The Monkey gets an iron lung

I learned my lesson about asking for a resdual value following a race.  DO IT!  It makes the judges process easier and with 100 teams of lunatics and 'budgets' written on napkins they need all of the help they can get.  So following NJMP 2012 I asked judge Phil for a value and hinted that I would love some room to turbocharge our E30.  His grace must have thought the prospect folly as he granted us $150 for a turbo budget.

So, the adventure begins.  Let's break down the cost.

  • The turbo itself
    • $50
    • Craigslist garret turbo from a volvo.  I found it from another E30 entheusiast who had upgraded to a larger turbo.  He was tired of it sitting around.
  • Adding the apropriate amount of fuel
    • $40
    • FMU seems to be the best way to go here.  It will raise the fuel rail pressure in time with the boost thereby compensating for increased air in.  Not the greatest technology but when your budget is on a strict diet you do what you can.  BEGI makes the best as it is variable.  It's also expensive.  We will endup with a fixed ratio unit (like 12:1) and will try to adjust it with a bleeder valve.  Or hope that it works well enough on its own.
  • Inserting the turbo into the exhaust stream
    • $4
    • There are plenty of ways to do this if you have any money to spend.  Too bad we don't.  The exhaust ports on the E30 manifold are almost symmetric.  You can flip them upside down and re-drill the bolt holes if you add a little meat.  (We can MIG steel to cast iron right?)   You can use the leftover stock exhaust tubing to join together into a T3 flange.
    • Buying flange is too expensive.  Make it from cheap materials.
  • Oil/Water plumbing
    • $10 (old brake fittings/line, spare EMT conduit, rubber tube, ...)
    • You need an oil feed.  It should be restricted somewhat so it doesn't over-flow the bearings.  A -3 line, or a 1/8 line will accomplish this.
    • Drain needs to be 1/2" or so and terminate into the oil pan.  Need creative way to add a bulk-head fitting to the oil pan.  (drill out a large bolt or weld on a piece of aluminum tube.)
    • Water.. doesn't really need to be added but can be installed in parallel to the radiator.
  • Intercooler & charge tubing
    • $26 at crazy rays
    • $10 for misc tubing
    • to cool the charge before it enters the motor.
    • PVC tubing?
  • Timing retard
    • Timing is locked.  Equivalent would be
    • pre-turbo water injection on full throtle, washer fluid motor through an oriface like a spray can tip?
    • higher octane fuel
  • PCV valve --> breather can
    • don't want to pressurize the crankcase or you blow oil olut of everywhere.  Since the car already does that we don't need to make it worse.
  • downpipe
    • $0