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Hey guys, need some input (turbo guys)

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Old 10-11-2005, 01:45 PM
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Default Hey guys, need some input (turbo guys)

I have been looking for a Miata for about a month now. Just a commuter car, you know, something that can get me from the house to where the looser cruiser picks me up. But apparently a miata isnt on the wifes agenda because it isnt safe and you cant haul kids with it.

SO, in my infinate wisdom I have decided to start looking for an OLD volvo station wagons/sedan. Volvos are the safest cars out there and they can get decent milage. Here is the only catch though, its gotta have a turbo. Nothing that a set of injectors, a nice intercooler and a bigger snail wont fix to make it a FUN, safe, decent milage car. What could the harm be if it goes "whooosh" inbetween shifts. I could always just say that it is something non essential that is broken but doesnt need to be fixed.

I have been looking for a 88-91 GLE sedan with a manual. Apparently the manuals are hard to find.

Big question is, how hard is it to swap a larger turbo and intercooler in a car seeing as that I know jack and **** about turbo cars?
Old 10-11-2005, 01:58 PM
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And if a manual cant be found, what are the real differences between a manual and auto in driving characteristics?
Old 10-11-2005, 02:01 PM
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Poik? Poik? where are ya eric? hehe Volvo turbos can be fun from what I've seen
Old 10-11-2005, 02:16 PM
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So far just making a few phone calls it looks like upgrading the turbo in this thing would be a nightmare since NO ONE makes and aftermarket manifold for a volvo. Turbo technologies wont do one off projects anymore and turbonetics doesnt do it and as far as I know those are the 2 reputable places.
Old 10-11-2005, 03:07 PM
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Get a Saab. Like a early 9000 w/ a 2.3 turbo. Just turn the boost up!! Mine ran high 14's stock @ 97 with only 12 psi. You can push like 20 w/o tuning really and some people are at like 25 psi with a remapped ecu and stock motor!! And they can be had for cheap. The autos don't like the abuse so I say get a manual. Fun to drive cars.Otherwise my dad has a nice auto 4 sale.

Jason
Old 10-11-2005, 05:09 PM
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Originally Posted by 11secproject
. Just turn the boost up!!
Jason

OK, How do you exactly "turn up the boost"? Is there a **** in the car that says "b0oSt"? Or is it upgrading a BOV sring? Thats why I am asking. I have no clue what makes a turbo tick. Just the very basics of how they work is about all I know.
Old 10-11-2005, 05:22 PM
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The Wife's agenda? LOL thats funny ****, You need to get the whip back. She obviously isn't done with it yet.
Old 10-11-2005, 05:46 PM
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Just answer the ******* questions please.
Old 10-11-2005, 07:20 PM
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Well I have a manual boost controller laying around. Its just a **** that you would use w/ like an air compressor. My turboed Nova I had that Turbo Tech built a while ago just used a manual one.

Jason
Old 10-11-2005, 09:09 PM
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Turbo car? Fun to drive? Safe? Can haul kids? Didn't I hear you say GNX a while ago???

My buddy knows turbo cars VERY well. I will ask him. He had an eletric adj **** he could dial the boost up with from the drivers seat. Not sure you can do that to all of them, but he had it on his Talon.
Old 10-11-2005, 10:19 PM
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Hell yeah! Ok, here is the low-down on what you need to make a Volvo go really fast:

Bigger injectors (browntops), stock 29lb/hr greentop injectors only support like 300hp or so lol

The 90+ 740 Turbos came with a mitsubishi TD04-13c which is a lot smaller than the previous TD05-12b (that I have on my '88) and the Garrett T3s which came on just about every one before then.

93+ engines have squirter rods, but are way more expensive
92+ are hard to put a big intercooler in because of some redesign in the AC and radiator and stuff

It's pretty simple to upgrade the turbo, either to a Volvo 60/63 T3, or if you go all out, a Holset HY35. The Holset HY35s are what come on the 5.9L dodge cummins diesels. They just use a standard T3 flange and you just have to hook up the coolant and oil lines.

I am running 12psi on my Volvo and only have done a cone air filter and it hauls pretty much *** for being a little 4 cyl If I bump it up to ~15psi and take it to the track and the clutch holds, it would do high 14s.

Volvos have almost 50/50 weight distrobution, so driving in the rain is a BLAST.

MPG on my turbo Volvo I get 18/24. MPG on my Camaro I get 18/24. So not much difference there... On my GLE (non-turbo model) I get about 26/35.

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/turbo.htm good link

The thing that blows up on these cars is the transmission, the M46 (4 speed + overdrive) is the strongest one you can get in the US pretty much. Also there is the M47 which is a true 5 speed.

Any more questions, just ask..
Old 10-11-2005, 10:55 PM
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And since there isn't a large Volvo aftermarket, for upgrading the manifold, you can either get a 1990+ exhaust manifold (which I have sitting in my room) or a few people go ahead and make their own manifolds:
http://www.pbase.com/765ti/image/49058380.jpg
http://www.pbase.com/jaodesign/image/40860439.jpg

And for fuel and spark management people usually go the MegaSquirt route.

Thing is, that it's cheap to run 14s, still cheap to run 13s, but to have it reliable at that point.. You'll be going through transmissions.. A common upgrade is the BMW Getrag 265 tranny or a T5 World Class 5 speed.
Old 10-12-2005, 02:07 AM
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and if you need help making a custom manifold I can talk to a couple guys I know that make their own for their hondas.
Old 10-12-2005, 12:30 PM
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Originally Posted by Poik
And since there isn't a large Volvo aftermarket, for upgrading the manifold, you can either get a 1990+ exhaust manifold (which I have sitting in my room) or a few people go ahead and make their own manifolds:
http://www.pbase.com/765ti/image/49058380.jpg
http://www.pbase.com/jaodesign/image/40860439.jpg

And for fuel and spark management people usually go the MegaSquirt route.

Thing is, that it's cheap to run 14s, still cheap to run 13s, but to have it reliable at that point.. You'll be going through transmissions.. A common upgrade is the BMW Getrag 265 tranny or a T5 World Class 5 speed.
thanks for letting me know. 13's is all I would be looking for. Still fast enough to take care of any light work on the street. I am going to look at a 740 GLE sedan today. Downside is its an auto. Finding a manual is a pain in the ***.

Oh yeah, those links dont work.
Old 10-12-2005, 02:16 PM
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The GLE's are non-turbo B230F. You can add one, but they have higher compression and so if you want reliability you would be better off starting with the turbo motor anyways B230FT.

My mainseal is leaking so my clutch isn't holding the best, but when it is wet I can spin the tires up to 70mph LOL. And the control is just crazy, stays completely straight.

http://seattle.craigslist.com Look for Volvos there, you will probably have the most luck.
Old 10-12-2005, 03:13 PM
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According to these guys the GLE is a turbo
740 GLE

I have been using craigs list to find one. I think I have looked at every single one under 5K.
Old 10-12-2005, 04:31 PM
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Here is a great car...

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...dist=28#vdptop

Jason
Old 10-12-2005, 04:37 PM
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http://seattle.craigslist.org/car/100996268.html

And another...
Old 10-12-2005, 04:37 PM
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http://seattle.craigslist.org/car/100996268.html

And another...
Old 10-12-2005, 04:41 PM
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Originally Posted by Poik
My mainseal is leaking so my clutch isn't holding the best, but when it is wet I can spin the tires up to 70mph LOL. And the control is just crazy, stays completely straight.
When a brick is in motion, it tends to stay in motion

Ive had 6? maybe 81-83 245 intercooled turbo wagons.
I can't say I'd buy another one and ever expect it (modifications or not) to keep up with much.
The K-jetronic air metering consists of a rather large object sitting in the way of the intake path. The more the large vane moves, the more fuel it adds.



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