25 replies to this topic

[shanehutton]

I am thinking about rebuilding a motor this winter cause I am pretty sure mine is getting tired. I keep thinking that a LPT 2.4 is the way to go.

Here is my plan:
-Light port and polish on rebuilt head
-Injectors from my 98 T5
-new seals and bearings in bottom end
-Speedtuning 17psi tune for T5
-16T or 18T (What do you guys think?)


This leaves me with a lot of questions.

#1 Would it be a straight swap or are there any complications? I assume all the sensors and connectors are the same on both engines.??

#2 Anyone have info on what can be done to help the head flow? I have heard about how bad the heads flow countless times but never seen solutions.

#3 I might decide to upgrade the rods. Are they a different length than T5 rods?

#4 Is there anything else I should think about?

[Ghost Shadow]

I'd stay away from the fat fuck @ speedtuning. spend all that time to build a engine and then have it blow up with a lousy tune?

its hard to strangle someone over 800 miles away lol.

[shanehutton]

Already have the tune and all reports so far is that it works great on LPT motors with a 16T. I am going to have a wide-band air fuel gauge installed if I go the 18T route so I can keep an eye on things.

I see that you obviously have some issues with him but may I ask if you have ever seen or heard of a motor "blowing up" from one of his tunes?

[HayaCruza]

If he doesn't respond to the thread, contact HtownTurboBrick.
Your planned setup sound "similar" to what he is running....

If you are building the motor, upgrade the rods just to avoid the concern in the future.

[Wagoneer855]

Shane, once I get my timing issue figured out I'll give you a ride in the spring. You'll never want a 2.3 block again

[Ghost Shadow]

shanehutton, on 29 October 2009 - 12:54 AM, said:

Already have the tune and all reports so far is that it works great on LPT motors with a 16T. I am going to have a wide-band air fuel gauge installed if I go the 18T route so I can keep an eye on things.

I see that you obviously have some issues with him but may I ask if you have ever seen or heard of a motor "blowing up" from one of his tunes?

i may have mis-spoke about "blowing up" litteraly. matter of fact, i have two car with his tunes. i have a problem with the way he does business. he is just a sneaky SOB. i would advise to stay away from him because it is too much of a hit or miss. obviously you and I got hits. I am running a HPT tune on my 2.4L with a 16t on my XC70, and its alot more fun now to drive

I think if you are going to spend all the money to rebuild a block, why skimp on the tune? especially skimp it with a oliver tune?

[gilber33]

Can you swap T5 internals into an LPT?

[shanehutton]

gilber33, on 29 October 2009 - 01:26 AM, said:

Can you swap T5 internals into an LPT?

Why would you want to do that?

[gilber33]

Oh wait, your right. Brain fart. I don't know why I would want to do that. Sorry.

[shanehutton]

I should also add that the rebuild on the engine is based on the assumption that I won't find one in good enough shape to just drop right in.

[lookforjoe]

My understanding is same crank, rods, etc... different (shorter height) pistons, head & cams. I haven't stripped my LPT to check - it actually only needs valve seals

[shanehutton]

lookforjoe, on 29 October 2009 - 01:51 AM, said:

My understanding is same crank, rods, etc... different (shorter height) pistons, head & cams. I haven't stripped my LPT to check - it actually only needs valve seals

If it has the same crank and rods wouldn't the LPT have taller pistons to raise compression?

[rbodor3]

why build an engine then limit yourself to the 16t? Go big or go home yeah

[shanehutton]

I'm not "building" the engine. I am replacing wear items

[Big Will]

I plan on putting stronger rods in my B5254T engine at some point in the next year or so and doing a standard rebuild on it. It has been recommended here that I don't use the 18T or bigger because the higher compression of the engine doesn't suit the bigger turbos but I think once I have rods I will do an 18T and try it out. Give it a shot right?

[shanehutton]

I don't see why it is that big of an issue. The compression still isn't that high. Christ, people turbo NA hondas and BMWs and they run way higher than that.
Do it and let us know how it goes.

Anyone local have an 18T in a HPT I can test out?
Anyone local have a 16T in a LPT I can test out? Greg, is your car of the road already?

[gilber33]

Won't having a decent tune help prevent the rod bending theory in LPTs?

[rbodor3]

I'm running a 19T in my LPT, at about 16-17psi. It's not tuned for the 19t right now, but it pulls great. Feels only a bit stronger than the 16T I had in before (which was way better than the 13t), but it holds power to the redline and wants to keep pushing air. When I had the garrett WG on it I unintentionally was boosting 20+psi.

So - don't be afraid of an 18/19t, make sure you're running rich before the switch, and start with the WG arm all the way loose and be gentle to you get a feel for the power. These engines can and will hold 300whp if you build it properly, monitor it properly, and do all the supporting mods with that (mechanical and software)


Oh yah - if you're "replacing wear items" but installing forged rods then don't do anything less than a 19t! When/if I plan on doing forged rods I will turn the boost on the 19t back up to 20

[Big Will]

Hey man,
I think in my case, it isn't the 18T itself that is the problem but the fact that I have an angled flange TME DP and therefore have to use an angled exhaust housing on the turbo. Wothrline kindly made 2 tunes for my car: the first meant for my current setup (in my sig) and another meant for the green injectors and an 18T, but meant for a straight flanged 18T. I plan on doing this anyway to try it out. Worst case scenario I just go back to the 15G setup and still have a nice fresh LPT motor with rods in it for longevity right?

[dublin14]

shanehutton, on 29 October 2009 - 01:39 AM, said:

I should also add that the rebuild on the engine is based on the assumption that I won't find one in good enough shape to just drop right in.

If you do end up going with rods, head work, on your current motor i wouldnt bother with a pop can 18T. Sure you can make it pretty quick, but you have to run the crap out of the 18T to do so! I'll be gettin rid of my 18T if i decide to go rods ect... The setup i like is the same as JC Viggen is running, 360whp is pretty nice in one of these cars!