SO this will be my first V8 turbo build, others I have done in the past were 4cyl import motors (Toyota, Subaru, and Honda). Previously I had a 28psi turbo 2.4L in this truck until a WG failure and no failsafes in place (oops 20/20 on that one).

To start off I have:
Vehicle:
1998 Toyota Tacoma extra cab 2wd non-pre-runner truck
Has front and rear sway bars
Custom rear traction bars
8.4" rear diff with TRD LSD
12.2" Custom willwood front brake upgrade (4-piston calipers and high end rotors)

Drivetrain:
2001 LS1 motor, standard LS6 intake with T-56 trans, Toyota 8.4" (Tundra 3rd member)
Custom made headers 1-5/8 primary short style with unequal length tubing and 3" V-band outlets
4" Custom made true cold air intake tube that takes fresh air from in front of pass side tire.
All sits under the hood and it looks very stock except that it has 19" wheels and a BBK up front.







This was before the cold air intake setup was added.

The trans had a bearing fain so I pulled the motor and trans, rebuilt the trans with the usual upgrades and ordered a good clutch that should hold up to 700hp.
Upgrading the motor right now and have a bunch of parts ready to go and preparing everything for turbo, so far I have and have ordered:

LS7 lifters
LS2 style valley cover (upgraded PCV system)
LS2 Chain and sprockets
MLS Head Gaskets (Late LS1, but not LS9, how its OK!?)
Ebay Head Studs
Melling Oil pump (ported)
New gaskets for the entire motor
New 3/8" Pushrods
Fully ported 243's with Ti/Sodium valves
Pac 1218 springs
Walbro 450gph fuel pump

So far I havent figure out a cam but want a mild road mannered truck that gets when I hit the skinny pedal, but do occasionally tow and do a lot of long range driving on it every week or two going to races up to 5 hours away. So mileage is something I can keep an eye on as far as cam selection.

I understand if you want the horses to run you got to feed up son! I get that but just want it to act semi-stock but can also make some good HP when necessary, not a full on max effort built at all! Budget semi-fast turbo truck with good street manners is all I am trying to achieve, with all these 1000hp plus guys running around its pointless trying to be fast, lol.

So now the questions I have had a hard time searching, I am only trying to make at most low 500hp range (no more than the stock block can take on a slightly conservative tune and low boost)....

1. How large hot side piping do I need? Is 2" fine or larger (the drivers side will have a long crossover tube almost 4' long), passenger will be less maybe 1'.

2. Turbo sizing? Was thinking On3 76mm with .96 AR? Only need less than 10psi max for now, but you know how that goes..
Or is there a smaller frame that is a better unit for a bit more cost like a BW type? The last turbo I had was a Garrett GT3076R BB typ and that sucker spooled fast!!! But it was Almost $1400 too!

3. I/C core size? Loks like 2.5 is all thats really needed here, am planning on getting a 24x12x3 with 2.5" ends anyway so I think I got that figured out..

4. Camshaft, looking into our Forum sponsors just trying to figure it out. Might be going with something in the 220/224 .600 116 range (Recommended by TSP), any input here from cam guys?

Thanks
-Jason

 

More pics, this is on the current dual 3" V-Banded to 2.5" after the mufflers full dual exhaust, gonna go simplify this, it weighs a ton!





Here is the crossover tube from the NA setup, I will just make a new one reduced to 2" or whatever is best for the turbo and plumb it back up where the turbo will go.

 

Very cool swap! Considering you are super traction limited.... a baby cam is all you need. LS6/LS2 would be great for turbo. If you do a larger cam all you are doing is spending $300 more and you don't really need it.

The cam won't be your limitation. The connecting rods will be. Beyond about 600rwhp they will bend over time. '04.5+ rods can handle over 900rwhp; however they also use different pistons.

If you port the heads, run a 23x duration cam, port the TB, and run as much compression for the fuel you can get.... 500 flywheel HP is possible N/A. Ie 11.25:1 for 91 octane.... 12:1 for 93.

It's honestly kinda pointless to turbo for 500hp. Hell even 500rwhp with stock Gen3 rods.

I had a '99 LS1 with ported heads, LS6 intake, ported TB, headers, 233/239 cam, T56 and it made 440rwhp on 91. I beat the living **** out of it for 20K miles road racing, street driving, drag racing. Went 11.30@128mph on road race setup at 2900lbs with driver. Your truck is probably similar weight. Spray a 150hp shot on top and you will have a fun ride.

 

Awesome build man! Definitely different! Good luck!

 

From research is seems that the weak link is the pistons (if tune gets sketchy) or from bending rods from the power or too much timing.

I figured I would leave it (short block) alone for now so I can just build a turbo kit with low boost and see how it all goes, anything more than 500-550 hp is gonna be really hard to get to the ground anyway, so 500ish HP should make for a fun little truck.

I dont like nitrous so much as you have to get i refilled, etc...but really love forced induction in the way of SC or turbo.

Might just grab an 02+ LS6 cam from Ebay and run it if I can find a really cheep one! Or a custom grind that will cost anywhere from $300 to $450+.

Thats the last main part of the build that I need to get is the Camshaft, I have pretty much everything else for the motor (besides the turbo junk!) ready to go.

 

This will be neat.

Can we get some over-all shots of the ride?

 

hell yes! I want to do this with mine in the next year or two! Except my radiator will be remote mounted in the bed making life a lot easier. Post some vids when shes road worthy!

my Supercharged v6 Runner

 

I'd be glad to help you determine the best camshaft for your combination and help with any other parts selection that needs to be taken care of.

Cool project too!

 

With all that room have you thought about trying a truck intake?

 

cool project, look forward to more. no pics of the whole rig tho?

 

Damn that bitch is stuffed in there! Good job with the fab.

 

I'll get some, just a basic Tacoma though, nothing crazy, but I will get some soon

Will do! Its a tight squeeze in there but it can happen in youre not scared to cut the frame apart! On a 5 lug anyway..

Thanks Martin, I appreciate that!

On the list!

Thanks and yes, it is SHOEHORNED in there for sure, the turbo is gonna make it quite a tight engine bay, especially for a daily, need to keep this thing as reliable as possible.

 

What oil pan did you use ? looks like a GM pan

 

I modified a GTO pan to fit

 

So this just happened! Trans did the same thing again...any ideas fellas? Also decided Im installing the turbo setup as well since the motor is back out again. Was hoping to drive it little more than 5 miles before the trans gave up!


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