Turbocharging an E30. .

[vroooom_ptssssh]

Anyone know much about turbocharging a 320 or 325i 6cylinder? what turbo to use (T3/T34 or??) and can it be done on std internals i.e. crank, rods, pistones? can the std piston crowns be machined at all (enough tollerance) to lower compression to be able to run some more boost. . 'd immagine it cld handle x psi but wonder houw much wld be safe. . also is it easy to upgrade injectors to fuel for the increase???? alredy looking at making one un-reliable
any other info would be cool

[astondg]

The mechanic I go to said this would be a good idea for my car if I want more power so I am interested to know as well. He said just a small turbo for my car so it spools up quickly and makes just a bit more power.

I have read that the standard engine is ok for about 6 to 7psi boost but don't take that as definate. I think the standard bottom end is strong but the highish compression ratio could be a problem if you want a lot of boost.

If you are using a 320i and only a small turbo then maybe the 325i injectors would be good enough?

Aston

[vroooom_ptssssh]

Good point Re the injectors, a T28 wld possibly be a good turbo, but i like the torque of the T3/T34 with some boost behind it, 6-7psi isnt bad and wld give a good increase! ive got an Rs turbo jusnow, but the E30 is luring me and once you own a turbo car its kinda hard not to love them

try http://www.savspeed.co.za/

[Guest]

T3 is too big for this engine, you need the likes of renault5 turbo unit.

[Rich_W]

Just bung another engine (YB, RB etc) in there. Its going to be much much simpler to adapt a wiring loom.

[e30_Turbo]

Na, T3 is fine for the e30, cossies were 2ltr so it's about spot on really. Engine will take the conversion and I've read about some taking 10-12psi on a std set of internals.

A T3/T4 is too big really, will need other engine upgrades to get the most out of it.

Turbo-brown is going to run twin turbo's, where as most of the the other coversions that are happening are singles. Still you can expect atleast 40% increase in power, maybe more with the right brain to run it all.

There are two threads to read on this subject...hope it helps!

http://www.e30zone.co.uk/modules.php?na ... pic&t=2649

http://www.e30zone.co.uk/modules.php?na ... ight=turbo

[popupstands]

Just starting to turbo my 325 and if you click on link this will give you some good info

www.jdturbocharging.com

[Guest]

Coswoth run different block YYB which could take the boost upto 32psi where the m20 runs soft and cannot cope with more than 11lb boost so you need small turbo to utilise the boost with quick spool time.

[vroooom_ptssssh]

Thanks for the info guys, i think a set of forged low comp pistons an some decent rods a T34 would be a good turbo to use for good midrange/top end grunt.

tourer11, the YBT (cosworth engine) is nothing more than a 2.0 pinto block from the mk2 rs2000 (and the transit van!!) it just uses a diff crank rods and pistons, the magic of the engine is really the head Big turbo escos and sierra 4x4 uses a T34 also. depends what boost you want to run and where you want your power in the rev range.

thanks for the replies i'll check the links out

[Guest]

Yes but the m20 is nothing in comparison to the pinto 200 or 205.
You need to get past the factor of running high boost when the fact is boost will top at around 9lb on this as a set level so the big turbo is pointless making more lag and more heat.
Go smaller and get quicker spinup and lower heat, the fiesta did this and if you ever drive a fiesta side by side with the escort both factors and both 132hp you will find the fiesta leaves the escrot a lot quicker than the weight justification would say.
The boost comes in so much quicker.

[vroooom_ptssssh]

Yes exactly BUT i want more torque....and u wont get torque with a T2 or a T28, hence the T3 or T34, you don need to run higher boost on either of these turbos, a T28 flows more air than a T3 but jus cant produce the torque and these turbos are only good for LOW down grunt and run out of puiff high up in the revs, i want mid-high end power so a T3 or T34 are the only options
Fiesta turbo will leave an Escort turbo off the lights, but an Escort will pull harder midrange and leave the fiesta ;)

[325dude]

T3 is too big for this engine, you need the likes of renault5 turbo unit.

all i can say to the guy above is balls my 325 turbo had a garret t3 turbocharger and it fitted fine ............................j

[vroooom_ptssssh]

its not really the size of the turbo, its the boost you run. . . you could run a T4 on 3psi. . .wld be pointless but can be done lol

[Guest]

325dude you missunderstood, its not the size i was refering too.
As far as vroompst goes it makes sence now and i can understand your point.
Are you going to use and oil return into the sump? if you are are you going to wield a nut onto the sump to thread the line into it or do it through the block? or use watercooling only?

[vroooom_ptssssh]

tourer11, i'd preffer not to run a water cooled turbo, this is only essential on large turbo's in all honesty.
an oil feed is a MUST for ANY turbo, this was just a queery as to what can be done on a BMW engine turbo wise, ive not even decided if im going to buy one for definate yet. an oil return prob wil go into the sump prob jus a spout welded onto the sump with rubber oil hose clamped over it.

[Sjoerd320i]

what's better? an oil cooled turbo or an watercooled turbo? and how would you cool it if it was watercooled? and i asume every turbo needs oil thats being pumped round by the engine? (sorry for hijacking your thread)

[Guest]

All turbo applications have bearing oil feed but thats not the same as oil cooling.

[Karan]

just to let every1 know theres a thread somewhere earlier which shows things to consider when turbo'ing as a coiuple of folks here are doing it was we speak just look around in the site, its either here in the general bit or in the technical section

[GabberBaby]

Check this out mate

http://www.proturbo.fi/index_en.htm

(there is a couple of e30's in the galley that have been turbo'd)

[Turbo-Brown]

Ooh blimey, wouldn't use the blower from a 5GTT!

How you prep the engine and select the turbo depends on what you want from it.

If it's huge torque and power at the expense of economy and off-boost drivability, then a big turbo, big boost and lower compression ratio are probably the way forwards.

On the other hand, if you're like me, you want a little more mid-range and top end, standard off-boost drivability, normal economy and reasonable spool up, then little turbos aren't a bad idea.

I'm using the turbos from a Skyline which are pretty small variants of the T25 and on the skyline give about 270bhp. I'm aiming at about 260 with a lower boost but the standard CR.

I reckon a T3 cossie would be a pretty good choice for a 325 as by the sounds of it the cossie was mostly top end power, so you could probably have similar top end with the bigger engine and less lag too

As a last note, what you can get away with largely pivots around having the fueling and ignition right. The standard engine management can probably be adapted to make it work with a turbo setup, but it'll never be able to make the most of it all. Just fitting bigger injectors will lead to over-fueling pretty much everywhere and running the ignition retarded all the time will lead to crappy economy and drivability.

Compared to the cost of the turbo(s), plumbing and engine prep, plus all the time that goes into converting these things, an aftermarket ECU which can deal with everything is a pretty sound investment