Starting my Turbo build, need some help please!

[Skym]

Avoid external wastegate on stock exhaust manifold. It makes engine harder to tune with stock ECU (From memory a tuner mentioned something along the lines of stock ECU hasn't got enough rpm adjustment points on maps). It's not so bad if you had a ECU like Link G4, Motec ECU, as I gather it makes it easier to solve the tune problem, due to more rpm adjustment points on maps.

Internal wastegate actuator should be ok for your application. They use internal wastegates on GTS-R (with similar type of turbo). If you have boost spike problems, enlarge the wastegate port on exhaust housing, fit bigger wastegate / flap assembly. Up to 400hp it's a waste of time and $$$ going external wastegate. SR20DET's achieve 440hp at engine with GTRS turbo, 1bar HKS internal wastegate actuator, cams, etc.

They don't actually mention fully how to tune a ECU. That comes with experience / training or learning off somebody that has experience / training.

[hotrodstu77]

no im using an internal. thought i put that in my post. my bad if i didnt. im using a turbosmart internal wastegate set to a 14psi spring.

[Skym]

Don't weld mounting flange, etc for external wastegate to stock exhaust manifold collector (I think stock collector is a twin scroll collector that causes problems). Do it properly with aftermarket equal length exhaust manifold with external wastegate or use a adjustable 1 bar internal wastegate actuator if you intend on keeping stock exhaust manifold.

[hotrodstu77]

that why i said im using an internal wastegate lol thanks for coming out

i had been pondering doing a stock mani and weling a flange onto it for an external but then the turbo i got has an internal so i figure id just stick with it.

[Skym]

Oh fudge. My bad.

[hotrodstu77]

so back to my originaly question. do you think my power goals are realistic and what tips can you give me about nistune?

[love_boost]

nistune is about 450ish dollars, talk to mike from ztune and he can give you an exact price. (pretty fair also).
never heard of that turbo would need more specs on it to tell you, it seems kind of small for 350whp. id look into getting a GT2876R. if you have good compression i think your goals are imo attainable.

[hotrodstu77]

i already have nistune. just waiting for it to show up from ztune. i was just hoping skym woul have some tuning tips for me. its a good sized turbo. let me find some pics. the guy i bought it off of had it on his srt4 with 650 injectors an was making 550bhp on a good tune with 94 octane and fully built motor.

here is a mock up pic


and just a quick shot of the intake


and some measurements


thatss a 63 if you cant tell on the flange. if that makes a diff.



i dont know exact numbers. but the exhaust housing is probably a .63 a/r on a t3 flange of an early z31 300zx and as for intake it beats me. im trying to identify this turbo so i know what pressure i should be running it at max. its been highflowed and rebuilt very recently.

[Skym]

Looks similar to TO4Z turbo that's good for around 560hp on RB20DET when pushed to the limits. But could be bigger with the compressor, exhaust wheels if turbo was modified.

What do you want to know about Nistune tips wise???

You can adjust settings for larger DW injectors, Z32 MAF, etc. But best left to a ECU tuner to do, as need a dyno to make adjustments with upgraded MAF.

[hotrodstu77]

i cant afford dyno time yet. i know it comes with a base tune from ztune so i was gonna open that up, change my injectors and my maf and then go from there. just to make safe a/fs till i can get money to hit a dyno an do some actual tuning and mess around with my timing. have you used nistune or are you running it right now on your set up or do you just know alot about it?

[Skym]

I have Nistune installed on my car and learnt about how factory ECU, sensors work and how each feature when adjusted affects the other with the help of my tuner mate and reading up about tuning stock ECU, etc (still learning about how to adjust knock reporting parameters, etc). Hands on, I've used Nistune software for downloading factory tune from factory ECU (easy to do, as instructions are provided) and seeing how everything works in realtime.

Fuelmap is fairly easy to get in the ballpark (still need to fine tune on dyno), as can see result's via wideband in tuning software for each cell on the A/F ratio trace window. But ignition timing is a bit harder, as result's can only be shown on dyno via torque, power plots and need knock detection device to see if engine knocks when ignition timing is pushed too far for fuel octane, intercooler that you have fitted. But usually you don't push ignition timing too far, to the point where engine could knock under any condition the car encounters. If you have tuned the engine before, you'll know how much ignition timing you can get away with.

[hotrodstu77]

That def clears some things up thanks skym. I'll prob havesome more questionsas time goes.

[Skym]

Some go out with a mate driving and do a basic road tune at low speeds, then highway speeds where you can drop down to lower gear, rev engine to max rpm to get A/F ratio's safe / in the ballpark and hills to check for unsafe A/F ratio, etc. Saves $$$ with dyno tune. Before road tune they setup startup, warmup, idle, etc A/F ratio's, so engine starts and idles, revs smoothly.

[hotrodstu77]

Ya I'll start in my driveway for free Erving and idleing and then move onto low speed driving around my neighbourhood and reving it alittle higher and then highway and hills. Thanks. What is your set up skym u don't mind me asking.

[Skym]

Watching this videoclip helps, which shows you some of the tuning software features including datalogging -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjQJxWSEgHE

My car is designed for Touge (winding road driving), so bottomend pickup, handling is important and can get away with a stock engine, bolt on custom turbo, basic breathing mods, ECU, brake upgrades, handling upgrades, etc. Turbo reaches boost (O on boost gauge) at around 2100rpm and goes to slightly past redline (wide powerband) where it drops off.