Hey everyone,

I have been reading everything I can find, trying to educate myself on turbo systems. I figured I'd post here, and see if I am on the right track so far...

I have a 1985 Monte Carlo SS that currently has a "260 hp" GMPP 350 crate motor. They advertise 8.5:1 compression... I have heard people say its closer to 8.1, but I haven't verified that myself. Behind that is a 1996 Corvette Blue Tag ZF6 rated at 400 ft-lbs. I also have a Black Tag ZF6 from a 1993 Vette (450 ft-lbs) that I plan on having built by ZR51 Performance in AZ. He's got units in 10 second cars and 200 mph Silver State Classic racers. For the rear, I have an '87 GN 8.5" with 4.10's and a posi. The car will be mostly a weekend streetfighter, but it will see some autocross and road race duty too.

I'd like to make a solid 550 crank horsepower, with the ability to turn it up to the 650-700 neighborhood down the road... maybe with some race gas. It will be an intercooled setup. I really like the idea that NRE did with the RX7... where they have an auxiliary tank that gets filled with 116 octane, and it's fuel pump gets turned on by the computer when it sees a certain boost number. I plan on definately building the valvetrane and spinning the motor to 6000 RPM. I'll probably run the stock iron 76cc heads for the time being, and then maybe switch to aluminum heads with a similar chamber size, but better flow numbers. I have an edelbrock 600 carb on an RPM Performer intake right now, but I'd much rather switch to fuel injection for the turbos. I haven't started looking into the best fuel injection setup to run with turbos yet, any suggestions there? Also, I'm sure I'll have to put a forged rotating assembly in the block for the 650+ numbers, but what about for the 550 hp tune? The calculators put my setup at about 11.5 psi for 550 horsepower.

So anyway, I ran the calculations that I found on Garrett's turbo tech page, and played around with a few turbo calculation pages that plot your points on the maps (found on this forum) and I came up with a pair of T04E-60's with an A/R of 0.63 on the T3 turbine. I'm not really sure what trim to use on the turbine side (especially when some stores advertise the trim as a "stage", i.e. "stage 1, stage 2, etc".) I don't think that ball bearings are really necessary, and I was thinking that it wouldn't be a bad idea to get water cooled CHRA's too, if I can find them. The maps for the T04E-60 puts the turbo in the peak efficiency island from 4000 RPM to 5700 RPM on the 550 setup, but I don't really know if my assumptions are right. See here -->Calculator

So what do you guys think? Am I in the right ballpark? Anything you would change? There was a guy with a 351 on this board that posted that he had a very similar setup, but with 0.68 A/R on the turbine, and that he would go with a smaller turbine if he was to do it over.

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Love that monte!! Welcome to the dark side That thing will be sweet with turbo's!!! Can't wait to see a build thread! Good luck

 

Hey, thanks man! It's going to be a slow process... at least until I get a house. Living in an apartment is not very conducive to building cars

I'm hoping to get started on the parts collecting about this time next year, which gives me plenty of time to get my ducks in a row and plan it out.

I'll definately be posting all along the way though.

 

I had my turbo and most of my mandrel bends for my headers/crossover for 2 years before I actually started on it. Good luck.

 

Cool, what do you think about a pair of T04E-60's for what I want to do with the car?
Any turbine trim suggestions?

 

given much thought to running a single? a S400 can be had for around 600 that will do what you want and will be easier to install, down pipe may be a bit of a bitch though

 

I've given some thought to running a single... but I have always wanted twins and there's just something about a clean symmetrical twin setup that does it for me.

I was looking the other day and there isn't much room to run a huge downpipe on the passenger side if I keep the A/C box... which I would like to do. I take this car on trips to car shows once in a while, and I want to be able to drive it to work every so often too, so A/C would be nice.

 

I figured I'd post a little update. I am under contract on a nice rancher with a 2 car attached and 1.13 acres of land Let the fun begin, heh

I've been doing reading whenever I can, and I really like the megasquirt system. I think I might build an MS2 and use it to control the HEI as well. I think a single plane might be too much intake for a street car (but I could be wrong... I've never done MPFI or forced induction), and the HSR is supposed to be good to 700hp from what they claim. Planning on getting a serp setup for the accessories, relocate the A/C compressor to the passenger side, maybe run a truck accessory setup because I have the hood clearance to bring the compressor and alternator inboard and up a little, leaving more room for the turbos and plumbing.

I would be really happy if I could find a cast SBC exhaust manifold that is designed to flow well and has a T3 flange on it, as well as a waste gate flange. I have only seen one, and the guy got it on craigslist, so no solid lead there. Might go with schedule 40 and brace it to the block or accessory bracketry.

 

You mean something like these ?

http://strco.net/cart/chevy-sbc-turbo-manifold-p-12.html

Good luck!

Joe

 

Talk to some of the site sponsors. Why are you specifically looking for a cast manifold?

 

Wow! Ask and you shal receive!! haha, thanks!

For durability. I have heard from a few people about how much trouble they have had with the weight of the turbos, heat cycles, and vibration causing cracks to develop. Am I on the wrong track with this? Again, this car will probably see much more street duty than road race duty.

 

I would look at some of the site sponsors like wrenchrat or the the guy selling in the group purchase forum for a set.

 

that is a super sexy freakin car. made any progress yet ?

 

I guess you can consider this progress... a close friend of mine was going to build a procharger setup, and had started on the engine. He had an LQ4 dropped in his lap for free, so now he is selling me the "blower engine"

I should pick that up Saturday. It still needs some stuff to get it going, but honestly it's going to do a little more waiting on the shelf before it get's to see some street time. This is going to deplete my play toy fund for a bit, and I'd still like to try to get an el cheap-o fuel injected TT setup working on the current cast 350. I'd hate to get all the expensive parts installed and make some dumb mistake and blow up the nice stuff.

I'd really like to get an A/C compressor mounted low on the passenger side with a serp. setup. That, and I need to get the fuel system purchased and installed, as well as the ECU. So I'm probably looking at another $1500-$2000 before I'm even ready for forced induction. It's a long, slow process I guess.

We got the house that I mentioned earlier. In the mean time, I have been trying to clean up some wiring and I've been building a console and modifiying the stock dash. Stuff that's more time consuming than expensive, just to keep me busy while I save up.

New relay box (have $100 into this, I honestly didn't expect it to be that much)

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Dash mods:

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4" of extra clearance behind the dash, which should mean I can cut clearance into the firewall for downpipes if needed. I also was able to mount the electrical box behind the head unit. I like having the dash a little closer, it gives the car a more modern feel and the dash flows into the console, making the console feel like less of an afterthought.

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I know some people go ape sh*t with their crazy fiberglass interiors, but I want this to look like something the factory might do. I haven't decided how to finish it off (either paint or upholstery) but it won't be glossey. These pieces are just plugs, which will be used to make the molds, which will be used to make the final part. I will keep the molds around.

I've got body filler on it right now, with a few hours to go before it's ready for primer and more sanding. Still have to put filler on the dash foam parts, and I'll probably use some slick sand or something to ready it for mold making.

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awesome! i'm glad to see you're sticking with it. That is gonna be a bad ass monte when you get it "finished"

 

Picked up the engine Saturday. Didn't make any progress on the interior because I had to help with 2 move andf it was hot as hell. I did get a free A/C compressor off a 3rd gen camaro while helping my one buddy. Hoping it's in good shape and I can use it on my SS.

 

sweet ride

 

That monts is so clean I can almost assume that you don't have a mullet

 

Big sticker in the back window, huge cowl hood...he's got a mullet.

 

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You should see my truck!

I like my cowl hood...

The sticker will be coming off... I used to work for a speed shop that has unfortunately since gone out of business. And the vinyl is starting to peel anyway.

You have to remember... I have owned this car since 16 years old.