turbocharging a 3.2

[cmcfaul]

I have a Turbo Look 89 Carrera with a 3.2. What needs to upgraded to support a mild, twin turbo upgrade?

Engine has 97k miles on it but does not burn oil, leak or have any known issues (clutch is getting soft).

Will probably wait until rebuild time but am curious.

Chris
89 Carrera

[quattrorunner]

Twin turbo makes it somewhat more complicated but single turbo would be easy.
software flash, pressure regulator, j-pipe with wastegate, turbo, oil supply and drain, intake, intercooler, injectors. What else?
If twin then headers and another turbo, more complicated intake and intercooling etc..

[turbobrat930]

Must replace the rod bolts with something better than stock! The rods are good, just the rod bolts that need to be dealt with. Also, if you want to run any sort of boost, you need new, lower compression pistons. And of course, the added items that Quattro stated above!

[cmcfaul]

Rod bolts = splitting the case = bearings and while you are in there stuff (turbo oil pump?, turbo pistons?).

Since it has the whaletail which seems to be designed to house an inter-cooler would probably go that route any way. Can live with a single turbo.

Is the 3.2 well suited for this as far a longevity and reliability? is 300 hp realistic ?

Chris
89 Carrera

[Tippy]

Nothing is required but a good air to air intercooler.

At 300hp, the 3.2 is not even beginning strain.

You don't have to pull cases apart to change rodbolts, but even that, you don't need.

Boost it 6-8psi and enjoy it!

[Tippy]

A cheap route I've heard others do:

1. MSD BTM to retard timing under boost
2. BEGI rising rate fuel pressure regulator to increase fuel supply under boost essentially turning the stock injectors into larger ones

[Tippy]

Todd Knighton of Protomotive has a solution using a rising rate FPR and chip for the DME.

He's really not into air-cooled engines anymore (what I've heard second hand), but he might help out.

[chrisf]

chris,

I did this last year to what I am assuming was my stock 3.2 ('86).

I picked up a used setup from another forum member here. I worked with Todd @ protomotive to develop the chip that replaced my SW chip. I am running .5 boost with a relatively small inter cooler. I have Todd's FP regulator as well.

I sent the turbo to Reed @ work turbochargers in birmingham AL Work Turbochargers - High Performance Turbocharger Specialists. He was great to work with and was willing to do a same day build/turn around for me. Once he got the turbo, it was more work than we had anticipated. I basically have a complete new turbo. He was able to use the same turbine housing so I wouldn't have to change or modify my header set. I paid about half of what I think a new turbo runs!! The turbo is a hybrid/custom garret T60 size I believe. When the car is in 5th gear and at 1K rpm, I can open it up & I am positive pressure by 2800, and at full boost at just above 3K!! Its a great setup for my 2800lb car.

here is a link to my thread: I think I am making the leap!

The only draw back for me at this point is I am now leaking from the back of the chain housings, where the cams come thru. It was a dry engine before the switch to full syn oil. I have clean and watch these leaks start again. Only two places. I still drive the car, but it gets a little messy and smelly. Requires a good wash or at a minimum, a wipe down of the back after a good hard drive. I'll eventually address this issue, when I do a valve job. Other than that.....man, what a transformation in the driving characteristic of the car!! absolutely amazing.

[flat6pilot]

Very similar project done to an SC with 185,000 miles. 420chp @ .5 bar. (Still going strong):
Another 911sc Turbo Conversion

[TurboKraft]

Since this is "for off-road and racing use only" I'd mount the turbo in place of the catalytic converter. Will make exhaust, boost, and oil plumbing short and not too difficult to fabricate.
Option 2 is to get a 930's exhaust J-pipe that mounts the turbo and wastegate, then use a 930-application muffler, etc.

[scottrx7tt]

Originally Posted by TurboKraft

Since this is "for off-road and racing use only" I'd mount the turbo in place of the catalytic converter. Will make exhaust, boost, and oil plumbing short and not too difficult to fabricate.
Option 2 is to get a 930's exhaust J-pipe that mounts the turbo and wastegate, then use a 930-application muffler, etc.

I went the stock j pipe route. It really saves a bunch of $.

[baloo]

Originally Posted by flat6pilot

Very similar project done to an SC with 185,000 miles. 420chp @ .5 bar. (Still going strong):
Another 911sc Turbo Conversion

Flat -- I missed your conversion, probably I dropped aspirations to complete my conversion around 2014, BUT, great post.

Per Tippy and others' inputs, my best advice to the OP is the following:
1) Make it EASY! Do not overthink it. Do not get wrapped up in perfection and the latest tech-jabber. Do not waste time and money getting the fanciest, nor most gadgety, NOR the highest quality components! No No NO!
JUST GET SOMETHING TOGETHER AND ON THE CAR AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE!

2) AGAIN: Get the conversion done as quickly as possible with whatever you have on hand. Get it on the road ASAP, and THEN, make modifications to the already-running car!

3) AGAIN: Get it on the road ASAP -- repeated advice! Otherwise, there will be yet a different Pelicaner (not you) starting a thread with the familiar words "...got a turbo kit from a fellow Pelicaner who did not finish their turbo project."

How do I know?
I got MY basic starter kit from a Pelicaner whose turbo project fizzled. It is such a common story.
I started my turbo planning around 2012 (IIRC). Having lived with myself for 67 years, I recognized the potential pitfalls in entering this conversion -- the main one being loss of focus.
In an effort to make the conversion into a single weekend project in order to minimize any downtime, I systematically researched and collected every single part I might need to do the conversion before taking the car off the road.

In fact, tongue in cheek, I began a thread enumerating all the possible reasons (excuses) that I could think of, for my project to go awry (again, having lived with myself most of my 67 years).
This list even included "relationship problems" and Life-situations (like health, etc), other shinier projects, lack of funds, etc.
Sure enough, I have 98% of every single piece needed to fully install my turbo on my 87 3.2. BUT, as predicted, and in spite of myself, "other crap" came up, and the project has sat in my garage now for almost 2 years without anything further done.
In the meantime, the gas tank rusted, the fuel pump burned out (prob from rust particles?), the injectors got clogged, etc.

It is only my pride that has prevented me from posting a Turbo Kit For Sale in Pelican Classifieds. In fact, I am even considering paying someone $2-3K just to install the whole kit -- again, something that my pride would have to overcome.

GET EVERY SINGLE PART YOU NEED COLLECTED BEFORE YOU TAKE YOUR CAR OFF THE ROAD.
PLAN TO GET IT ALL DONE IN ONE WEEKEND (Yes, it can be easily done!).
GET IT DONE AND THEN SORT IT OUT AND MAKE MODIFICATIONS ONCE YOU ARE DRIVING IT.

[baloo]

Originally Posted by flat6pilot

Very similar project done to an SC with 185,000 miles. 420chp @ .5 bar. (Still going strong):

Flat6: I reread your entire conversion post. When/How did you get the 420chp at .5bar?
I must have missed some modification that you did.
Intercooler change?
Only injector change?

[Tippy]

Spot on baloo!!!!!

Perfection leads to non completed projects....

If you were near, I'd totally help you put it all on.

[kenikh]

Originally Posted by scottrx7tt

I went the stock j pipe route. It really saves a bunch of $.

You can even go with 38mm ports if you use a 3.2 Carrera exhaust. Bolts right up to the j pipe.

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