Here's Your Chance - Solicited Advice

[georgeleedom]

Hey guys - I have a '99 S70 GLT. I recently blew #3 piston running too lean at 16 lbs of boost. I have taken the motor to a speed shop for a compete rebuild.

I would like to invest in the best internals available as long as I have the chance to start from scratch. Currently, the car has a catless 3" turbo back Borla exhaust. I have green giant injectors (I believe them to be rated at 450 cfm), walbro fuel pump, new 16T turbo, and rebuilt automatic tranny with an exteranal B&M cooler. I moved the horns and mounted it in the center of the grille, heat sinking it away from the intercooler/radiator/air conditioning sandwich.

I am using an iPd softloader for my tune. The time and trouble Ken has put into this project has been amazing. I just want to make clear I don't believe the tune was at fault. I believe I had some fuel delivery issues.

I'm seeking advice on what internal components I should use for this project. I have another S70 as a grocery getter so this does not need to be a daily driver. I hoping to get as agressive as the transmission will allow. Any thoughts/opinions on rods, pistons, crank, cams.... will be greatly appreciated.

- G

[ErikS]

How are you having fuel delivery issues with greens and a 16T? Is it because of the LPT and compression ratio?

Where you watching your wideband when problems started happening?

Lots of options for forged rods X beam/Pauter, Wiseco pistons, Enem cams, etc.

Depends on how crazy you want to get and the money you want to spend.

[winterhalo]

If you are going to build the internals you need a bigger turbo.

And then a manual swap.

[Mesoam]

China rods, oem pistons, m56 + quaife or gripper, Gt2871, custom tune

[Burn-E]

Forget everything else swap to a manual tranny FIRST.

[georgeleedom]

Ok. I suppose I should have laid one ground rule. I am not interested in a manual swap. At most I've considered a couple companies that doTCM flashes or a flappy paddle set-up al la "The Poi". But I much prefer an automatic. Especially since I already have two manual cars.

@ErikS - yes, I have an innovate LC-1 wideband and was actually doing a data log on my laptop through the softlaoder when it went. Marco's tune had me targeted around 11.5 WOT, but something happened this run that leaned me out to 15.5 at 5,700 rpm 16.6 lbs boost. As you know it only takes a second, then bang. My tune was originally for blue injectors, but even when I moved up to the greens, the me7 is pretty good at seeing a 10-15% change. Plus I'm out of loop at WOT anyway. At worst I'd be too rich. I have a feeling it's the stock 3 bar FPR. I had switched to a dodge 4 bar FPR for awhile, but went back to stock because the cylinders were so full of gas it was hard to start the car. I think this new experiment will include a rising rate FPR or some other variable. I'm also not sure the stock fuel lines are allowing the Walbro to put out a full 255 LPH so I might increase my diameter there.

I've considered a bigger turbo, but the 16t is probably the best match for an LPT, IMHO. 18's and 19's take too long to spool and you must limit your boost in first gear anyway. I don't think you will see any more useable power from a bigger turbo - except to be able to tell people you have a bigger turbo.

I suppose I'm wondering if anyone has experience with H or X rods, different brands of piston, etc. I can certainly google guesses, but I know I'll get more experienced feed back here.

[bpray9223]

I've considered a bigger turbo, but the 16t is probably the best match for an LPT, IMHO. 18's and 19's take too long to spool and you must limit your boost in first gear anyway. I don't think you will see any more useable power from a bigger turbo - except to be able to tell people you have a bigger turbo.

I have an 18T on my LPT S60, and if anything it spools almost, if not, just as quick as the stock 14T.

And yes, there is definitely more power to be had with the 18T/19T's, the 18T flows 100 CFM more than the stock 14T for example.

[wizzard_al]

The 18T or 19T will build boost at lower rpm, but the ME7 prevents that so as not to turn your rods into pieces of spaghetti. If you use the china rods, and then get a proper tune, you can use almost any turbo and have boost start sooner. If anything, yo might want to have some slower boost development, just to spare the trans, don't want too much power on shifts and blow the trans.

[850wagonT5]

LPT has nothing to do with it at all. It's half a point of compression. Sounds like you have tuning and monitoring mostly covered.

16T is going to limit your power big time, its roughly the same flow at peak as a 15G (7 CFM more). Get something bigger if you're building a toy.

The auto on my car has held over 300whp/300wtq for the last year. Just use good fluid and keep it cool.

Bypass the factory boost control, otherwise you're polishing a turd. You can put on an awesome turbo, and then ME7 will reduce its boost curve so that it may as well be a 15G.

...and the 18/19T has the same turbine wheel as the 15G. It spools ridiculously fast. Still, I think you'd have more fun with something bigger. The teeny hot side makes them fun in stop and go, but ultimately limits your flow.

[Burn-E]

Ok. I suppose I should have laid one ground rule. I am not interested in a manual swap. At most I've considered a couple companies that doTCM flashes or a flappy paddle set-up al la "The Poi". But I much prefer an automatic. Especially since I already have two manual cars.

Fine but then the proper question is what are your power goals? WHP / Torque? Tell us your goals and we'll help you understand what it will take to achieve that. And depending on your goals, there is a point where the auto tranny becomes your limiting factor.

I've considered a bigger turbo, but the 16t is probably the best match for an LPT, IMHO. 18's and 19's take too long to spool and you must limit your boost in first gear anyway. I don't think you will see any more useable power from a bigger turbo - except to be able to tell people you have a bigger turbo.

Never mind, if you're just planning to keep a 16T on the car then I don't know why you're bothering to build the engine. If everything is hooked up properly you shouldn't be blowing pistons on a 16T.

No usable power from a bigger turbo? Depends on how and where you drive it.

[850wagonT5]

My trap speed went up 10 mph with the turbo swap. But if you call that no usable power, I guess that's irrelevant. Lol.

And the above poster is way right...no reason for anything but stock parts with a 15g/16t (again...almost identical).

[550]

I've considered a bigger turbo, but the 16t is probably the best match for an LPT, IMHO.

I'd say you are incorrect. Better off with a slower spooling turbo.

And like has been mentioned... .5 compression isn't a deal breaker.

I ran my LPT VERY hard for years with no issues. She even saw 19PSI(23PSI spikes) on a 16t, as well as on a K24. (White injectors too)

So....

[georgeleedom]

Some very good points to ponder. I do know several people running an 18t on the 2.4L, but I felt the jump from 13g to the 16t was pretty drastic to begin with. I too had 19-21lb spikes on my 16t without problems until the fuel issue. a 16t on a LPT is a pretty common combo that if properly tuned will get to the limits of the Aisin Warner. I try not to be close-minded, however. With all your feedback on a bigger turbo I am going to have to revisit that decision.

As for my goals, I believe the auto trans with fresh fluid and well-cooled can take 325/340 hp. As I'm dealing with a FWD, unless I add wheelie bars to push the nose down, I don't have too many expectations about being quick off the line. This car has always been more fun when already rolling. At it's peak I was seeing 0-100 around 12.5 seconds. I'd like to shave a little off that.

As you know there's no such thing as manual boost control after '98, but iPd has been very gracious with their time in analizing my datalogs and tweaking my tune.

What I was originally looking for with this thread was comments on the most reliable internals and pros/cons form those who have experience with aftermarket guts. A couple of you havementioned china rods. I'm going to give that some exploration, but as I said, the quick responses suggesting a larger turbo have given me some food for thought. I hope y'all will continue to post your thoughts/experiences/ideas.

[mdlimy]

just to clear things up, when everyone says "get a bigger turbo", they dont mean get a turbo with the same tiny ass worthless hot side with a bigger compressor. They mean ditch the peice of shit td04 turbo and get something with a substantial size turbine, at the least throw on a k24, it will make good numbers and is easy to install.

Take 550's advice, he knows the lpt motors with k24s well.

You need to think outside of the box now, everything that was considered the best thing to do a couple years ago has now changed, i hate to say it but ipd is behind the game, these lpt motors are capable of alot but using a td04 turbo is not the way to get anywhere.

a 16t on a LPT is a pretty common combo that if properly tuned will get to the limits of the Aisin Warner.

As for my goals, I believe the auto trans with fresh fluid and well-cooled can take 325/340 hp.

if your implying a lpt motor with a 16t will take you to 325-340hp you might want to do some more research.

As for internals.

Any of the china rods will be fine, people have been using the rsi rods for years and they are china built, well beyond capable of your goals.

I would recommend oem bearings, they are worth the money.

Wiseco or je for pistons would be my recommendation.

And after all this, please just let Lucky deal with your tune, you wont regret it, he has experience with so many different setups thanks to the people of this forum.

Hope this helps.

[Jardim]

Engine management = ARD

You won't run lean.