IHI bad,what turbo for my 2.3 turbo?

[1badnotch]

I bought an '88 turbocoupe motor and the stock IHI turbo has some side to side shaft play. Rather than rebuid the IHI,I was going to buy an upgraded turbo. I see a lot of guys running the holset HX35 or HY35. My car is going to be a daily driver. So would a holset be a bit much? Should I go with a T3/T4 hybrid instead? Let me know what you think. Thanks.
Mark

[Martin0660]

Threre is a lot to discuss / decide when looking at what turbo is "right". Even the "right" turbo has at least some compromisses.

Some side to side play does not mean bad turbo. If that was the case, everything I run is junk. Does the wheel hit the housing? any signs of oil leaking out? The IHI is a really durable little turbo. It also has unique oils return, and such so if you change / upgrade, you need support parts out of the box.

By daily driver, do you mean just for fun, want some milage, not going to the strip, etc? The IHI is a perfect fit for that. very fast spool, good to 17 psi pretty easy, real durable, plus is you have all the support parts.

Next step up is a Garrett T3, .48 or .63 hot side / .60 cold side as found on most of the rest of the Ford turbo's. Its a solid turbo, can be pushed to crazy ends of the efficiency. Drive it around at 17-20 psi daily and crank to 21-25 psi at the track. Switching to a T3 requires all new oil / water lines, but its not hard or expensive. This is all I run, and all I plan to run with my junk. I like the fun of a small turbo, it fits my style, they used to be real cheap, but are getting harder to find now in good shape. Some say its a 300 HP turbo at best, I disagree and have timeslips to porve mine.

If you are talking about any T3/T4 hybrid you really need t ohave deffinate goals in mind, and pick your turbo. Its too easy to get a 2.3 Ford to surge with our head flow. Some of the real popular stuff out there (57 trim 61 trim, etc) typically dont work well on the 2.3 engine. The infamous "50 trim (aka SC50) is a pretty wide map and forgiving on a TF. Take you out past 4oo HP, but will be soft as a driver.

The holsets are sweet and guys are making great power with them. That said, they are now getting popular, and the cost is going up, making going back to a newer design garrett / borg warner / etc turbo a little more logical. Guys jumped on the holset as a cheap turbo cast off by the diesel guys when they upgrade. Those days are over mostly. Especially considering the holsets are again all different configuration for oil, exhaust, water, and even wastegate.

Its back to deciding what you REALLY want in the end, and how far you are going to go. You can go beyond all of this, but the base style T3, Stock 35# injectors, Vane meter, etc will all take you out to a solid 300 HP with good tuning, and still be daily driver quality. To go beyond that, you are into injectors next (not so bad), but then air meter issues, and then everything stops flowing. Its a slippery slope, and not easy with the 2.3 stuff unless you move into standalone, or a tuner of some type.

Some random thoughts, more info as needed.

Bob Myers

[Martin0660]

BTW- If you are ever in this area, I will give you a ride in my stock T3 powered car. It might change how you look at "little" turbo's :D Puts a smile on my face thinking about it. Anyone that ridden in it / seen it go can tell you it a fun driver.

Hell, I like to help out some of these guys around just so I can "test" drive theirs :D :D

Bob Myers

[1badnotch]

I want good power(300 hp or so),good drivability and respectable fuel mileage(25 mpg?). I don't want a racecar,but I want enough power to stomp the average daily driver.I don't want it to be soft on the bottom. I want it to spool quickly. I think that a T3 or T3/T4 hybrid is going to be a good fit for my goals. I plan on keeping the 35lb injectors and large VAM. I already have a 94-95 65mm T/B. I also want to go with a FMIC(volvo?). I am probably going to try porting my E6 exhaust manifold. The car will be a 5 speed. If you need more info,let me know. Thanks.
Mark

[Martin0660]

I want good power(300 hp or so),good drivability and respectable fuel mileage(25 mpg?). I don't want a racecar,but I want enough power to stomp the average daily driver.I don't want it to be soft on the bottom. I want it to spool quickly. I think that a T3 or T3/T4 hybrid is going to be a good fit for my goals.

The T3 is a good fit, but you will be pushing it a little. I push mine hard, but run 12.30's at 112 at 3200#'s, drive it every day, and get 28 mph on the highway, more like 22-23 driving, 17 if I romp on it a lot :D A .63 turbine / 60 turbo coupe / SVO style turbo is a good fit for that. An old school T04E-46 would also be a nice fit, but maybe a waste these days. A SC50 would let you push the turbo less, but deffinately be soft on the bottom end. You are a little in the middle of the SC50 and an old stock type T3. That comes down to how much you like response. T3 FTW if you want to favor toward driver.

I plan on keeping the 35lb injectors and large VAM. I already have a 94-95 65mm T/B.

This will be your limit. You can out run the stock injectors with a stock T3 at 24-25 psi but can max out fuel pressure and suport it. My TC went 13 flat at 107 MPH at 3500 #'s on brown tops, all stock stuff, T3 and a bunch of fuel pressure. In the Capri with GOOD intercooling, I couldnt run that same boost without being lean but went 12.50's at 110 MPH at 3200 #'s. Pretty well maxed out the injectors / VAM, and had the fuel pressure regulator bottomed out

BTW - All of those numbers where on a stock TB. I recently upgraded to a 65 MM SC on mine, picked up nothing, but it eliminated a transition hose for my 3" intercooler pipe. Not saying not to do the TB, just have proof what its really worth.

I also want to go with a FMIC(volvo?). I am probably going to try porting my E6 exhaust manifold. The car will be a 5 speed. If you need more info,let me know. Thanks.
Mark

Ported E6 is HUGE bang for the buck. My car is still a E6 ported to death. The sweet part is, no cracks, no leaks, no hassel. I might test a header this year, we will see, I'm talking with someone on a deal to run some stuff. Port the snot out of it, pay attention to the area where #4 goes into the collector and the collector area.

I would really look for a NPR intercooler if you can at all find one. The Volvo is really flow limited. Cheap, but limited. The NPR, even a small one is just a killer intercooler, and the combo is so easy to put to together in a Fox chassis. Lots of guys have followed my pictures / part numbers to replicate that set-up and it works sweet, low cost, and more intercooler than we will ever need. My "hot side" pipes are still cold to the touch after a pass. I have temperature data logs, but lets just say it works.

My stuff is really simple. What I do is keep my stuff really tame, and tune it to an inch of its life. Thats my style. Other will tell you that you need this, need that, etc. Most dont beleive that my stuff is really as stock as it is. Those that "know" understand, but there are a lot of people who cal BS on my junk. I still drive it every day too.

Bob Myers

[sutyak]

PM me if you sell that IHI.
I'll rebuild it for myself.

[1badnotch]

Well,it looks like I'm going with a bigger turbo rather than a smaller one. I picked up an HY35 holset today. I also picked up a volvo FMIC to go along with it. I got a good deal on these,so that helped with my decision. I'm also going to have the head ported,new valve job and springs. I'm sure that I'll have more questions along the way,but I'll keep you guys posted on my progress. Thanks for the input,especially you Bob.
Mark