Twin Turbocharging the 3.8

[JJ650]

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?

You're concerned with a V8 header and exhaust and contemplating a turbo setup??? I would much rather deal with LT headers and a full exhaust package then worry about the space/plumbing issues with a turbo.
LT headers and exhaust would probably be the easiest thing to do (assuming you have the patience and know-how). Less heat issues too. A good set of ceramic coated headers would keep engine bay temps lower.

 

[ponyo]

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?

New/different car sound simpler/cheaper

fixed. History/film major? Good luck! Hope you have a trust fund.

 

[alkemyst]

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.

that's your best ride?

 

[alkemyst]

You're concerned with a V8 header and exhaust and contemplating a turbo setup??? I would much rather deal with LT headers and a full exhaust package then worry about the space/plumbing issues with a turbo.
LT headers and exhaust would probably be the easiest thing to do (assuming you have the patience and know-how). Less heat issues too. A good set of ceramic coated headers would keep engine bay temps lower.

QFT...doesn't make sense what the OP wants to do.

 

[TehMac]

fixed. History/film major? Good luck! Hope you have a trust fund.

Not getting defensive, but it doesn't strike me that you're informed about the opportunities such a major gives me, but thanks for the input.

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.

that's your best ride?

Not going to lie, that sounds really badass and I'm interested in doing something like that.

 

[LTC8K6]

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

The weight would not make the highway mileage as bad as it seems to be with the SHO.

 

[alkemyst]

what opportunities do you have? You seem extremely optimistic.

 

[BlackTigers]

that's your best ride?

scariest because i knew the kid for 5 minutes before I was getting my neck snapped in his car.

not besty

 

[alkemyst]

damn you work fast with guys in hot cars :awe:

 

[CurseTheSky]

V6 -> V8 conversion is a lot more than just an engine swap... unless you don't mind grenading your transmission and / or differential in a few thousand (hundred?) miles. Wiring, suspension, brakes, chassis stiffening / bracing, etc.

V6 -> turbo / twin turbo pushing any decent amount of boost would be even more involved than swapping for a V8 IMO. Everything I mentioned before comes into play, plus the need for additional plumbing, cooling, timing adjustment, etc.

It's always a hard fact to swallow, but it's usually cheaper to sell your current car and buy a V8 model than it is to do it yourself, unless you already have a donor car lined up and plenty of patience. I'm assuming we're talking about Mustangs... what year? If it was a classic with an I6, well, then the I6 TT would be a pretty cool project IMO.

 

[exdeath]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMEkc0DD2Fw&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmdYiP6QYbw&feature=related

It's doable, just not going to be cost effective.

 

[Howard]

You ever pick a project to actually work on or are you just going to dream about everything?

 

[TehMac]

You ever pick a project to actually work on or are you just going to dream about everything?

No, I'm just going to dream, thanks.

 

[Perknose]

[To TehMac]
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 [political] arguments you've previously made though.

Not to harp on this side note, but TehMac, NO KIDDING! I'm not trying to harangue you, honestly, but do you mean the Obama/Biden part of your sig ironically? <---- I promise not to pursue this line of questioning further.

 

[Koing]

what opportunities do you have? You seem extremely optimistic.

A mate did a BSc and a MSc in History/ Classics and has now accepted a contract from a Magic Circle firm. He also turned down an offer from a big US law firm even though they paid £15-20k+ more after being fully qualified. All the big law firms blantely state what their gradautes get. They all pay exactly the same in England. My mate has some great BANTER and loved him.

No, I'm just going to dream, thanks.

I dreamt about getting my car for the best part of 4-5yrs...eventually got there

Koing

 

[alkemyst]

V6 -> V8 conversion is a lot more than just an engine swap... unless you don't mind grenading your transmission and / or differential in a few thousand (hundred?) miles. Wiring, suspension, brakes, chassis stiffening / bracing, etc.

V6 -> turbo / twin turbo pushing any decent amount of boost would be even more involved than swapping for a V8 IMO. Everything I mentioned before comes into play, plus the need for additional plumbing, cooling, timing adjustment, etc.

It's always a hard fact to swallow, but it's usually cheaper to sell your current car and buy a V8 model than it is to do it yourself, unless you already have a donor car lined up and plenty of patience. I'm assuming we're talking about Mustangs... what year? If it was a classic with an I6, well, then the I6 TT would be a pretty cool project IMO.

well most cars are going to require a trans swap to facilitate the new engine. Differentials are hit or miss. My 240SX can handle a ton of power through it's stock differential...most that do 500HP+ builds have no issues.

If you are going to turbo charge to the same level of power then transmissions/diff issues would be the same.

 

[TehMac]

I know this sounds retarded, but I was thinking of supercharging my car instead. There's a Thunderbird Supercharger kit in my area for 400 bucks and the Thunderbird used my 3.8L V6.

Only thing is the '93 Thunderbird used central injection and my engine uses Sequential. But my heads are aluminum. The joys of wikipedia!

 

[alkemyst]

I know this sounds retarded, but I was thinking of supercharging my car instead. There's a Thunderbird Supercharger kit in my area for 400 bucks and the Thunderbird used my 3.8L V6.

Only thing is the '93 Thunderbird used central injection and my engine uses Sequential. But my heads are aluminum. The joys of wikipedia!

Is it a 'kit' or just a M90 taken off a super coupe? The super coupes had pretty much nothing inside the engine in common with the standard models. Everything was upgraded.

M90's are popular now, many are just finding them in salvage yards and making up a kit.

You are going to need more fuel (injectors, possibly a pump) and some way to control it at the very least to run right.

I used to love a couple black super coupes in the mid 90s in my neighborhood.

 

[TehMac]

Probably just an M90. I didn't do too much investigation, but I think if anything, the '99 3.8L was improved from the '93 in the Tbirds, apart from the supercharger of course.

I'd probably have to take the damn thing apart regardless.

 

[nakedfrog]

Why not just start small with headers and exhaust, and a test pipe if you can get away with it there?

 

[TehMac]

Why not just start small with headers and exhaust, and a test pipe if you can get away with it there?

Yea, that is a great idea. I have a steeda dual exhaust that a previous owner installed. The previous owner really knew what the hell he was doing because the car still runs great after 11 years. He probably modded the car right around 2000-2001.


I already have dual exhaust, cold air intake, but as far as I know, I have stock exhaust manifolds. Are there any V6 headers people could recommend, and is this even an option?


edit: I think this engine already has headers! Damn, this guy seems to have done more than I thought. I'm going to try to confirm...

edit never mind they're stock exhaust manifolds. Interesting...

 

[TehMac]

Well going off of Roush's site here is what I have found:

Link

1994-2004 Mustang V6 Pacesetter Long Tube Headers - Black - No EGR or Air Injection Fittings: $199.95


1994-2004 Mustang V6 Pacesetter Long Tube Headers - Ceramic - No EGR or Air Injection Fittings: $339.95


1999-04 Mustang V6 BBK Shorty Headers - Chrome: 259.99

What I'm trying to figure out is why there is such a disparity between the Black headers and the Ceramic headers. They mention strength in the face of pressure, so I guess that makes sense, but I don't think I'm going to do much of a tune--unless I'd have to with these babies installed.

The BBKs look most appealing since they're right in the middle of cost and potential durability. Unless they're just chromed Black headers in which case that's just a waste of money.

 

[franksta]

The black ones are probably just painted with high temperature paint. The ceramic coated ones should last longer and keep the heat out of your engine bay.

EDIT: From one of the videos posted earlier there's a link to TMA Turbo and he's got a kit for a little under $3500. Reading through the FAQ he recommends a max of 4.4PSI of boost on stock parts and programming. He's got a graph there of a car running the 4.4PSI with a new camshaft and ported intake that with 275HP and 285lb-ft at the wheels which isn't too bad. You could start with that then upgrade your motor and crank it up.

 

[TehMac]

So no one actually thinks the headers will do any good? I mean, everything else has been put in more or less. Cold Air Intake, a chip, dual exhaust pipes etc.

I understood headers provide maybe 50 horsepower or so if they're performance type, especially for V6/V8 engines.

But franksta, that TMA Turbo kit does look pretty awesome, but it's hella expensive.

 

[franksta]

So no one actually thinks the headers will do any good? I mean, everything else has been put in more or less. Cold Air Intake, a chip, dual exhaust pipes etc.

I understood headers provide maybe 50 horsepower or so if they're performance type, especially for V6/V8 engines.

But franksta, that TMA Turbo kit does look pretty awesome, but it's hella expensive.

The money and time of banging in a new set of headers isn't worth it at this point. On a motor that was only rated at 150 HP or so from the factory there's no chance a set of long tubes is gonna net 50.

Power costs money, it's been the name of the game for a long time, particularly if you want it to live longer than a trip down the driveway.