FAO: Turbo M20 people, pics of your turbo elbow/downpipe

Fri Oct 21, 2011 6:24 pm

looking for pics of the downpipe from the turbo. mainly where it passes by the shaft from the steering column to the rack.

just got my turbo and have a fleabay manifold and once i buy a car to run around in for a while ill be getting on to making the downpipe which will be (ideally) 3 inch and then into a 3 inch system.

Fri Oct 21, 2011 6:37 pm

Here are my pics mate think this should help i do have a E36 rack fitted to mine by the way with steel coupling

Fri Oct 21, 2011 6:55 pm

what size pipe is that? 3 inch?

was hoping i could squeeze a 3 inch down there just like that. i also have an alloy coupling for the rack here so i could use that if needs be.

what way have u got the exhaust routed around the trans mount? did u cut a notch in the mount for clearance or run the pipe around it?

Fri Oct 21, 2011 9:48 pm

Yes mate 3 inch pipe all the way back to my DTM i cut a notch in my mount as you only need to take a small amount out i will see if i can find some more pics

Fri Oct 21, 2011 10:00 pm

Found these matey.

Fri Oct 21, 2011 10:29 pm

couple of mine 3 inch straight thro not very good but ....
made it all my self

Sat Oct 22, 2011 1:06 am

ebay manifold? any issues with manifold flange holes and the studs in the head lining up or any cracked welds, etc? have an ebay manifold for mine and stud holes are definately out a little but not sure if there will be enough play to bolt it on and have the ports match up. also going to brace the turbo flange to the manifold flange and run like a threaded bar or something from a bolt on the turbine housing to something on the engine so the weight of the turbo is supported instead of all the weight being on the pipework.

so 3 inches will fit down either side of the shaft off the steering rack, leaves me with a few options. plan on notching the trans support as well because i need to try and keep a similar amount of ground clearance as i have now with the standard system.

im also running V band out so the downpipe shouldnt be too bad at all

Sat Oct 22, 2011 8:08 am

yeah flea bay manifold but you might notice on no 6 outlet I've cut it off and welded it on a tighter angle to allow a little more room plus I've also converter the steering joint to 2 knuckles and a bar rather than the standard one

yeah some if the ports didn't match or the bolt holes so I just ported them the best I could I also slit the flange in the middle too to relieve abit of stress from it and it's more manageable to get it on the studs

I only v banded mine just in case I ever need to take it out at all but I do have clearance problems on the exhaust most speed bumps are ok but he small narrow ones I can't get over at all and mines on coil overs too but having said that I made the exhaust in the garage so with out it being on the Rd you take a chance to what's gonna clear and what don't

Sat Oct 22, 2011 12:31 pm

Same prob i had with the EBay manifold holes not lining up just had to oversize the holes on the manifold not had any cracking on it yet just blown head gaskets but that something total different

Sat Oct 22, 2011 1:31 pm

what boost pressure did the gasket blow at and was it with standard head studs? also what way are u controlling fuel? running a standard ECU or aftermarket? ill be using the standard ECU but tuning ignition and fuel myself as i hear the majority of HG failures are due to the tuning or lack of in most cases. plan to fit a new HG and some ARP studs.

i used a CD pen and a manifold gasket to roughly mark the holes on the manifold flange, plan to take it to a local engineering plase and have the holes ovalled out where i marked it. what way have u ported the flange on the manifold? just open it out a bit all around so there should be a bit of a step down from the head to the manifold or what?

for ground clearance if i can make it sit no lower than the standard system between the front and rear wheels that would be ideal as im lowered 60mm front and 55mm rear and can manage most speedbumps. might even see about crushing the pipe a little in 1 or 2 key places.

Sun Oct 23, 2011 11:30 am

Car was set for 10psi mate running megasquirt with ARP head studs it is down to my tune mate to be honest i am the first to admit i am not that great at getting my head round megasquirt tuning it let go twice on the dyno trying to tune and the last time at brands hatch after 6 laps

so i have decided to have the megasquirt taken out and get bexley motor works to put in there standalone system but this is going to set me back about £1500 also as for head gasket i wood only fit a OEM one as i have used a oem and Patton the Patton got blown to bits were the oem one only pushed out on one cylinder so much stronger the oem one is cost about £80 from BMW but worth every penny as for manifold just opened the holes all round i have had it off a load of time now and can confirm it seals fine against the head no blowing.

Sun Oct 23, 2011 12:00 pm

theres a few different brands of OEM replacement out there.. from what i hear some are better than others. victor reinz is meant to be poo, goetze seems to be the one to go for. think theres 1 or 2 others also.

is the megasquirt ECU plug and play with the factory 55 pin connector for the ECU? how much would u be selling it for? standard ECU will do me fine as i can tune it myself and have spent tons of time figuring out maps and whatnot but MS would allow me to ditch the AFM and use a MAP sensor.

if u pop another gasket or if the heads currently off u should look into O ringing the head with some stainless steel wire. will bite the gasket around the cylinders and stop it from pushing out.

Sun Oct 23, 2011 9:21 pm

oo7 wrote:Car was set for 10psi mate running megasquirt with ARP head studs it is down to my tune mate to be honest i am the first to admit i am not that great at getting my head round megasquirt tuning it let go twice on the dyno trying to tune and the last time at brands hatch after 6 laps so i have decided to have the megasquirt taken out and get bexley motor works to put in there standalone system but this is going to set me back about £1500 also as for head gasket i wood only fit a OEM one as i have used a oem and Patton the Patton got blown to bits were the oem one only pushed out on one cylinder so much stronger the oem one is cost about £80 from BMW but worth every penny as for manifold just opened the holes all round i have had it off a load of time now and can confirm it seals fine against the head no blowing.

Find a mapper that can do your megasquirt (300quid)
I can also fit and map a VEMS for 1100.

Mon Oct 24, 2011 2:24 pm

anyone have pictures of exsternal wategate!

i am currently building my turbo motor out of the car, and the manifold didnt come with a exsternal wastegate outlet! so currently looking at peoples set ups, to see where to place it!

Mon Oct 24, 2011 7:29 pm

most after market manifolds wont come with a wastegate outlet you either have to make ya own or spend big bucks getting a proper manifold with one in they do sell an adaptor flange on ebay
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/T3-T3-TURBO-A ... 4cf504100e

saves ya cutting holes on ya manifold like i did this is where i put mine