Anybody have experience putting a turbo on a 4.3 V-6?

Hurdt299

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 13, 2006
Location
Asheville, NC
I'm building a buggy with a 97 4.3 Vortec. I have a couple turbos that I have no money in so I'm planning on putting one on it. Has anybody done this? Not looking to make a lot more power. Just want it to whistle more than anything. I really just need to know what I need to do to the computer, fuel system, etc.

Thanks,
Adam
 
It won't take much to adapt it. If you can I would mount it remotely somewhere in the back of your buggy out of harms way. If your not wanting to build alot of boost it won't matter and you won't need a whole lot to adapt it. You'll need some kind of fuel management unit or larger injectors, an adjustable valve to keep the boost down and you will have to tap an oil line into your sending unit on the block for the feed line and weld a bung in the pan for the return. As far a plumbing goes weld a flange on the tailpipe to match the one on the turbo and bolt it straight to the tailpipe then route a pipe back to the intake for the air. Use a good K&N filter and outerware or pre-filter. Look into Squires Turbo Systems they explain this a little more in depth than I did but this gives you an idea. I've been wanting to do this to my 4.3 for a while and just haven't got around to it. If you start it do a buildup I'd love to see how it turns out and I'm sure there are many people on here who know alot more about this than I do so you should get lots of help.
 
MarsFab said:
It won't take much to adapt it. If you can I would mount it remotely somewhere in the back of your buggy out of harms way. If your not wanting to build alot of boost it won't matter and you won't need a whole lot to adapt it. You'll need some kind of fuel management unit or larger injectors, an adjustable valve to keep the boost down and you will have to tap an oil line into your sending unit on the block for the feed line and weld a bung in the pan for the return. As far a plumbing goes weld a flange on the tailpipe to match the one on the turbo and bolt it straight to the tailpipe then route a pipe back to the intake for the air. Use a good K&N filter and outerware or pre-filter. Look into Squires Turbo Systems they explain this a little more in depth than I did but this gives you an idea. I've been wanting to do this to my 4.3 for a while and just haven't got around to it. If you start it do a buildup I'd love to see how it turns out and I'm sure there are many people on here who know alot more about this than I do so you should get lots of help.
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Thanks for the help. I'm good with mounting the turbo. I have a lot of experience with diesel performance so I'm not a stranger to a turbo. However, I am a stranger to a turbo on a gas motor. I'm wondering if I put it on and make 4-5 lbs of boost if I'm gonna need anything more than a simple ecm recal to get a little more fuel. I plan on mounting the turbo in between the frame rails just behind the y-pipe. I will run the air filter plumbing through the floor and inside the drivers compartment to keep it as clean as possible. Probably be a little noisy that way but I won't mind.
 
Might try one of the s10 websites I think they like to turbo those street trucks.
 
Yea your doing pretty much what I was planning with the intake tube. The biggest thing I'm worried about is making a heat/splash shield to hide the turbo with out taking all the air away to cool it. Another thing to keep in mind is that you'll probably need to run nothing less than 93 octane and maybe even retard the timing just a little.
 
MarsFab said:
Yea your doing pretty much what I was planning with the intake tube. The biggest thing I'm worried about is making a heat/splash shield to hide the turbo with out taking all the air away to cool it. Another thing to keep in mind is that you'll probably need to run nothing less than 93 octane and maybe even retard the timing just a little.
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I think it will stay cool enough under the buggy even with a skid plate under it. The gas motor won't make enough heat to hurt it. If a turbo stays cool enough on the side of a diesel running up to 1300 degrees I think it'll be alright. I hope so anyway. I got my turbo yesterday. It's an airesearch made by garrett. I still haven't ran the numbers to see how big it is and if it will work ok.
 
my buddy turbo'd his s10 a while back. for quite a while he left everything else stock. I beleive he upgraded his plugs, wires, cap/rotor but for the time being left the injectors stock. he did plan on upgrading injectors and tuning the comp, but hadnt that last time i talked to him. he ran about 6 or 7 lbs without any issues for a good amount of time.
 
compozr2 said:
my buddy turbo'd his s10 a while back. for quite a while he left everything else stock. I beleive he upgraded his plugs, wires, cap/rotor but for the time being left the injectors stock. he did plan on upgrading injectors and tuning the comp, but hadnt that last time i talked to him. he ran about 6 or 7 lbs without any issues for a good amount of time.
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Thank you. Thats exactly what I needed to know. Is he on nc4x4? I would like to ask him a few ?s
 
compozr2 said:
my buddy turbo'd his s10 a while back. for quite a while he left everything else stock. I beleive he upgraded his plugs, wires, cap/rotor but for the time being left the injectors stock. he did plan on upgrading injectors and tuning the comp, but hadnt that last time i talked to him. he ran about 6 or 7 lbs without any issues for a good amount of time.
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Thats awesome that makes me wanna do it even more now.
 
no, this was a buddy I worked with at a dealership back when I lived in Michigan.
I might be able to answer your questions. no guarantee though.
 
i've got my eyes:driver: on this!

Maybe we should get together and brain storm over a beer or 2
 
not sure what kit he used.

yes, there was a noticeable gain in power. would easily smoke the tires while already rolling. he said the power difference when passing someone on the highway was a HUGE difference, thats what he liked the most.
 
novacayne75 said:
10psi,a good fuel pump,rear mounted to keep inlet temp cold and u should not have any problem running the eng. as is just close the plug gap to around .035. and then send me the other turbo so i can put it on my zj.
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I'm shooting for maybe 6 or 7 psi at the most, I'm running the MSD fuel injection pump, it's goin underneath behind the tranny, and the other turbos I have are all stock cummins turbos. It might have a hard time lighting one of those. I found out my turbo is a Garrett T3 series. It's a little small but I think it will be ok for what I'm doin.

Do I need a hotter or colder plug for a turbo?
 
You need a colder plug. With the amount of boost your talking about you shouldnt have to worry about it though. Just close the gap up on the plugs a little. I know most of the turbo cars I have worked on only run about a 28 gap. I would start there. If you still have detonation problems drop one heat range on the plug. I doubt you will have to do that though.
 
I did some more research today. When a turbo is mounted lower than the return into the engine, you have to use a oil scavenging pump on the return line or oil will build up in the turbo, causing excessive smoke and eventually turbo failure. Unfortunately this type of pump is high temp and is over $200.
 
i dont think mounting it low is a good idea on a trail rig it prob. have a nice crack on the ext. housing after a good cold splash of water. can it be rear mounted? i know its a lot of extra plumbing but the turbo will stay cool and the extra piping will act as a intercooler. a t3 is perfict for what you are doing with it cause it will spool at a lower rpm. do u know what size t3 it is?
 
novacayne75 said:
i dont think mounting it low is a good idea on a trail rig it prob. have a nice crack on the ext. housing after a good cold splash of water. can it be rear mounted? i know its a lot of extra plumbing but the turbo will stay cool and the extra piping will act as a intercooler. a t3 is perfict for what you are doing with it cause it will spool at a lower rpm. do u know what size t3 it is?
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Thats what I was saying. On the trail when that thing gets hot one little splash of water and it will crack the housing. I would try to mount it above the "floor" also.
 
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