Homemade 1600 SINGLE draw through turbo combo and results

[MO Looker]

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

I've already hurt the tranny, Ron.
Back in late June.
It was the old '65 swing that came with the pan when I built the buggy.....so it was on borrowed time anyway.
I'm actually VERY surprised how well it held up.
SPEED shifting keeps boost up after all!! HA HA HA

I spun the hubs inside third and fourth and it wouldn't shift (without forcing them) into hardly any of the gears.

Archway Import Parts here in town built me a monster swing axle for it: welded 3 and 4, steel forks, steel keys, 4 spider diff., dual billet side covers, 3.88 gears and so on.
Here's to hoping this one holds up!
When my wife saw the bill for that beauty she about had a heart attack.
I must say, the 3.88's are a beautiful thing with the turbo compared to the original 4.37's.
They load the motor better thus building boost better AND it gives me a usable first.

[mat3833]

I'm thinking carburation. What are you running?

bocar 34pict-3, going to get a german solex 34pict-3 in about a week. no fuel leaks, timing at 32degrees total, valves do need to be adjusted but there not actually due for another 678 miles, jets are correct, and runnning a 009 and have the carb tuned so there isnt a flat spot. it is in a baja, at 45 im at 2000RPM in 4th or about 3000 in 3rd. at 70 im turning 3000RPMs in 4th. it drives great for a 1600 dp with a 009... minus the 7-8 MPG.

Matt

[MO Looker]

Well, I finally got my monster swing installed.

OH man, 3.88's are a beautiful thing.
I have a usable first now!
It's been in there for about 500 miles and doing fantastic.

The "little 1600 single that could" is still running awesome.
A steady diet of 15-18 PSI boost hasn't hurt it yet.

Picked up a 1915 today from a buddy.
Zero miles with nicely-ported heads, 120 cam, dual springs, counterweight 8 dowel crank, light flywheel, etc..
Plan is to tear it down to drop the compression.
Over the winter I may swap the 1600 single for this beast.
I'd venture to say 200HP would be a walk in the park with this combo.

[MO Looker]

Well, I finally got my monster swing installed.

OH man, 3.88's are a beautiful thing.
I have a usable first now!
It's been in there for about 500 miles and doing fantastic.

The "little 1600 single that could" is still running awesome.
A steady diet of 15-18 PSI boost hasn't hurt it yet.

Picked up a 1915 today from a buddy.
Zero miles with nicely-ported heads, 120 cam, dual springs, counterweight 8 dowel crank, light flywheel, etc..
Plan is to tear it down to drop the compression.
Over the winter I may swap the 1600 single for this beast.
I'd venture to say 200HP would be a walk in the park with this combo.

[mat3833]

nice! getting ready to get the setup on the carb right so i can start thinking of plumbing the system so ill be ready when i get the t25

Matt

[VdubsNWPA]

First of all I'd just like to say that this Forced Induction forum is awesome! After reading all of the info you guys have provided I feel like i'm ready to dive into a turbo setup. I'm going to turbo my rail first, and if it works out well, i'll do it on my 72 bug.
MO, I love your setup! I'm planning on doing almost the exact same thing.
questions: I'm looking for a 2 barrell holley to use. Are there any that I should avoid? I'd like to use the same thing you did so I can set it up the same to give me a head start on tuning.
Also, I have a lead on an old T25 from a dsm. It supposedly has play in the shaft. i've seen rebuild kits for turbos and they're cheap... is it hard to do a rebuild?
and info is appreciated!

[MO Looker]

First of all I'd just like to say that this Forced Induction forum is awesome! After reading all of the info you guys have provided I feel like i'm ready to dive into a turbo setup. I'm going to turbo my rail first, and if it works out well, i'll do it on my 72 bug.
MO, I love your setup! I'm planning on doing almost the exact same thing.
questions: I'm looking for a 2 barrell holley to use. Are there any that I should avoid? I'd like to use the same thing you did so I can set it up the same to give me a head start on tuning.
Also, I have a lead on an old T25 from a dsm. It supposedly has play in the shaft. i've seen rebuild kits for turbos and they're cheap... is it hard to do a rebuild?
and info is appreciated!

I haven't tried a Holley 2 bbl..
I've been so pleased with the performance and driveability of my 390 4 bbl. I'll never even entertain the thought of a 2 bbl. now!
Watch Ebay for used 390's.
They're inexcusably expensive brand new.

As for rebuilding a turbo, NOTHING TO IT.
Just take your time, watch how it comes apart and keep it clean as you reassemble!
As for your potential T25:
Make sure there is not so much shaft play that one of the wheels has contacted either the turbine or compressor housing or maybe the shaft has damage from a failed bearing(s).
If so, steer clear of it!
My turbo didn't "need" a rebuild but as I was installing the necessary carbon seal for draw through operation I went ahead and replaced the bearings, clips, etc..
I got my kit from gpopshop.com.
Not to say they're the cheapest but MAN are they helpful and they know they're turbos!
Remember....if you go draw through, you'll need the kit with the carbon seal to keep the oil from being sucked into the compressor housing!

My DSM T25 came with a bend at the compressor outlet.
I cut it off and blended the remainder straight.
NO problem! It's aluminum and there's plenty to work with there.

ANY questions? Don't hesitate to PM or e-mail me.

[seabeebuggy]

that sure looks cool. huge!! I wanted to tell you your o2 sensor should be up top 12 to 2 or 10 12 o'clock that is. with it on the lower half water can get to it and totally dick it up..

[MO Looker]

that sure looks cool. huge!! I wanted to tell you your o2 sensor should be up top 12 to 2 or 10 12 o'clock that is. with it on the lower half water can get to it and totally dick it up..

Actually, it WAS in the 12-2 position until I had a change in the clocking of the turbine.
I didn't feel like cutting another hole and welding in another bung.

The O2 is still reading quickly so I guess it's in good health.
I use Denso O2's exclusively.
They've treated me real well in the past on previous turbo cars.

[VdubsNWPA]

OK, much appreciated.
I am looking for a 390, but price is the biggest factor...
i have a friend with a pile of old v8 carbs... i'm planning on looking through them to see if I can find a suitable one... if i find one i think might be small enough i'll put the numbers up to see if it's similar.

thanks for the input on the t25.... but it will be hard to find out if it's gone that bad without buying it first... i doubt he'll let me tear it down before i buy it.... but if it doesn't have that much play, and it's cheap, i'll just buy it.
i will update... thanks a lot!

[FITNESSFORYOUTOO]

How about using just the primary side of a 600 holley, they are dirt cheap on ebay, the 390 is much more expensive.

[MO Looker]

How about using just the primary side of a 600 holley, they are dirt cheap on ebay, the 390 is much more expensive.

I'm not sure how you'd segregate the primary from the secondary like that on a Holley.

The 390 has MUCH smaller primaries (and secondaries) so you get awesome throttle response.

My Model 6255 390 came from Ebay.
$170 used. It's been working excellent.

98% of the time, in all my years of VW's (and anything for that matter), cheap doesn't tend to be the best way to go.

Shop around....there are good deals on 390's.
Get one that needs a kit, slap it in (easy and inexpensive....thank you, Holley!) and enjoy it!

Best of luck.

[buguy]

I tried to just use the primary side of my Holley 450 and it wasnt enough for my stock 1600. It would fall on its face in upper rpms until I hooked the secondaries back up.

[Buggsy]

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

[FITNESSFORYOUTOO]

A 600 Holley can be had on ebay remanufactured with chrome finish on it with a lifetime warrantee for 150 dollars and I do not think a stock 1600 needs more than 300 cfm. You can plug the vacuum port to the secondary side and just run it as a two barrel.

Doing it this way gives you the option to use the same carb when you upgrade to a bigger engine saving more money. This whole build is about going fast cheap, if these people wanted to spend more money they would use something other than a stock engine.

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