Turbo Fitment Problems- HELP!

1754 Views 20 Replies 6 Participants Last post by latinskllz, Mar 13, 2002

Graham

Discussion Starter · Mar 6, 2002

OK Guys, I am halfway through my Legacy Turbo Install. My main concern right now is that I am using a Legacy Uppipe, and it fits fine with the 20mm spacer. But, I mounted the turbo last night after moving some wiring harnesses out of the way, put on my RalliSpec TMIC, and the intake side outlet of the turbo is WAAYYY too close to the I/C. This is big problem. I assume I can clock the turbo, but the stock Legacy wastegate metal line becomes an issue due the fact that it is permanently connected to the intake and exhaust sides of the turbo. If I can rotate the intake outlet to the intercooler 45-90 degree's UP from the present location, I should be able to have a decent fit.

Please submit any information that may be useful.

Thanks

Graham

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Graham

Discussion Starter · #2 · Mar 6, 2002

Here you can see the problem...

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RS25.com

· #3 · Mar 6, 2002

I'm not quite clear on the issue - what is happening? Is the wastegate line in the way?

Maybe I'd have a better idea if you could show us how it all fits in the engine bay and what is hitting?

Graham

Discussion Starter · #4 · Mar 6, 2002

James, ok, with the intercooler mounted (RalliSpec TMIC) the intake outlet (in the picture, the whole with the red cap pointing straight at you) for the turbo interferes with the bottom left part of the intercooler, i.e the outlet hits the wall of the I/C.

What I need to know is if I can clock this turbo so that instead of pointing straight at the intercooler as it is now, it will point straight upward, allowing room for a charge pipe to be made. As of right now, there is absolutely no room for the charge pipe, so I have to figure this out.

Again, my question is if the turbo can be clocked, and I need to know if the wastegate actuator line will be in the way, or not allow the turbo to be clocked.

Graham

Storm

· #5 · Mar 7, 2002

You should be able to turn the intake side of the turbo independently of the center section. If you loosen the bolts holding the intake scroll to the cartridge, you can turn it clockwise so the outlet will be perpendicular to the mounting flange, thus allowing an elbow charge pipe to be used.

Graham said:
James, ok, with the intercooler mounted (RalliSpec TMIC) the intake outlet (in the picture, the whole with the red cap pointing straight at you) for the turbo interferes with the bottom left part of the intercooler, i.e the outlet hits the wall of the I/C.

What I need to know is if I can clock this turbo so that instead of pointing straight at the intercooler as it is now, it will point straight upward, allowing room for a charge pipe to be made. As of right now, there is absolutely no room for the charge pipe, so I have to figure this out.

Again, my question is if the turbo can be clocked, and I need to know if the wastegate actuator line will be in the way, or not allow the turbo to be clocked.

Graham

At least...that's what the pic looks like anyway.

RS25.com

· #6 · Mar 7, 2002

My guess would be YES if:

1. You can spin it down in the picture above, towards the floor

If not, then yeah, it looks like it's going to hit the wastegate rod.

The other option would be, of course, to spin it and custom fabricate a new rod for the wastegate actuator, which might be doable.

Functionally, unless there are coolant lines or some such items inside the housing, it should not matter which direction it's pointed.

Graham

Discussion Starter · #7 · Mar 7, 2002

Alright, the wastegate actuator rod I know is gonna get in the way.

Storm, thats the thing, if I start clocking the turbo upwards, the wastegate actuator rod will no longer be able to connect to the exhaust side wastegate housing.

James- I guess that the only way that I will be able to move rotate the turbo will be toward the floor, but this doesn't really do me any good, but I'll look at it some more and see what I can do.

There is something else, and that is adding a small section to the uppipe to simply re-position the mounting of the turbo more to the left and a little higher. Or I can see if I can fabricate some sort of wastegate actuator rod to supplement for the clocking.

Have any of you guys rotated an IHI RHB5 turbo, and can it be done?

Graham

subachad

· #8 · Mar 9, 2002

Another solution, though a bit costly is to get an external wastegate. Then you could completely remove the stock wastegate but might have to reinstall it to hold the turbo together or at least get the little tabs....

I can't remember if I rotated mine or not, I know it's been apart a few times for cleaning.

Chad
93 1.8T
(I have an IHI RHB5, and use the stock cross member, a custom up and down pipe with a top mount SAAB 900 intercooler)

Graham

Discussion Starter · #9 · Mar 10, 2002

Alright, turbo was clocked successfully about 135 degrees counterclockwise, so now the compressor side outlet is aiming towards the passenger side of the car parallel to the ground. This allows for MUCH better fitment of the intercooler, but now the BOV is in the way. This can be solved though as the location of the BOV can be manipulated to make it work (GReddy Type-S BOV). Other than all this stuff, the kit is coming along well and HOPEFULLY will be running by tomorrow.

Graham

Graham

Discussion Starter · #10 · Mar 10, 2002

Chad, do you mean getting like a Tial of a Deltagate wastegate to control boost instead of the stock wastegate? I really wanted to do this but didn't know the ramifications. Would I have to drill in my uppipe to have this device mounted?

Graham

subachad

· #11 · Mar 11, 2002

Yes, and yes.

You know how a wastegate works, right? In short, if all the exhaust goes through the turbo, it will boost to whatever the turbo is capable of spinning, maybe 30psi. The wastegate allows the exhaust to go around the turbine to keep it spinning at a set speed. (5psi for example). An external wastegate is the same way, just not part of the turbo.

So, you would drill a hole in the up pipe and connect the wastegate to that with a smaller diameter tube. From there it should go back into the exhaust. Make sense?

In this picture, you can barely see the Deltagate on my car. You'll also notice the lack of exhaust tubing from the wastegate. That makes for a very loud, uncomfortable exhaust note under boost.

Let me know if you have any more questions. Also, if you look at other pictures of my setup, you'll notice that I use an IHI RHB5. The up pipe, down pipe, and intake are all fabricated by me and sold on my site.

Chad
93 1.8T

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Graham

Discussion Starter · #12 · Mar 11, 2002

Awesome info Chad, thanks. I'm also using the Legacy RHB5, so were in the same boat. I think this is the way to go with, though I don't exactly have the money to do it right now (who said turbocharging was cheap?). Did you remove your stock wastegate setup on the turbo or did you leave it on. How about would you make sure the stock wastegate stayed closed so this one could do its job?

This is definetly something I will be doing, thanks alot.

Graham

subachad

· #13 · Mar 11, 2002

I left the stock wastegate on to keep the little door closed. Otherwise I probably just would have welded it shut. Here's a good link for pictures of the turbo and intercooler setup.

http://www.uniquemotorsports.com/subachad/mods/intercooler.htm

If you're on dial up some of the pictures are a little large, I'm still trying to figure out how to shrink them some.

Chad
93 1.8T

scootr

· #14 · Mar 12, 2002 (Edited)

Graham,
I too did the Legacy turbo setup and I had a flange made to have the intake angle go towards the fender instead of going straight up. There is a race shop near my house and I gave the guy my turbo intake piece and had him make me a flange out of laser-cut steel that was the same size. I then had a piece of I think 2 inch tube welded at an anlge pointing right towards the fender instead of up. I had them make an uppipe at an exhaust shop and I used a WRX downpipe- back system. Works great. Feel free to ask because I too knew the thing would not work pointing straight up.

Here you can see I painted the peice black coming right off the turbo:

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scootr

· #15 · Mar 12, 2002

here:

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Graham

Discussion Starter · #16 · Mar 12, 2002

Scootr- thanks for the pics. When I clocked the turbo, my intake inlet shifted from pointing striaght up to about 90 degrees more to the left, so I don't think I should have a problem. Different from you in my setup is the fact that I am using a RalliSpec TMIC, instead of the SAAB intercooler. The location of the SAAB is much more appropiate for this type of setup since it sits off to the right of the TB, but because I am using the RalliSpec, lots of turbo work has to be done to make the charge pipe (turbo to intercooler) work right. When I post some pics of the final setup, you'll see how my compressor side outlet faces towards the fender and is parallel to the ground. The main problem I have found is the inadequate turbo position that the stock Legacy uppipe provides, sitting way to far forward and a little high.

As for your WRX turbo back, were there any problems that you ran into when you installed it? Right now, with the location of the stock Legacy uppipe, the WRX downpipe doesn't fit, but this is with the heat shielding on, so I imagine it will have to go. Other than this, I assume everything else should bolt up.

Graham

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latinskllz

· #17 · Mar 12, 2002

Scootr- Did you keep your N/A headers and just custom fabricated a up-pipe?

If so, then I'm good to go with my turbo setup.

Let me know,

Kevin

Graham

Discussion Starter · #18 · Mar 13, 2002

Kevin, scootr used the Legacy Turbo headers as previously mentioned in the post. I went the same route, so using the Legacy uppipe if feasible.

Graham

latinskllz

· #19 · Mar 13, 2002

Dohhh!

My bad, I should be getting my VF23 in the mail soon darnit!

Then I can go and install this thing and [email protected]

Let me know how your progress goes Graham!

Graham

Discussion Starter · #20 · Mar 13, 2002

Progress? Everything will be done tomorrow man! I'm taking her to the shop today at 1:00 and having a bunch of fabrication work done. Can't wait to finally get back in the RS, been down for nearly three weeks!

You coming to the meet on Saturday?

Graham

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