Twin Turbocharging the 3.8

[TehMac]

Well, I'd take the engine out, strip it down. Mill the piston heads down and therefore lowering the compression ratios. I might install some new efi, but my real concern would be the intake (I'm using a Steeda cold air intake atm) and the intercoolers that'd be necessary.

Any thoughts?


Btw, I wouldn't do this until I am out of college which won't be for two years or so

 

[exdeath]

Not worth it. V8s are cheap enough, and will be even better if you decide you still want turbos.

Also milling heads raises compression ratio.

 

[Fenixgoon]

Not worth it. V8s are cheap enough, and will be even better if you decide you still want turbos.

Also milling heads raises compression ratio.

why would milling the heads increase the CR? if you have the same stroke length, then taking material off the top of the head should reduce CR, shouldn't it?


dropping a V8 in does sound simpler/cheaper

 

[jlee]

why would milling the heads increase the CR? if you have the same stroke length, then taking material off the top of the head should reduce CR, shouldn't it?


dropping a V8 in does sound simpler/cheaper

When you mill the head, you reduce the volume of the cylinder.

 

[Howard]

Maybe he meant milling the piston crowns... if he wanted to decrease CR easiest way to do that is to use a thicker head gasket.

 

[Howard]

When you mill the head, you reduce the volume of the cylinder.

Not the volume of the cylinder, but the volume of the combustion chamber.

 

[TehMac]

Well I was going to drop in a V8, but it sounded like a waste of a good V6 block and I think a twin turbo V6 would still be lighter than a V8 I'd drop in. Plus, it'd retain some efficiency too. I wouldn't want to get out more than 430 hp

 

[Fenixgoon]

Maybe he meant milling the piston crowns... if he wanted to decrease CR easiest way to do that is to use a thicker head gasket.

whoops, i was thinking the piston head, not the cylinder head. in which case yeah, milling the cylinder head would increase CR.


too many things begin with "head" in cars

 

[EightySix Four]

I think a twin turbo V6 would still be lighter than a V8 I'd drop in

No, and it'll be more expensive. A good turbo in that size range, the GT2554r, is going to run >$1000/each new and weigh about 14 lbs each and the intercooler will cost you at the very least $250. That's 28lbs in turbo, 15lbs in tubing, and 15lbs in intercooler. That's ~60lbs, then there are other assorted additions that must be made like fueling and proper exhaust manifolds. You'll end up with a V6 pushed to its limit, and no headroom for more money than a V8.

As a side note, you're still in college?

 

[Howard]

No, and it'll be more expensive.

As a side note, you're still in college?

Would explain a lot, wouldn't it?

 

[EightySix Four]

Would explain a lot, wouldn't it?

I'm in college too, but me and him have very different ideas about both cars and politics.

 

[LTC8K6]

whoops, i was thinking the piston head, not the cylinder head. in which case yeah, milling the cylinder head would increase CR.


too many things begin with "head" in cars

The OP said he would mill the piston heads, so you win anyway.

 

[TehMac]

As a side note, you're still in college?

Yup, @ UCLA at the moment, won't grad til 21 if all goes well

And if you're saying our politics just going off of my sig, well don't be hasty.

Oh and btw guys you bring up some great points, so I thank you all. But what about the efficiency of the two engines? Couldn't I expect more efficiency/MPG from the TT V6 as opposed to a N/A V8 that's producing 420 hp?

 

[EightySix Four]

Yup, @ UCLA at the moment, won't grad til 21 if all goes well

And if you're saying our politics just going off of my sig, well don't be hasty.

Oh and btw guys you bring up some great points, so I thank you all. But what about the efficiency of the two engines? Couldn't I expect more efficiency/MPG from the TT V6 as opposed to a N/A V8 that's producing 420 hp?

Not necessarily. It all depends on gearing.

No, I wasn't basing it off your sig, I'm basing it on previous comments you've made. Your sig appears to oppose many of the arguments you've previously made though. What are you studying?

 

[TehMac]

Not necessarily. It all depends on gearing.

No, I wasn't basing it off your sig, I'm basing it on previous comments you've made. Your sig appears to oppose many of the arguments you've previously made though. What are you studying?

Major in history, potential minor in film.

 

[EightySix Four]

Major in history, potential minor in film.

Any particular focus?

 

[TehMac]

Any particular focus?

UCLA doesn't ask you to specialize until your two final years...probably going to focus on the Classics--hoping to go from Bronze Age Greece and Italy to the very end of the West Roman Empire...might go a bit into Byzantium, but frankly a major is a major, not a dictate on how to spend your life/where you work. I might work with some business partners, I might do something else...

 

[alkemyst]

Yup, @ UCLA at the moment, won't grad til 21 if all goes well

And if you're saying our politics just going off of my sig, well don't be hasty.

Oh and btw guys you bring up some great points, so I thank you all. But what about the efficiency of the two engines? Couldn't I expect more efficiency/MPG from the TT V6 as opposed to a N/A V8 that's producing 420 hp?

LSx swap...good luck beating the MPG with a 3.8 TT.

 

[LTC8K6]

Couldn't I expect more efficiency/MPG from the TT V6 as opposed to a N/A V8 that's producing 420 hp?

Nope.

See Ford 3.5L EcoBoost...

 

[BlackTigers]

in two years you can save for a 4.6.

i say this is a great idea. tonight i rode shotgun in a 4.6 with some head work, a roush exhaust, an intake, and a built rear end... scariest ride of my life. we were looking at the curb for about 15 seconds while sliding down the road.

you need that engine, in your car. end of story.

 

[TehMac]

Nope.

See Ford 3.5L EcoBoost...

True but the only car that engine is in right now is the ~ 4,000 lbs Taurus SHO.

Although putting that sucker in might be swell...


I guess the problem with the new V8 would be the new headers/exhaust necessary, and not to mention the new brakes that would certainly be necessary.

Ah well I can dream right?

 

[TehMac]

in two years you can save for a 4.6.

i say this is a great idea. tonight i rode shotgun in a 4.6 with some head work, a roush exhaust, an intake, and a built rear end... scariest ride of my life. we were looking at the curb for about 15 seconds while sliding down the road.

you need that engine, in your car. end of story.

Yea I was considering a 4.6 but I'm not sure how efficient that would be as opposed to getting a 5.0 cammer

 

[BlackTigers]

Yea I was considering a 4.6 but I'm not sure how efficient that would be as opposed to getting a 5.0 cammer

The 5.0 cammers are expensive, and much more rare than the 4.6 that was used for 10 years. The 4.6...while it's not the 5.0 of old (or new, for that matter), has such an aftermarket behind it. You can make the 4.6 as fast as your wallet will allow.

See: Terminator.

 

[exdeath]

If you are looking for efficiency, sell your car and get an old Geo or CRX.

If you're looking for cheap power, I guarantee you trading your car for a V8 model is going to be much much cheaper, and with the difference you can throw some minor bolt ons to that V8 and have more power, and much safer power, than trying to do turbos on a budget.

Contrary to popular belief, "slapping some turbos on a economy oriented 4/6 cyl and getting the same power as a V8" is absolutely not cheap, unless you like rolling the dice and taking shortcuts. It will cost you around $6,000 for a complete turbo setup for your car, regardless if it goes on a V6 or a Cobra. And by complete, I mean down to the tubular K member to clear the turbo headers, oil filter relocation, everything. There is FAR more to it than just bolting on some turbos even if they are cheap $500 Ebay turbos. I saw a Mustang GT for sale in a parking lot for like $4500 the other day.

Swapping an engine is also not worth it in a car that can already be readily had with that engine in it from the factory. That Cammer engine is a Ford crate engine for $10,000+, then you need trans, rear end, hydroboost conversion, blah blah blah blah more $$$. Again you can get a Mach or '01 Cobra for 300+ HP for what, $12k ?

It's just not something you do unless you have a lot of money and are a serious gear head that enjoys doing it just for the fun of it (eg: you already have a fast built up V8 and are just screwing around for shits and giggles with the V6).

PS: 5.0/Cammer is just a 4.6 with a 5.4 crank or a 3.70 bore. The new 5.0 is a little different but it's still based on the same modular family and 4.6 bore centers.

 

[TehMac]

Yea that makes sense, I'll pass on the Cammer or the turbos.

Probably won't trade in my stang, it has sentimental value, but I think it needs an engine tune so I'll get that taken care of this summer.