writing down numbers. i'll post the numbers and hopefully you can help me pick the one that will work the best. I'm sure it will need rebuilt and jetted and my dad knows a guy that's been tuning holleys for 20+ years so i can probably have him rebuild it for me with the jetting setup that I choose.
I'm still looking for a T25 turbo, but a t3 would be easier to find... how much would the boost response differ between a t25 and a t3? I want to be able to spool asap for more bottom end torque. that's where I want my power.

[Buggsy]

Eclipses came with either a Mitsu TD05 or a Garrett T25, depending on year, auto, or stick. You have to make sure you get the Garrett, then the carbon seal is a go.

[MO Looker]

I appreciate all the info you guys have provided.
I'm going to turbo my rail... it is probably right around 1000 pounds, and i'm going for as little cost as possible.
MO, my goal is to get as close to your setup as I can, minus the MSD stuff for now.
My friend has a pile of old carbs laying around, as soon as i get the time to go over there, i'll look for the holleys with small bores and start writing down numbers. i'll post the numbers and hopefully you can help me pick the one that will work the best. I'm sure it will need rebuilt and jetted and my dad knows a guy that's been tuning holleys for 20+ years so i can probably have him rebuild it for me with the jetting setup that I choose.
I'm still looking for a T25 turbo, but a t3 would be easier to find... how much would the boost response differ between a t25 and a t3? I want to be able to spool asap for more bottom end torque. that's where I want my power.

If you're not going to use some timing control like the MSD, watch your compression!
Just setting your timing at 24 degrees (for example) and throwing boost at it is not a guarantee of no detonation.
I got all my MSD off of Craigslist and Ebay, otherwise it would have cost a fortune!

T3's are everywhere BUT they're usually better suited to larger engines.
T25's are not as common as T3's but they're definitely out there.
There are smaller turbos, too.
I wouldn't mind experimenting with a 1.8 diesel VW turbo on a 1600.
I bet that one would spool up REAL quick.

[bugvert]

MO
Great turbo set up!, I was originally planning on doing a similiar 1600 draw-thru turbo a few years back for my buggy but then lost interest in it. But seeing this thread has got me thinking off toying with the idea again.

I was also planned on using the same carb your using, the Holley 390 and I did the boost reference mod to it with a 1.0 power valve. I think I'll try your jetting to save myself some tuning frustration.

Good thing I never got around to selling off the stuff I had.

Holley 390
4bbl to turbo Manifold
Garret T3 with 40 trim
DDDA Distributor (Dual vacuum with retard)
manifold T section and Baja header (was going to modify it)

I contacted the guys a GPOPSHOP and they were very helpful, I'm going to order the stuff needed to convert to carbon seal and rebuild.

Looks like I got that turbo itch again...

[MO Looker]

Bugvert you won't regret it.

The jetting I have in my 390 has never given me issues.
Under max. boost, the A/F meter is always in the green (rich) zone and never waivers.

In the cold weather (like it is around here), it only gives me trouble when I come to a stop.
But that is easily corrected with a blip of the throttle, then it settles to a smooth idle again.

I can't bring myself to rejet just for that little issue.
It runs spot-on the rest of the year.

Best of luck!
You won't regret it.

[MO Looker]

Hi folks,

Wanted to let you all know the 1600 single on steroids is still going STRONG.
NO oil consumption or blow-by issues.
And, rest assured, I beat it like a rented mule every time it's out.
Since I posted last, all I've done is a breather box for the valve covers.
Not by necessity but purely for insurance.
Cold weather performance? NO problem.
I was out the other night at the buggy club meeting and it was in the mid-30's!
Hey, who says a draw-through turbo won't work in the cold.....OH was there frost on that intake, though!
That Holley doesn't hiccup at all in the cold-even the choke works!
Yep, I was bundled up and looked like a madman blasting down the backroads at night....IN THE COLD....but I had a ball.
Turbo buggies and snow are an awesome combination!

NEW HEADER UNDER CONSTRUCTION!
Yes, I hacked off that homely contraption of a header that was on there.....that started out as a generic Baja header from YEARS ago.
I'm 100% confident turbo spool-up and performance in general should improve radically.
Why? Well, let's just say I lobbed off OVER 24" of primary tube length!!
That was a convoluted mess of tubing on the old header......not to mention Gorilla welds....you know, ugly but strong.
Why am I building my own? Why not!
I wanted a coated aftermarket one SO bad but none would have fit without major surgery to the present carb/turbo/intake arrangement....if it ain't broke don't fix it!
AND most are on backorder.
I'll have MAYBE $50 in this header when it's done.

Rest assured I'll post pics of the finished header and results.
It's halfway done and will HOPEFULLY be finished by next week.

Happy Holidays to all and keep on boostin'!

[MO Looker]

Hello all,

I finished up building my new header yesterday.
I lobbed off 24+ inches of tubing between the No.'s 2 and 4 exhaust ports and the turbo.
Less on 3 and 4 but an appreciable amount nonetheless.

It's MUCH more structurally sound, too.

Remember, the old header was nothing but a no-name baja that I kept adding to.
It was hideous but it worked!

This new arrangement is spectacular.
Boost comes on like mad!

I have backed boost down to 14/15 psi.
The 18 I had dialed in before comes on scary fast now.

I have about $75 in the whole header:
Using pieces from the previous one.
A spare "ding and dent" header I picked up at Mid-America last year from their bargain tent.
$10 worth of 1.5" tubing from the local muffler shop (3 ft.).

Couldn't be happier with the results.
Hopefully this horrible weather will break so I can get some seat time in it.

Picture one is of the mock-up and tacked together.
Picture two is of the finished set-up after it's test drive.

[Billyisgr8]

That looks like it will work well, yesterday must have been header day, cause I was also tweaking mine.

Kevin

[Joe vw]

Looks great, my only suggestion is to put larger oil lines and get rid of that 90 degree fitting. If that is only for the turbo than you should be using a full flow filter. Turbos don't last long with dirty hot oil, I found out the hard way. An additional cooler for highway trips is a good idea too.
I got hooked on turbos exactly the same way, a free 1600 and a progressive Webber on a t3 Chrysler in my buggy. Lots of fun for next to nothing!

[MO Looker]

I put some miles on the buggy in the past two days.
Heck, it's been above 40! ha ha ha

For starters, the exhaust NOTE has changed radically.
MUCH deeper and more aggressive than the previous header.
This thing sounds MEAN with the muffler removed.
With the muffler is still quiet but with a much deeper tone.

Second, and most importantly, is the boost builds VERY fast and stays there between shifts!
Incredible.
I actually dialed the boost back from 18 to 14/15.
MUCH stronger overall.

I'll be the first to admit...the previous header was grossly inefficient but it got me to where I am now reliably.

[ToRy 70]

I gotta say, this is too cool

My buddy wants a carbed turbo setup for his baja eventually... I've only messed with FI tuning, but I wouldn't be surprised if we ended up with a formula very similar to yours. Very inspiring!