i dont know much of anything about turbos. just sounds cool on an inline six so i figured id ask what does it take to create a turbo setup on a stock 200 (1968) block with an 1980's log intake/head. now i know you need to have the exhaust run through the turboand have an intake for it . and the possibility of an inner cooler. is there a simple setup thats on a budget? also what about the exhaust manifold? could u turn it upside down and run piping to the turbo that way? any info would be great. if it does meet my budget then i might think about it. i can handle minor bracket fabrication but nothing extensive. thanks fellas
budget turbo setup
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twentyover
Well-known member
ok ive read that entire page i didnt really see any info pertaining to my questions, not to sound like a prick. i just want to know if i can go out and install a used turbo from a thunderbird for under 150 bucks. if that helps any. i dont know what is invloved in making this happen that is my problem. i have an older thunderbird turbo coupe, and i belive ive read these turbos are good to use in 200s. or inlines.
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Anonymous
Guest
$150..... you're gonna be a little shy. I'll just touch on some of the issues you will need to address.
1) Fitting the turbo to the manifold. The stock manifold sucks, and isn't great for normal use or a turbo, but it will suffice for low boost levels. By that, I mean 5 - 8 psi. You will need to get a flange (suited for the turbo you are going to use) and have it welded to a piece of pipe. Then attach that pipe to your exhaust manifold. You may need to have it bent into a "J" to allow clearance. Most turbo's can be "clocked" in any direction. You can rotate the housings for easier plumbing.
2) Carb setup. You have 2 options. Blow through vs Draw though. This is where the money decission comes in
On a budget, a draw through setup would be best. You basically let the carb feed the turbo instead of the turbo pushing air into the carb in a blow through setup. In a draw through, you don't use an intercooler, and you don't have to worry about fuel pressure fluxuations. If you can, look at how some of the 3.8L GM engines used a turbo. GM made a plenum that used a drawthrough turbo with a Quadrajet carb. This might be a good idea. Check ebay or there is a guy here with one (54Ford I think....)
3) Pluming to intake manifold from turbo. Here you will need to have more plumbing made. In a draw through setup, you just run a pipe off the turbo's compressor up, over, and down into the intake. There's no carb there - it's in front of the turbo remember? Nice and simple... In a blow through, you have to use a carb hat to seal over the top of the carb and pressurize it.
1) Fitting the turbo to the manifold. The stock manifold sucks, and isn't great for normal use or a turbo, but it will suffice for low boost levels. By that, I mean 5 - 8 psi. You will need to get a flange (suited for the turbo you are going to use) and have it welded to a piece of pipe. Then attach that pipe to your exhaust manifold. You may need to have it bent into a "J" to allow clearance. Most turbo's can be "clocked" in any direction. You can rotate the housings for easier plumbing.
2) Carb setup. You have 2 options. Blow through vs Draw though. This is where the money decission comes in
On a budget, a draw through setup would be best. You basically let the carb feed the turbo instead of the turbo pushing air into the carb in a blow through setup. In a draw through, you don't use an intercooler, and you don't have to worry about fuel pressure fluxuations. If you can, look at how some of the 3.8L GM engines used a turbo. GM made a plenum that used a drawthrough turbo with a Quadrajet carb. This might be a good idea. Check ebay or there is a guy here with one (54Ford I think....)
3) Pluming to intake manifold from turbo. Here you will need to have more plumbing made. In a draw through setup, you just run a pipe off the turbo's compressor up, over, and down into the intake. There's no carb there - it's in front of the turbo remember? Nice and simple... In a blow through, you have to use a carb hat to seal over the top of the carb and pressurize it.
well if you have a welder and some way to cut metal like a torch or bandsaw then you can maybe do it for $150. my log manifold is made from some old 1.5" square tubing I had around and some scrap plate from the local comunity college. so you could say I have nothing but time in the manifold. so at that point you have the turbo mounted on that car and thats it. if you are running a airesearch turbo off a 83-86 tbird (the 87-88 turbo will not work for this) then you need a cone filter with I think it is a 3" opening. just stick this on the inlet for the turbo. and if you can swipe the breather setup off the valve cover the tbird (will replace your pcv setup) if you can work with metal at home this is where you save the big money. buy a mandrel bend and fab a carb bonnent. mod a 2300 holley for boost and you should be set. almost forgot you need to supply oil to the turbo (and a drain to the pan) if the motor is out of the car you can weld a bung on the pan for a drain or just epoxy one on. for oil supply get the sender and block off that 2.3L. it just uses plain brake line that you can buy and bend up yourself.. it will thread into the 200 block ok.
my application will be on a rebuilt stock 68 200 block with an 80s head. ok header and oil lines hardest part it seems. now i think inliner said a pull through carb would be easiest and cheapest set up with less problems. who makes these? and do i have to modify the head all that air going into a 1.75 inch hole seems a bit tuff. i have access to everything. and my uncle might even be able to weld it since im not really that great at it. the most rooms seems to be on the drivers side but i dont htink that is feesable with the header being on the passenger. now i dont want to run a large amount of boost maybe around 8psi? what is the highest i can go? i am really interested in this. i think it would be cool as hell. im not sure on the year tbird i have so i will loook into it. now the oil lines i can just tap a hole into the block the return the oil but i have to attach a line directly to the pump to the turbo right?
for the oil supply just remove the oil sender from the drivers side of the block at the back. put a "T" fitting in the hole and put the sender on one side of the T and run a line off the other port to the turbo. I woulf put an adaptor for a 1/4" brake line on the T and run brake line for the oil supply. (run arond the back of the block)
although I was just thinking that a drivers side mounted turbo could be nice if you ran a electric pump since you could return oil into the old fuel pump boss. but things would be pretty crowded on that side.
really physically getting the turbo on the car is the easy part. tuning it and making sure everything works right is the hard part.
although I was just thinking that a drivers side mounted turbo could be nice if you ran a electric pump since you could return oil into the old fuel pump boss. but things would be pretty crowded on that side.
really physically getting the turbo on the car is the easy part. tuning it and making sure everything works right is the hard part.
alrighty i have the oil problem fixed. and nobody fabs aturbo header right bc there are so many different turbos. and its alot of work. i work at home depot and they have steel tubing i think that i could use. when i go to work monday i will take alook.also how thick of a steel plate do i need? 1/4 inch good? and the carb pull through correct is the way i want to go i think but cant find them.
You should probably pick up a copy of Turbochargers by Hugh MacInnes. It's available from amazon and from www.motorbooks.com. It covers everything you're going to need to know about a carbed turbo setup
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Anonymous
Guest
Quite possibly one of the very cheapest turbo installations whould be to build a system like this one from the early '70s.
You can look at some more pics of early turbo installations here.
To answer one of your questions, I think 1/4" mild steel for an attachment plate would work okay at modest poost levels. As for doing it on $150, that depends on you scrounging and fabricating abilities.
Questions are free, though!
You can look at some more pics of early turbo installations here.
To answer one of your questions, I think 1/4" mild steel for an attachment plate would work okay at modest poost levels. As for doing it on $150, that depends on you scrounging and fabricating abilities.
Questions are free, though!
omg that is exactly what i had in mind. that just gave me the inspiration to persue this even more. any ideas on what kind of turbo that is? what kind of carb? how he mounted the carb. it os obviously a 4 barrel i looked at the other pics and they said it was a ford product carb. this setup seems like it would be for low boost applications correct? that is what i am looking for. i want to make this happen so bad haha that would be great
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Anonymous
Guest
Those old turbos are no longer available, but you can use the turbo off an early ('78-'83) Buick 231. A couple of years ago I bought this one for $45...complete with matching 4-bbl carb.
Prices are a bit higher on eBay, but that's where I'd start looking. In any case, check out all the photos on the link I provide above. You are sure to get some ideas from those pics.
Prices are a bit higher on eBay, but that's where I'd start looking. In any case, check out all the photos on the link I provide above. You are sure to get some ideas from those pics.
ok im on ebay looking ... but im not sure what to look for in a turbo. since i want to be running low boost i dont need anything big do i? i dont want to run an innercooler either so i know my boost is limited. maybe eventully an inner cooler will be added. i see things that i relate to this site like t3 and t4 but not sure what they are. or there meanings. also how will i set up the carb? do i need a four barrel or do i need a two barrel? or can i use a 2 barrel? i like what a saw in the previous pic mount turbo to exhaust manifold and run it just like that. any ideas on what would do this type of application? also i talked to my buddy he has a 1985 thunderbird turbo coupe with the 2.3L turbo on it what kind of turbo is this and can i use that? it is frre if it will fit like i want it
ok read a bit and found out people use the stock 1100 carb. i want to upgrade to the 2100 bc i have one lieing around and im ordering the 2 barrel carb adapter. how will this carb work ? i think i read it can hold up to 9 psi of boost? i was actully thinking about running 8 psi of boost with the two barrel? not that i know this carb will work descently do i have to make any mods to the carb internally? if not good. or do you think i should stick with the autolite 1100 carb and just run that at 8 psi? i figured for air with the 8 psi boost and more gas from the 2100 would be a good increase in power. i am also trying to go economy stlye on this a bit to. now will a 2.3 L turbo from an 85 tbird work with this setup. the two barrel at 8 psi. and can i mount it to the exhaust manifold?.
FastRonald
Well-known member
8) The local U -Pull - It yard here in the suburbs of CHicago area asking $52.00 for a turbo set up..........cheap and complete.......gotta love it!
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Anonymous
Guest
It'll probably work fine. Give it a try!
hey stan do you think the autolite 2100 carb at 287 cfm will work for a blow through carb? if so does anything have to be changed internally at a max boost of 10 psi. i will run it at 8 but i might want to play a bit so.
now i have a turbo, i have to someway figure out a way to bolt it to an exhuast manifold. anyone have ideas about that? measure the bolt spacing on the manifold and make a flange out of flat steel to bolt up to the turbo? good or bad idea?
now i have a turbo, i have to someway figure out a way to bolt it to an exhuast manifold. anyone have ideas about that? measure the bolt spacing on the manifold and make a flange out of flat steel to bolt up to the turbo? good or bad idea?
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Anonymous
Guest
I don't know much about the 2100, so I hope one of the several experts here will weigh in on that topic.
Probably the easiest way to attach the turbo to the exhaust manifold is to make an adapter from plate that permits attaching to both the manifold and the turbo flanges. If you take a good look at them, you should be able to figure it out. If that seems out of your league, any local machine chop should be able to whip one up for you.
Probably the easiest way to attach the turbo to the exhaust manifold is to make an adapter from plate that permits attaching to both the manifold and the turbo flanges. If you take a good look at them, you should be able to figure it out. If that seems out of your league, any local machine chop should be able to whip one up for you.
