turbos...

[Chevycrew]

Something I want to learn more about, but not sure where to start.


Here is what Im thinking, turbo the 454 in the crew cab with a remote mount.

I currently have dual 2.75" to after the cats. I can merge these at that point to whatever size i need for a turbo, then go back to the duals after the turbo.

Could I mount an intercooler under the truck and have electric fans push air through it? Would the fans be needed?

I dont want to run much boost, maybe 5lbs or so? I am hoping the stock tuning and injectors can keep up.



So how big of turbo? (Import, stock diesel, whats the difference?)

How do I set the max of the turbo to 5lbs?

What am I missing?


I know I need turbo, intercooler, piping, oil lines, pyro and boost gauges, along with time and patience.

Im not looking for huge gains, Im ok off the line and with torque. I just need some help holding overdrive with a load. (It sucks pulling the hills at 4000 rpms in drive)

How much gain could I see? Its only 300hp now.

 

[Rot Box]

I am a huge fan of forced induction and a turbo'ed 454 would be really cool. Finding the right setup will take time and a a lot of research but I'm sure there are many out there for cheap that would fit your application, but you really have to know what to look for. Start at the top http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turbocharger this is good too http://www.turbobygarrett.com/turbobygarrett/tech_center/turbo_systems_tech_center.html

Off the top of my head I would look for a Garret/Schwitzer like what was used 7.3 IDI turbo with or without a wastegate. Most of these were aftermarket Garret's but 93-94 Fords had it as an option. The exhaust side matches your engine well, but the intake will produce a little too much pressure (up to 15psi) so you would want to use a blowoff or pop off valve in the intake. These can be set to any pressure and will help you keep the heads on the block.

I don't care for remote systems, but these guy's could point you in the right direction if you're set on it http://www.ststurbo.com/ Have you seen how ATS and Banks routed their systems on the early 6.2 and 7.3 diesels or even GM's factory turbo placement on the 6.5 diesel? There placement is well thought out and you could probably make something similar that way mounting an intercooler up front would be that much easier (check out my GM Cummins thread for an intercooler idea). Oil feed can be as simple as installing a "T" under your oil pressure sending unit and the oil drain can be plumbed into a valve cover, oil pan or anywhere with a direct route to the sump.

You will need more fuel without question and your will need a chip or something to adjust your timing when that thing starts to spool up. There are many options out there but i wouldn't even know where to start on recommendations. With the right turbo and enough fuel you are going to see a HUGE gain in horsepower. Hope any of this helped good luck

 

[Tacoma]

For the intercooler, you can mount one in front of the radiator without much hassle, especially a thin one. There is room for a Banks Techni-Cooler up there, and they're pretty damn thick... wait, that's for 73-91's.
The stock injectors and tuning won't keep up, but you can remedy that pretty easily. The boost should be alright, my 454 has got something like 8:1 compression stock.

Those Gator books are kind of interesting as far as DIY turbo/supercharger setups go, kind of old info now, but there should be some more websites for DIY'ers too.

Rot Box has good advice on studying the OEM stuff. They spend a lot of money getting it right, so take out the compromises they have to put in and you should be good.

PERSONALLY.. and this is just me, but PERSONALLY, I think a supercharger is a better alternative for a 454... mostly because they're easier to deal with, AND they were factory options. Find one off a boat motor.. or Ebay... Whipples.


EDIT: one other thing I've been mulling over is the RPM range.. for a tow application, I dont' know how happy you'll be with a turbo... there is going to be some lag... BUT with the relatively low RPM range of a tow rig, you might be able to run a smaller turbo that will run out of air just after the rest of the motor. Then again, superchargers start boosting right away. Tomayto Tomahto

 

[Chevycrew]

Im bouncing around with a super, or turbo, or diesel...

My 454 is about 9:1

After reading all about the oiling systems, scavenger pumps for remote mounts, pcv system problems, tuning, injectors, etc... It may not be worth the headache.

 

[jeep-N-montero]

I am a huge fan of forced induction and a turbo'ed 454 would be really cool. Finding the right setup will take time and a a lot of research but I'm sure there are many out there for cheap that would fit your application, but you really have to know what to look for. Start at the top http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turbocharger this is good too http://www.turbobygarrett.com/turbobygarrett/tech_center/turbo_systems_tech_center.html

Off the top of my head I would look for a Garret/Schwitzer like what was used 7.3 IDI turbo with or without a wastegate. Most of these were aftermarket Garret's but 93-94 Fords had it as an option. The exhaust side matches your engine well, but the intake will produce a little too much pressure (up to 15psi) so you would want to use a blowoff or pop off valve in the intake. These can be set to any pressure and will help you keep the heads on the block.

I don't care for remote systems, but these guy's could point you in the right direction if you're set on it http://www.ststurbo.com/ Have you seen how ATS and Banks routed their systems on the early 6.2 and 7.3 diesels or even GM's factory turbo placement on the 6.5 diesel? There placement is well thought out and you could probably make something similar that way mounting an intercooler up front would be that much easier (check out my GM Cummins thread for an intercooler idea). Oil feed can be as simple as installing a "T" under your oil pressure sending unit and the oil drain can be plumbed into a valve cover, oil pan or anywhere with a direct route to the sump.

You will need more fuel without question and your will need a chip or something to adjust your timing when that thing starts to spool up. There are many options out there but i wouldn't even know where to start on recommendations. With the right turbo and enough fuel you are going to see a HUGE gain in horsepower. Hope any of this helped good luck

Please don't post misinformation.

The boost pressure is controlled by the wastegate, not the bypass/BOV. The bypass/BOV(blow off valve) is used to release pressure between shifts to prevent compressor surge that can kill your turbo.

Turbo sizing is relative to where you want the power to com in; low, mid, or upper rpm range. Pick up a copy of "Maximum Boost" by Corky Bell and read it, he is the owner of Bell Engineering and has had a hand in developing some of Garrett's turbochargers.

I have rebuilt turbos and played with many turbocharged cars, so if you really want to make this happen I might be able to lend a hand.

 

[Rot Box]

Please don't post misinformation.

The boost pressure is controlled by the wastegate, not the bypass/BOV. The bypass/BOV(blow off valve) is used to release pressure between shifts to prevent compressor surge that can kill your turbo.

Turbo sizing is relative to where you want the power to com in; low, mid, or upper rpm range. Pick up a copy of "Maximum Boost" by Corky Bell and read it, he is the owner of Bell Engineering and has had a hand in developing some of Garrett's turbochargers.

Sorry I wasn't trying to be misinform I have seen pop-offs used for this many times whether it is right or wrong it will work to limit boost when you don't have a wastegate to adjust.

 

[BCGPER]

Here's your answer.

It may not be worth the headache.

Like Tacoma said, a bolt on superchager would be the ticket, but there are a ton of things to consider no matter which way you decided to go. One big headache is the loss of intake manifold vacuum. You will potentially lose braking assist, HVAC controls, and any other vacuum assisted accessory (I'm not really sure what truck you're dealing with). I've seen guys run LARGE vacuum storage canisters that will help with this issue. The only real cure is to add a vacuum pump.

Next thing to consider is getting it passed come smog inspection time. Depending on what you're working on, a kit you've peiced together on your own probably wont fly with the county inspector.

You do have a good engine to start with though. If it were me, I'd be puting my money into the 454. That engine will produce way more than 300 hp with a few mods, and will save you a bunch of hassles in the long run.

Lastly, I've thrown away enough money on trucks to say there comes a time when it's far cheaper to replace the truck than modify it to suit my needs. If you think you need a diesel, you're probably better off taking the plunge and just buy a new truck. Only you can make that decision though

 

[jeep-N-montero]

I have passed emissions with all 3 of the cars I added a turbo to, that is not an issue as long as your A/F ratios are tuned well.

You can always drop in a 6.5 diesel from the Hummer, there are tons sitting in government storage for very cheap.

 

[Tacoma]

They are not a towing improvement over a 454.

 

[BlackDog]

no, but a 12valve or a DT360 would be... I happen towork for a guy who has a complete LBZ/Allison with ECM and harness sitting. Sure the 5 grand would be a little more than whippling your 454.. but.. it would be the ticket, towing power and improved drive around mpg.

He also has some whipples, one came off a non Vortec 454, wait, that might be gone; and one came off a 5,3 or 6.0 leaning towards 5.3 as the truck was a 1500... Way cheaper than the LBZ, and it should also improve your drive around mpg.

If I was faced with the choice, unless I just fell into my setup for a couple hundred bucks from the local pick aparts, (could be done, the local ones sell turbo's for $35 a piece, and intercoolers for about the same) I would blow it first, and diesel second. Turbos are cool, but just not the correct ticket for a gas truck, IMHFO.

 

[Tacoma]

New Whipples are like $7k... so I'd say that combo makes good economic sense. Even used ones are pretty spendy. I'd be real curious what that 454 deal costs though, if he's still got it.....

 

[jeep-N-montero]

Does that 454 run off a MAF or speed-density setup?

 

[Chevycrew]

mass air flow, 99 vortec 454

 

[NOTATOY]

Call Skippy at Tcharged performance in Ogden. He is really good with turbo setups and rebuilding them too. He has done tons of different setups, I would give him a call. He is on Pensylvania Ave. south of the Ogden airport. Skippys # 801-389-6632

 

[NOTATOY]

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=skipp1970#p/u/6/RnflYdWC_vw
here is an old Chev he did a twin set up on.

 

[ALF]

The guys on Fullsizechevy.com are raving about these. Not sure if they have kit for your 99, they say 99- up but I think its for the 5.3 but they do have a universal kit.
http://www.ststurbo.com/home

 

[jeep-N-montero]

The STS doesn't require an inter cooler for low boost applications, as the long charge pipes release a lot of the heat before entering the manifold, so it's easy to set up. Some people use the STS as a template and just make their own.

 

[D94R]

The STS doesn't require an inter cooler for low boost applications, as the long charge pipes release a lot of the heat before entering the manifold, so it's easy to set up. Some people use the STS as a template and just make their own.

While the pipes will have a marginal effect in cooling the air charge temps, they are not an intercooler. I have no idea who first made that claim*, but it's bogus, there simply isn't enough surface area to pull the heat away from the air at the velocity it is traveling through the pipe.

*(I've never seen any data produced to back up that claim either, it just sounds good in writing, but if you know of any, please post it)

Intercoolers typically aren't used with low boost applications because there usually isn't enough heat generated and introduced into the air charge to warrant the extra time, cost, and fitment of an intercooler for little gain.

 

[Chevycrew]

I looked at the sts, thought about coping it. Would be nice to know what turbo they are using.

 

[Tacoma]

Bet if you went and looked at their system you could tell... they're local. I took a good hard look at them at SEMA. But I can't remember what they used.