adding a turbo to the 2litre 4 pot

Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic

I've been wondering about how to increase performance on long dual carriageway / motorway hill, and thought how about a low pressure turbo (such as the garret fitted to my saab 9000 2.o petrol.

(I notice my route to Hungary next year includes lot's of mountain motorway class roads, the current prospect of long motorway miles in 2nd or 3rd isn't appealing.... )

Now, don't laugh, but, what exactly would be involved in adding a turbo?  

Is it even possible?

Edited by 1day - 30 Sep 10 at 14:50

Author	Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic
1day Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 02 Jul 10 Location: london Status: Offline Points: 79	Post Options Post Reply Quote 1day Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: adding a turbo to the 2litre 4 pot Posted: 30 Sep 10 at 14:48
	I've been wondering about how to increase performance on long dual carriageway / motorway hill, and thought how about a low pressure turbo (such as the garret fitted to my saab 9000 2.o petrol. (I notice my route to Hungary next year includes lot's of mountain motorway class roads, the current prospect of long motorway miles in 2nd or 3rd isn't appealing.... ) Now, don't laugh, but, what exactly would be involved in adding a turbo? Is it even possible? Edited by 1day - 30 Sep 10 at 14:50

mat_the_cat Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Vanorak Joined: 06 May 09 Location: North Wales Status: Offline Points: 1862	Post Options Post Reply Quote mat_the_cat Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 30 Sep 10 at 16:54
	Anything's possible! But not easy - for a start the general rule for adding a turbo is to lower the compression ratio as the turbo will effectively increase it, with a low pressure turbo I'm not sure what you'd get away with. Also to go with the extra air you'd need to add extra fuel. Plus uprate the cooling system - some turbo engines have extra oil jets to spray oil on the underside of the pistons to cool them. Probably more than a weekend's work! I have an idea for a switchable supercharger (think Mad Max) and an LPG fuelling system...LPG has an octane rating of about 115 RON, so you could use the supercharger to increase the effective compression ratio without pinking when running on LPG (some Mercs have a supercharger with a clutch to disable it when idling I think), and then on petrol you would be on the standard compression ratio. You would need a good mappable ECU to control it, and again the question is would the engine stand up to the boost?
	Mid engined, 6 cylinder, turbocharged 2 seater - it can only be a VW LT!

AndyT Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Joined: 16 May 08 Location: Ammanford Status: Offline Points: 2274	Post Options Post Reply Quote AndyT Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 01 Oct 10 at 16:25
	I wouldn't bother, go for the option recommended by Jam-man. 2ltr montego turbo mated to a sherpa 5 speed box. Low tech but proven technology and you can buy all the parts cheaply. Adding extra stress to an engine which is already working hard is asking for problems.
	LT28 1979 2.0 Pampas Nevada Camper LPG 93K, 1980 T3 A/C Camper 98K,1994 RRC 3.9 LPG 120k , 1998 Audi A6 Est 2.5 V6 diesel 127k

The_blue Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 12 Mar 07 Location: Mansfield-ish Status: Offline Points: 107	Post Options Post Reply Quote The_blue Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 01 Oct 10 at 16:40
	5 speed box..... droool Does the gear linkage etc pose an issue?
	Moving to Team Talbot :O

The_blue Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 12 Mar 07 Location: Mansfield-ish Status: Offline Points: 107	Post Options Post Reply Quote The_blue Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 01 Oct 10 at 16:46
	Christ! rarer than the LT! Was the engine in anything else?
	Moving to Team Talbot :O

AndyT Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Joined: 16 May 08 Location: Ammanford Status: Offline Points: 2274	Post Options Post Reply Quote AndyT Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 01 Oct 10 at 17:16
	All I know is what Jam-man said in previous posts, I'm sure he bought the donor vehicle for £200ish. Gearbox wise, its from a sherpa, similar weight to an LT and built for a V8. As to the engine, probably in other rovers of the same era. Main advantage is that the electronics are fairly basic, and reliability/conversion should not be a problem. 170bhp though should make an LT actually go.
	LT28 1979 2.0 Pampas Nevada Camper LPG 93K, 1980 T3 A/C Camper 98K,1994 RRC 3.9 LPG 120k , 1998 Audi A6 Est 2.5 V6 diesel 127k