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90Dodgevnt
11-08-2006, 06:46 PM
Ahh...

Guess it's time for me to update some pics on the project I am working on.
Recently installed TU Header, VNT S60, custom radiator/fan, etc.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/90dodgevnt/drainback1.jpg

1st pic is of the oild drain back line. I had to cut the oil VNT drainback line in almost 1/2 since the mounting flange was completely different from the drain back line supplied. After cutting the line I had to use 2 sections of silicone to attach it to the block fitting. It wasn't a monster to do, but just time consuming since each time I cut the silicone I had to make sure it would fit and everything would clear. Also, Chris from TU advised me the 89 VNT and 90 VNT drain back lines are different, in that the 89 version does not have the nipple on it. Don’t ask me why… Gotta love Chrysler.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/90dodgevnt/drainback23.jpg

2nd pic is a comparison of the stock VNT drain back and the hybrid drain back. I cut the VNT drain back about 1/2 up from the nipple and used about 1 inch of silicone, then I used the VNT metal pipe w/ the nipple, another section of silicone about 3 inches long after that.


http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/90dodgevnt/oildrainbackbrass.jpg

3rd pic is of my $674 brass drain back line. Orig. line was snapped off in the block by a garage (thanks Bat Auto) and both they and one of the vendors played stupid when it came time to pay for the damages.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/90dodgevnt/headerbolts.jpg

4th pic is of the TU header from the bottom. The bolts supplied were short by about 1/2 inch, so in one of my many runs to the parts store, I picked up 4 longer bolts/nuts. Another thing to remember if anyone tries to use the TU header with a VNT turbo: the stud in the VNT turbo will NOT fit in the header bolt hole. The stud needs to be pulled out and a regular bolt is needed there.


http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/90dodgevnt/drainback2.jpg

5th pic is from the bottom. You can see the coolant return line here, and also part of the clutch cable that I covered in hi-temp tape since it comes in contact with the down pipe.


http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/90dodgevnt/header1.jpg


6th pic is a shot of the header. In this pic you can see that I used nuts on the head studs, but no washers. There was zero room to used the stock bolts/caps, and this was after using a dremel on each runner to clear up some of the welding. I used plenty of high temp loc-tite and torqued each nut, so hopefully nothing will loosen up. If it does, well it's pretty easy to get to the studs/bolts...

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/90dodgevnt/exhauststraps.jpg

7th pic is a shot of the exhaust I had to cut. Leaving it stock threw the down pipe off about 2 inches or so. I had recalled there being something about cutting the exhaust in a thread on TD.com, but it didn't really have any pics of what part to cut. It was actually easier then I thought. On the down pipe after the 2nd bend, there is another bend that needs to be completely cut off and a section of straight pipe used. Now Chris can attest that I was apprehensive about cutting the down pipe since I didn't want to screw it up, but after crawling under the car and really looking at it, it was no sweat. Just took a reciprocating saw and cut off the piece in question, and then mounted up the down pipe to the turbo. From there it was a matter of using a 3 inch straight section of exhaust, measuring it, cutting it, and then slapping on two exhaust straps. The actual section of pipe I used was about 2-3 inches long and I could've gotten away from using a 2nd exhaust strap since one side of the straight pipe was a slip fit, so I could've used a 3 inch exhaust clamp instead.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/90dodgevnt/headerfromthetop.jpg

8th pic is from the top. Shows how far the turbo is kicked out from behind the engine. The heater core lines had to be cut off to allow a silicone 90 to fit in. It's a very tight fit at the brake booster, but it's manageable. I didn't want to use the "accordion style" intake hose as I thought it looked kinda cheesy, and the silicone 90 was only $40...

You can also see the top the turbo drain back line and the coolant/oil lines. Took a bit of tweaking to get them routed right, but pretty easy to install.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/90dodgevnt/intercoolerlinemockup-1.jpg

9th pic is a mock-up of the intercooler hoses. I am switching the upper and lower intercooler lines to mandrel bent exhaust (Racing solutions) since the aluminum garbage bends really easy, or slips apart under boost. And I used T-bolt clamps and dimpled the aluminum. I didn't really feel like spending $$$ to get beads welded to the pipes since there is only ONE aluminum welder in Austin, and he charges $75 an hour. Much cheaper to use exhaust and weld on beads if necessary, and even then, it's cheaper to weld and much stronger then aluminum. Also, exhaust does not stain as bad if you spray it with hot coolant (you can see the coolant stains on some of the pipes). Lesson learned.

And yes, it's a generic RFL...*sigh*


http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/90dodgevnt/airfiler.jpg

Pic 10 is a shot of the cone filter. I moved the battery to the trunk in March, so now I have all the room in the world for intercooler lines.

90Dodgevnt
11-08-2006, 06:48 PM
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/90dodgevnt/radiatorandfan.jpg


Pic 11 is of the radiator I had built at Mr. Cool in Austin for $350 (it's a 4 row all brass) and a Be Cool 15 inch fan ($80). The fan is just a smidge bigger then the core, but I'll get over it. I have to drill in the bolts to mount it all up and then dremel the edges/burrs on the mounts. I decided to ditch the Scirocco radiator setup since it was too short and could not keep the car cool at all, and this was with a dual fan setup and the radiator being 3 inches thick and all aluminum. I'd advise anyone to avoid trying the Scirocco setup...

Well that's it for today. I should have most of it buttoned up by tomorrow and I'll post more pics when I can.


Also, is case anyone thinks I am flaming Chris or giving TU any heat, that is simply not the case. Chris has been VERY helpful with all my questions concerning this install. It’s not something to be done overnight or all at once. I was told that I am the 1st person to try this with a VNT as opposed to a hybrid, but who knows. Anyone? Anyway, just be prepared to run to the parts store/Home Depot for those odds and ends, and especially if you braided lines from two different vendors.

Cheers!

Whorse
11-08-2006, 08:46 PM
YES! I am so happy to finally see somone doing work on their VNT. When I get my cars and money sorted out I have big plans for mine as well.

Do you have your own web page for your car? I'd love to check it out and hear any of your other interesting ideas and experiences with the VNT setup.

90Dodgevnt
11-22-2006, 11:01 AM
I am almost done (finally)

left to do:

-finish off vacuum harness (95% done)
-install overflow tank
-set fuel pressure
-set timing
-install catch can
-mount o2 sensor
-wire up fan

Last night I finished:

-installed timing belt/ps/wp belts/belt covers
-changed oil/filter
-washed intercooler pipes and connectors (metal shavings from cutting)
-installed intercooler pipes/connectors
-plumbed 95% of vacuum harness
-installed water valve/hoses
-installed radiator hoses

90Dodgevnt
12-24-2006, 05:05 PM
Just an update...

Everything is *mostly in*, with the exception of the catch can steup. I'll be taking the elbow for the cone filter to an aluminum welder this week to have a flange/port/bung (whatever) welded on for the catch can line.

Car fired right up on the 1st crank and I had zero engine/lifter noise (wohoo!) but a fitting on the oil line deided to crap out. Replacement is here, so I'll get the new one in, timing/fuel pressure set, and hopefully running by the 1st of the month. Well, depending on the ever changing weather (80 deg one week and 41 the next :confused: )


Merry Christmas!

---------
Mike
'90 Shadow VNT
'90 Shadow 2.5 T-I

http://fwdperformancestinks.blogspot.com/

Directconnection
12-24-2006, 07:21 PM
Looks like you're doing a good job on the car.

One thing... I don't like the oil drainback setup at the block. You have the hose kinked a bit making a sharp turn right at the fitting.

Frank
12-24-2006, 07:44 PM
So is that the stock VNT turbo?

iTurbo
12-24-2006, 08:31 PM
Looks nice! I was especially interested in how you modified your downpipe with the slightly different position of hte turbo. The only thing I would change is your radiator fan mounting scheme. I used to mount my aftermarket Derale and Mr.Gasket electric fans that way and the core tubes would always end up getting rubbed through after about six months. I ended up having a local heating/AC business make me a custom sheetmetal shroud and have not had a problem since. It aslo improved the airflow through the core making the fan more efficient. The fan now mounts onto the shroud itself, and the shroud mounts just like the factory fan/shroud setup.

turbovanman²
12-25-2006, 04:29 AM
So is that the stock VNT turbo?


In his first line, VNT S60 :p

That looks great, I love the blue silicone, looks sharp, :thumb:

90Dodgevnt
12-25-2006, 08:24 AM
Looks like you're doing a good job on the car.

One thing... I don't like the oil drainback setup at the block. You have the hose kinked a bit making a sharp turn right at the fitting.

Actually the blue line is not kinked or bent odd, I just could'nt get my camera that far up into the car w/o scratching it. ;)

I had the cut the drainback in 2-3 places and use the silicone between each section to give it more bend and able to be connected to the block...

Mike

-------------------
90 Shadow VNT
90 Shadow 2.5 T-I

http://fwdperformancestinks.blogspot.com/

90Dodgevnt
12-25-2006, 08:56 AM
Looks nice! I was especially interested in how you modified your downpipe with the slightly different position of hte turbo. The only thing I would change is your radiator fan mounting scheme. I used to mount my aftermarket Derale and Mr.Gasket electric fans that way and the core tubes would always end up getting rubbed through after about six months. I ended up having a local heating/AC business make me a custom sheetmetal shroud and have not had a problem since. It aslo improved the airflow through the core making the fan more efficient. The fan now mounts onto the shroud itself, and the shroud mounts just like the factory fan/shroud setup.

I wanted a shroud, but at the time I had orig started this project I was pressed for time and needed to get it back together. Few things I'm going to change:

Radiator -It's nice and a 4 row and exactly the size I wanted, but when the built it they goofed on 2 things: No drain----, and the radiator neck is wrong. With the orig drawing/dimensions I had, they added the drain---- to the top and it threw off the measurements about 1/4 to 1/2 inch or so, just barely enough for the hood to close, but the hood insulator sits right *on* the cap. Not ideal, but for now it'll work 'till I pull the radiator and have a curved neck mounted on the side of the tank as even with the core I can get it. As far as dropping the radiator lower, there is almost no room between the front mount and the core support...

Radiator mounts -What I purchased from Summit did not fit at all. The lower "L" bracket was too deep to use, so I just cut some flat steel, drilled the 2 mount holes (1 frame and 1 radiator) and dropped the radiator pins in the holes. The top bracket I didn't have time to finish, so right now it's being held up by a few zip ties:p When I get the radiator out to change the neck, I am having the mounts welded to the core support.

The rad fan is rubber mounted to the top and bottom of the radiator, so it's not actully on the core tubes themselves. There is a small space between the fan and the radiator fins/tubes. I am going to replace the fan too since it' *just* pokes out over the top.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/90dodgevnt/radiatorandfan-1.jpg


Now just need some decent weather!

Keep your commments coming! :thumb:

Oh, and Merry Christmas!


Mike

-------------------
90 Shadow VNT
90 Shadow 2.5 T-I

http://fwdperformancestinks.blogspot.com/