SE Turbo Upgrade T04E Results
Discussion
Hi All,
from the other thread:
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=96878&f=17&h=0
you guys know I finished up my turbo and exhaust upgrade on my 90 SE. I've had a chance to drive it about and sort of the the little bugs out from the installation. Now for some emperical impressions:
The new turbo is quite responsive and I can only detect a tiny bit of difference in spool up time compared to the stock unit. For instance, in 4th gear say at 45mph and fairly low RPM the stock unit would spool up a fraction of a second quicker. In some cases I can detect no difference whatsoever, so, I don't think I'd be afraid of lag with the unit.
On a very positive note I can now sustain 1.0-1.2 bar of boost for long periods, even when it is hot outside - something that I was never able to acheive before. The unit is definitely moving more air volume and is noticably stronger in the mid-range (>4k) and upper RPM range (>6k). I like it.
I'm also pleased with wrapping the exhaust manifold and exhaust pipes with heat wrap. Using the digital pyrometer on interior surfaces near the turbo, manifold, and pipes show about a 30-50F reduction in surface temp when compared to the bare exposed pieces. So, maybe it is doing a good job of keeping the heat where it belongs, in the manifold and pipes. You can even perceive a difference with your hand, however, that isn't nearly as good as using the IR pyrometer. But, if you drive your car in the rain beware of doing this - it will corrode pipes quickly if the wraps get wet. My car doesn't see rain anymore so I feel okay doing this. Previously a buddy of mine and I did this on a daily driver to find the whole header system destroyed after a few months.
Later this week I'll take the car to the dyno I've been using for all my tests and see what the word is. I'll post back here with results for those that are interested in such things.
Oh, as far as cost, well, the parts breakdown is as follows:
T04E turbo, brand new, $525
Steel mandrel bends, 3", $65
Muffler, 3", Superflo, $24
Heat wrap, $37 off Ebay
Assorted hardware, bolts, etc. $32
3" Hi flow catalytic converter, $71 off Ebay
So, all done for about $754 and some blood, cussing, and sweat. Lots of cussing. And, I can still sell my old Lotus core which is in fine shape and my old 2.5" mandrel bent exhaust with Flowmaster muffler to recover a little money.
Ron
www.gt40s.com
>>> Edited by rlearp on Friday 28th May 10:59
from the other thread:
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=96878&f=17&h=0
you guys know I finished up my turbo and exhaust upgrade on my 90 SE. I've had a chance to drive it about and sort of the the little bugs out from the installation. Now for some emperical impressions:
The new turbo is quite responsive and I can only detect a tiny bit of difference in spool up time compared to the stock unit. For instance, in 4th gear say at 45mph and fairly low RPM the stock unit would spool up a fraction of a second quicker. In some cases I can detect no difference whatsoever, so, I don't think I'd be afraid of lag with the unit.
On a very positive note I can now sustain 1.0-1.2 bar of boost for long periods, even when it is hot outside - something that I was never able to acheive before. The unit is definitely moving more air volume and is noticably stronger in the mid-range (>4k) and upper RPM range (>6k). I like it.
I'm also pleased with wrapping the exhaust manifold and exhaust pipes with heat wrap. Using the digital pyrometer on interior surfaces near the turbo, manifold, and pipes show about a 30-50F reduction in surface temp when compared to the bare exposed pieces. So, maybe it is doing a good job of keeping the heat where it belongs, in the manifold and pipes. You can even perceive a difference with your hand, however, that isn't nearly as good as using the IR pyrometer. But, if you drive your car in the rain beware of doing this - it will corrode pipes quickly if the wraps get wet. My car doesn't see rain anymore so I feel okay doing this. Previously a buddy of mine and I did this on a daily driver to find the whole header system destroyed after a few months.
Later this week I'll take the car to the dyno I've been using for all my tests and see what the word is. I'll post back here with results for those that are interested in such things.
Oh, as far as cost, well, the parts breakdown is as follows:
T04E turbo, brand new, $525
Steel mandrel bends, 3", $65
Muffler, 3", Superflo, $24
Heat wrap, $37 off Ebay
Assorted hardware, bolts, etc. $32
3" Hi flow catalytic converter, $71 off Ebay
So, all done for about $754 and some blood, cussing, and sweat. Lots of cussing. And, I can still sell my old Lotus core which is in fine shape and my old 2.5" mandrel bent exhaust with Flowmaster muffler to recover a little money.
Ron
www.gt40s.com
>>> Edited by rlearp on Friday 28th May 10:59
Sounds great Ron! I will await your dyno results. I like the idea of wrapping the pipes too. The more heat you keep out of the engine bay the better. I am still thniking about the upgrade from TEC and will probably go ahead with it this winter when the S4 isn't being used as much. Being that the TEC unit is a direct replacment, I am thinking it won't be as much of a job as yours was.
John
94 S4
http://hometown.aol.com/oneshotcop/myhomepage/profile.html
John
94 S4
http://hometown.aol.com/oneshotcop/myhomepage/profile.html
Right now I've a "modified" hi torque chip from PUK. I say modified because I worked some on my own to alter some tables and change the max boost to 1.2 bar along with some fan temps etc. Overall it is okay, a little better than the chip was originally. As I posted before, it was too rich in original format.
Anyhow, it has a 3" open exhaust, all mandrel bent so it is 3" through the bends too. Heat wrapped manifold and all piping after the turbo as well. T04E turbocharger, K&N filter, and ram air mod although the later two aren't worth anything in my opinion. 1.2 bar boost maximum, fuel pressure is if I remember right around 42psi.
I've run the Lotus on the dyno several times and the fueling system has been more than enough to handle anything I done - more boost, nitrous, and now larger turbo. I don't think the larger turbo will max it out, but we'll see. However, rich is safe, but there is being too conservative too!
Basically all the chips are the same. Someone, don't know who, way back when copied a S4s chip. Then everyone started laying mods on it so I'm not sure if anyone could say they own a chip - the basic code for all of them are the same. Lotus might have something to say about that if they chose to, I don't know.
I hope to get my car over to the dyno with the new stuff next week and I'll post it here. Hell, at this rate with work though I'll be lucky to get it done before LOG!
R
>> Edited by rlearp on Thursday 27th May 20:19
Anyhow, it has a 3" open exhaust, all mandrel bent so it is 3" through the bends too. Heat wrapped manifold and all piping after the turbo as well. T04E turbocharger, K&N filter, and ram air mod although the later two aren't worth anything in my opinion. 1.2 bar boost maximum, fuel pressure is if I remember right around 42psi.
I've run the Lotus on the dyno several times and the fueling system has been more than enough to handle anything I done - more boost, nitrous, and now larger turbo. I don't think the larger turbo will max it out, but we'll see. However, rich is safe, but there is being too conservative too!
Basically all the chips are the same. Someone, don't know who, way back when copied a S4s chip. Then everyone started laying mods on it so I'm not sure if anyone could say they own a chip - the basic code for all of them are the same. Lotus might have something to say about that if they chose to, I don't know.
I hope to get my car over to the dyno with the new stuff next week and I'll post it here. Hell, at this rate with work though I'll be lucky to get it done before LOG!
R
>> Edited by rlearp on Thursday 27th May 20:19
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