Starting From Scratch

[georgeleedom]

I just bought a low pressure turbo 99 s70 with 100k miles. I replaced the timing belt, all new rotors with ceramic pads up front, H&R springs lowered 1.25", IPD anti-sway bars, and a boost gauge.

I am looking to have some fun with this car. I don't expect it to ever be a drag racer, but would enjoy knowing I can blow by any rice-burner on the highway. With the springs and sway bars it handles great and the ride is still pretty comfy. I put a T in the wastegate vacuum line and upped the boost from 5 to 8-10. That can easily be undone once I start doing things "correctly".

I expect to change the exhaust. I am planning on 3", although a mechanic friend seems to think the stock exhaust will handle all the power I can get out of the motor.

I am willing to change the turbo. I'd prefer to keep the LPT a) because of the expense, and because it spools up faster. I am told IPD's chip only boosts it to 12. I am also told this turbo can make as much as 16 - hard to believe, but it would make me happy.

I do not know how much power can be gotten out of a 2.4 and what the internals will take. I am told the stock automatic transmission can handle in excess of 300hp.

I've heard a lot of conflicting opinions about exhaust, inter coolers, injectors, ecu upgrades, etc.

I'm really interested in feedback on this. I will have to make the mods in stages for budget considerations, but I would like to start with an overall plan as well as some good ideas on what to do first. I see a ton of threads on modifying High Pressure Turbo cars, but not these.

Thanks

[TRACStar]

Your motor will make more power than a 2.3 HPT car, because of your compression ratio. But that higher ratio puts a much larger strain on the engine.

A lot of members have modded LPT's and they have a lower limit on stock internals than HPT cars.