I have been considering piecing together a turbocharger installation for my truck. Since I can't drop several thousand dollars all at once right now I was thinking of buying a turbo, maybe off ebay, and slowly gathering the rest of the needed parts, such as a higher volume fuel pump, bigger injectors, controllable wastegate, blow-off valve...ahh the list goes on and on.

Regardless, I figured I could plumb up the system and simply leave the boost tube disconnected from the motor intake until I could get it tuned. However, that got me to wondering if it is possible to get a "canned" tune that would account for the turbo from the very beginning...and be safe for the motor. I personally do not know how this would be done without dyno time and a wideband O2 sensor, but I thought I would see if anyone has a better idea. I would love to start work on a turbo system, but I hate to have to book dyno time before I can even use it...

Any thoughts?

Mike

 

sure go ahead, you may blow your engine but it's worth the risk right????

 

i wana do what you said at the start

but im scared the turbo might spin so fast it will hurt its self because of
no back presser on the intake side


But the canned tune thing is a bad idea

 

There is no such thing as a canned tune for a turbo 150. You will need a custom tune.

 

 

Your best bet is to get a dyno tune once your build is complete. Until you've gotten a dyno tune I would stay out of boost, or better yet have it towed to who ever will do your tune. I wouldn't trust a mail oder tune.

 

I think I may have caused some slight confusion when I used the term "canned tune."

What I had in mind was calling up some place like Troyer Performance and explaining to them what I was going to install a see if they could create a somewhat estimated, or generic, tune that would work ok, or at the very least be safe. Dyno tuning could always be done later...I am mainly trying to figure out how to minimize my down time with the truck once I have all the parts gathered. I figure myself and some friends (one has a welder and lift...always a plus) could fab up and install a system in a weekend, but that still leaves the problem of getting to work Monday morning. I think it would be more than optomistic to expect to get a system created and installed and get it dyno tuned in one weekend...so I was looking for alternatives.

Mike

 

Yes, a tuner like Troyer could create a custom tune for you to start safely.

 

that's not a canned tune, it's custom... wish i had understood before i thought you were meaning like a hypertech or edge type of canned tune

 

I'm sure Troyer could do it, but he takes a while. If I were starting a turbo project, I might find a local dyno tuner before I started the work. From what I've heard a turbo is much more difficult to tune than a blower.

 

Just build it, and hook it all up, and roll BUT.... Put a wideband in it before you start driving it. You PCM will most likely compensate for the turbo without a problem, but during WOT and especially at high rpms you might start leaning out. Be sure to run high octane fuel in it before you get your tunes. (93 or higher) and stay out of the boost. The high octane fuel will provide a cushion of protection against timing issues due to the boost.

You'd be surprised at how much "adjustability" your engine has agains changes like this. And since it spends most of its time in closed loop, with high octane fuel you'll probably be ok. (until you start ragging on it) If you have a canned tuner, I'd set it back to stock before running the truck with the turbo. This will reduce the timing advances (don't know the right word for it) back to stock.

Just wire in a wideband, (~$400) run high octane fuel, and keep your eyes on it until you get your tune. You can do anything with a wideband, as long as you don't run into timing issues.