M42 Turbo Build (Semi Budget, keepng AC!) No 56k

[freeride53]

this is so fucking awesome.
Subscribed.

[Schnitzer318is]

how did the small case diff hold up? I'm trying to decide if I should find a medium case 3.73lsd for it, but it sounds like I should just keep the 4.10...

Do you do your own MS tuning? I've basically got my NA map down now, with 12.2-12.7 AFRs at WOT and a tad over 15 at a cruise. 27 mpg city with the MS currently :). and the PWM idle works great. It lasted through an HPDE last weekend with no problems at all and wayyyy more midrange than it ever had before, so I'm happy

Stick with the 4.10's. The 3.73's save you gas, but take away a good amount of smile factor. Yep I do my own tuning with MS 1. I want MS 2 though... would like blended MapDot and TPSdot. Also, I can not get my PWM to work correctly with the stock ICV. I would just get the Glen's Garage 3 wire board, but working on this PnP MS has proved to be a PITA for adding circuits. It's built on the 3.57 board so no proto area, and I think all my outputs are used? For now I just run no ICV and deal with rough starts. Runs great after on for 4 or 5 mins.

You're pretty rich for a NA setup at WOT I think. I run 12.0 @ 12psi boost. I would think you'd be better served in the low 13's? Could be wrong.

Nice dude, just ran across this and read throught it all. Looks like a stout setup.

How does the exhaust sound? I need to change my rattling muffer, would like something a little different.

Thanks. Right now the exhaust sounds like ass because of the HUGE exhaust leak under the hood. Without any leaks I'd imagine it sounds pretty good. I added the 3" Magnaflow high flow cat to take out a bunch of rasp and rice. Can't wait for no exhaust leaks.

Wow, reading this thread is making me really want to bite the bullet and FI my 318. So how does one find the right balance between power and reliability :D

Do it. It brings such a smile to your face everytime you drive it.

LOL the right balance between power and reliability is right before parts start breaking. ;)

[carguy101]

subscribed for future ref great job!

[e304me]

what does your timing look like at WOT?

[jeff_b]

Subscribed for M42 POWAH!!!

[Schnitzer318is]

what does your timing look like at WOT?

Will post my maps when done tuning. I have to redo them now that I got the car back together.

So, I put the 4.10's back in the car and removed my turbo manifold and had it rewelded (it had cracked EVERYWHERE). No wonder I had so many exhaust leaks. Got the car back together today and took it for a short spin. It's running a bit rich now that it doesn't have those huge leaks, but holy hell does it spool a helluva lot faster. I should have taken pictures of the leaks... lol around the turbo flange had cracked 3/4 of the way around the circumference.

Going to take it to the exhaust shop on monday to have them weld a joint into the downpipe/exhaust area so I don't have to keep dropping the entire exhaust anytime I want to service something. After that I will post videos of how the exhaust is actually supposed to sound with no exhaust leaks. Stay tuned.

[gearheadE30]

Very nice; good to see the progress. What did you use to move the AC line? I would very much like to keep AC, but that doesn't seem particularly possible where the line is from the factory.

[Schnitzer318is]

Nope you will definitely have to move the AC line if you want to keep it. What I did was take the line to a hydraulics shop and had them cut it. They cut it at the top where it has the o-ring and fitting, and they cut it down at the connection to the compressor. Then I had them use 2 feet of high pressure hose with compression fittings on each end.

That hose is pretty rigid, but it is flexible enough so that I could run the line down the front of the fender and back to the compressor. This gave me plenty of clearance for oil drain and other turbo components. You can see the line at the bottom of the pic below. Best part of this solution was they only charged me $16 to make the line!

[gearheadE30]

wow....that's a really good price. Yeah, that was the picture I noticed it in, haha. looks like I'm gonna have to convert to r134a now though hah

[Schnitzer318is]

No, R12 will go through that line just fine. The service fitting for the AC is on the top part before the bottom hard line fitting.

[gearheadE30]

well, its more that I don't really have access to r12, but I can get r134a pretty easy. Of course, that is all academic now that I realize my wastegate mount is right where the AC compressor is... Either I have to lose the AC or make custom mounts to put it where the PS pump is or something.

[Schnitzer318is]

Of course, that is all academic now that I realize my wastegate mount is right where the AC compressor is... Either I have to lose the AC or make custom mounts to put it where the PS pump is or something.

Weaksauce. Looks like you're boned unless you want to move your wastegate, piping, and BOV. But I think I'd do that before moving the compressor.

[gearheadE30]

See, I don't mind moving the piping or anything else; I just don't have a way to move the wastegate. Its about as optimal a design as I've seen for getting the wastegate close to the collector and for keeping the entire thing true twin-scroll. If I'm lucky (which historically, I'm not hah) then maybe I'll be able to make a plate that moves the AC compressor mount downwards about 3 inches, and I *might* be okay...

[Schnitzer318is]

Got the car back from the welder yesterday evening. Holy hell, night and day difference. My manual boost controller is WAY off now (I guess because there aren't any leaks) so I have to re adjust that. The exhaust sounds wicked awesome and with the 3" high flow cat all of the rice is gone at WOT as well.

Spool time is ridiculous now and begins at about 2600. If I drop it into 4th on the highway the boost gauge jumps from 0 to 12psi (my limiter on MS) almost instantly. Totally different animal now.

Vids coming later if I can get off my @$$, 3 days into P90X and it's kicking my aforementioned @$$.

[Schnitzer318is]

Exhaust/engine bay video. Enjoy. I love driving this car now. Exhaust sound is subtle and then sounds sporty and euro under full throttle. Loving it.

Let me know what you guys think.