Adding boost to the ZC

I started to gather the parts needed to boost the wagon. I was test fitting the the manifold and turbo today and it all looks good.

I only want to run 5lbs, Is this safe for the long run? I just want something to pull me through the low end, the ZC's top end power is good enough for me.

I picked a garrett TB03 from the 1.8T VW. it's a T3 flange and internal wastegate. My manifold has a flange for an external wastegate but i'm going to block it off.

Comments

  • theidealonetheidealone New Wagonist
    5psi isnt really a "factor". CFMs are more important, so the size of your turbo is important when discussing pressure. I would say that you will be fine. Anything under 10psi is pretty "safe" as long as you have the supporting mods and a good tune.

    Its really about having enough fuel, and a cool enough charge to ward off detonation. So bigger injectors, a tuneable ECU, some time of intercooler or heat exchanger is a good idea. Not a must, but then again, were talking about reliability. So it is a "must".
  • HaydzHaydz Moderator
    I'm going to go the opposite way and say that boost pressure and compression ratio mean absolutely nothing when tuning a turbocharged car.

    If your tuner is good, they will sufficiently compensate for high compression and boost. It doesn't matter.

    OBD1 + Crome + good tuner = win.
  • So far I installed a megasquirt programable engine computer and have the car running N/A, under a full lode i only get 37% duty cycle with the stock injectors at 40 psi fuel pressure. Other than that nothing is done to the engine. The map sensor is good up to 2.5 bar, i'll never need all of that but it can read boost.

    Since i'm new to the honda world i've been reading all of the intenral mods that can be done and i'm wondering how much boost can be ran on my engine before i need anything. The first thing that comes across my mind is piston ring gap. I dont want to heat up the engine to the point that i brake rings.

    And like I said in my first post, i just want something to pull me through the low rpm.

    My other question is the front mount intercooler. I have a good size BLITZ, when I say good size i dont mean huge, i mean proportional to my project. I have a friend that is telling me not to use it because of pressure drop, but on the other hand i'm with theidealone on the detionation factor.
  • I forgot to add that when this turbo was on the VW it spooled right off idle at first throttle. But that is a 1.8, i have a 1.6 but it shouldn't have that much lag..... i hope.
  • 300zx300zx Wagonist
    Nice wrench. Bluepoint do you have anyother snapon tools?
  • A good metal head gasket and some ARP head bolts with the addition to the right tune and you should be golden. I don't run an intercooler on my turbo ZC at 8psi.(<- I've experienced no problems by the way) I'm sure it effects something but I'm not expecting to get more than 20,xxx miles form the motor anyways.

    Did the VW you got that turbo from have an intercooler?
  • evol911 wrote:
    A good metal head gasket and some ARP head bolts with the addition to the right tune and you should be golden. I don't run an intercooler on my turbo ZC at 8psi.(<- I've experienced no problems by the way) I'm sure it effects something but I'm not expecting to get more than 20,xxx miles form the motor anyways.

    Did the VW you got that turbo from have an intercooler?
    It did but it was aftermarket, the guy i got it from went with a bigger turbo so he didn't need this one any more. I am expecting at least 50,000 miles at least from this engine so maybe I should invest in the parts you were talking about.

    This engine is one of the engines shipped in from japan with around 40k-60k on it.
  • 300zx wrote:
    Nice wrench. Bluepoint do you have anyother snapon tools?
    A few others but i'm one of those guys that can do everything with limited tools. So i dont go nuts buying tools i will only use once.

    I used that wrench to take out my wide band oxygen sensor.
  • Every motor from Japan only has 40-60000 kms on them :lol:
  • HaydzHaydz Moderator
    ragenasian wrote:
    Every motor from Japan only has 40-60000 kms on them :lol:

    The majority of engine wholesalers do not note the KMs at all. It's a BS number people throw around because of a the perpetuated myth that Japanese cars only do 60,000kms and then get thrown away.
  • Haydz wrote:
    ragenasian wrote:
    Every motor from Japan only has 40-60000 kms on them :lol:

    The majority of engine wholesalers do not note the KMs at all. It's a BS number people throw around because of a the perpetuated myth that Japanese cars only do 60,000kms and then get thrown away.


    True, but still i'd like this engine to last as long as possible.
  • HaydzHaydz Moderator
    Cam end seal, crank end seal, dizzy seal, valve adjustment, new headgasket, new waterpump, new timing belt/tensioner etc. at the mimimum.

    I'd also go with the ARP headstuds as evol911 said.

    As well as that, i'd go with an intercooler to reduce intake temps and help with tuning.
  • This is a video i made the other day going to a friends house. My first video with my new recorder.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wXzAVSWBVY
  • Haydz wrote:
    Cam end seal, crank end seal, dizzy seal, valve adjustment, new headgasket, new waterpump, new timing belt/tensioner etc. at the mimimum.

    I'd also go with the ARP headstuds as evol911 said.

    As well as that, i'd go with an intercooler to reduce intake temps and help with tuning.

    This all sounds reasonable. What else do you recommend?
  • HaydzHaydz Moderator
    If you have the time and money, i'd go with bearings and piston rings too. Would also give you a chance to check the bore condition.

    By the time you go this far you may as well just do a full rebuild of the engine.. ;)
  • mrhalfwitt wrote:
    This is a video i made the other day going to a friends house. My first video with my new recorder.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wXzAVSWBVY



    please dont tell me you are running 13.3-13.5 at WOT. you gonna burn your engine before you even got tuned..

    what fuel management are you using?
  • Haydz wrote:
    I'm going to go the opposite way and say that boost pressure and compression ratio mean absolutely nothing when tuning a turbocharged car.

    If your tuner is good, they will sufficiently compensate for high compression and boost. It doesn't matter.

    OBD1 + Crome + good tuner = win.


    thats it! :wink:
  • Metal head gasket.
    You need to go after market on that. Cometic or HKS do one. It's oversize but will work on a stock bore.
    You will start blowing the stock fibre gaskets once you get high boost levels.
  • CharbCharb Administrator
    I don't even want to know how you filmed that :roll:
  • NengchangNengchang New Wagonist
    5lb that's nothing u should be find.
  • mrhalfwittmrhalfwitt Band Wagon
    maxDURAND wrote:
    mrhalfwitt wrote:
    This is a video i made the other day going to a friends house. My first video with my new recorder.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wXzAVSWBVY



    please dont tell me you are running 13.3-13.5 at WOT. you gonna burn your engine before you even got tuned..

    what fuel management are you using?

    I'm using a megasquirt. I'm not sure how to take your comment. I'm guessing you think that video was taken with the turbo kit installed. That is the only way it makes sense to me. The video was taken after I got the megasquirt installed without the turbo. I still have yet to install the turbo kit. I wanted to make sure i'm not going to have any problems with my home made ecu before i do anything else.

    Other than that N/A under heavy acceleration 13.5 is a good AFR.
  • theidealonetheidealone New Wagonist
    I honestly, by reading the comments here, think youre searching for answers in the wrong place...

    This is a great wagon forum, but...

    Good luck with the build man.
  • mrhalfwittmrhalfwitt Band Wagon
    I honestly, by reading the comments here, think youre searching for answers in the wrong place...

    This is a great wagon forum, but...

    Good luck with the build man.

    I got some key answers. Basically anything over 10 lbs of boost requires fortification to the engine. The 5-7 lbs i'm looking to use is safe on the engine the way it is but I should replace a few inexpensive parts to help the engines longevity.

    Keep in mind, I'm not trying to make big numbers, i just want a little kick in the @$$ when I want it.
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