New to Me Sundance, 2.5/Mitsu/523

[Spraynlog]

So I got a new project car! Looks to need a new set of pistons/rings and a hone job. Also sounds like the mitsu turbo may need replacing, although I do have a good one on the shelf. 1st question is about upgrading the turbo. Goals; 13 flat at 110 or so, turn it down to 15psi for street driving. My first thought is to put a S60 on it, as that is what Gus was running back in the day, and I see on Donovan's website he likes the 2.5/S60 combo. Recommendations?

[Ondonti]

stock garret not enough?

[Vigo]

I think stock Garrett will do that but not sure how longevity will be affected. I've seen NUMEROUS references to full weight cars (and even one stripped caravan) going 108-110 with stock garrett but not sure about how long it would last. For example, Shelgame found that when running the Mitsus at ludicrous shaft speed the turbine fins would centrifugally bend and 'self-clearance' on the housing until it started to make less boost. Havent heard of that on a Garrett but also havent heard of a fast car on a stock turbo that actually got a lot of miles.


An s60 should be a sure thing if you want to keep it simple and just make the power with minimal fuss as far as turbo fitment. If you aren't trying to test new waters that would be the easy button. Bigger cfm per rpm means the same turbo now spins less rpm to make the same airflow vs stock garrett.

What do you plan to do for intercooling?

[Spraynlog]

I don't have a good intercooler, just a couple JY finds, one from a Ford Probe. I was looking at the "Budget" intercooler on the FWD site, along with their Stage 4 cal. I'm thinking the S60 is good insurance for only $150 over the cost of a stock Garret T2. Thanks for the comments.

[Pat]

Best bang for the buck is going to be a good intercooler after you throw a Garrett or S60 on there. Way back when, I had a stock motored GLHS that was a consistent 13.0 car with a vest of 12.87, but it was fairly inconsistent depending on temp. When I went to a dual core IC, it was immediately a consistent 12.5-12.6 car at 110.

In a nutshell, I think either turbo will get you there, but with either, you'll need a decent IC. A 2.5/s60/dual core or even two stock cores Y piped in would be a blast.

[Vigo]

Speaking of two stock cores Y-piped in, Shadow proved that to be 400hp-capable and Pat has a lot of pics of how to do it in a 2-dr P-body in one of his threads.


But, unless you already have them i would just buy a better intercooler to begin with.

[tryingbe]

I don't have a good intercooler, just a couple JY finds, one from a Ford Probe. I was looking at the "Budget" intercooler on the FWD site, along with their Stage 4 cal. I'm thinking the S60 is good insurance for only $150 over the cost of a stock Garret T2. Thanks for the comments.

Skip all the junkyard intercooler. Find the biggest one you can fit on eBay.

[turismolover22]

I have a rebuilt low miles garrett I put up for sale for 100. Swap the housings and its a TII, it came off a log car. If you decide to go that route, thought Id let you know. Personally if I could score a cheap super 60, that would be the route Id go. Bolt on, and can support a few mods.

[Pat]

http://www.turbo-mopar.com/forums/sh...ght=Grm+shadow

Y piped two core set up I used at GRM last year. Car went 11.31 @ 118 with these coolers.

[Spraynlog]

http://www.turbo-mopar.com/forums/sh...ght=Grm+shadow

Y piped two core set up I used at GRM last year. Car went 11.31 @ 118 with these coolers.

Wow! I got sidetracked looking at all those build pictures!


I was looking at this intercooler from TU; http://turbosunleashed.com/shop/budg...ler-p-374.html

[Ondonti]

If you can't/won't afford it there are still cheaper options. Two stock cores is a great idea for people who have two stockers but a lot of people probably have zero :P Especially a guy famous for racing a log.

[cdavis]

I'm thinking the S60 is good insurance for only $150 over the cost of a stock Garret T2. Thanks for the comments.

This is where I got my s60 turbo from. They have the best prices I have come across.
http://www.treadstoneperformance.com...tics+T3+Turbos

[OmniLuvr]

i took a good t2 turbo, bought an ebay s60 turbo with a bad center section off craigslist for $60, and took both to my local turbo shop. for $75 bucks he installed and balanced the ebay turbo compressor backing plate, wheel and cover onto my stock t2 turbo center section. i had to make a bracket to get the wastegate to work, but has worked as a pretty solid setup for pretty dang cheap... and that probe intercooler is no good, been there, tried that, maybe if you had 2 or 3, but not worth it, dont flow or cool well...

[Ondonti]

i took a good t2 turbo, bought an ebay s60 turbo with a bad center section off craigslist for $60, and took both to my local turbo shop. for $75 bucks he installed and balanced the ebay turbo compressor backing plate, wheel and cover onto my stock t2 turbo center section. i had to make a bracket to get the wastegate to work, but has worked as a pretty solid setup for pretty dang cheap... and that probe intercooler is no good, been there, tried that, maybe if you had 2 or 3, but not worth it, dont flow or cool well...

Shop could also end up charging him 300-400 for the same service...Gamble.

[Vigo]

The ford/mazda probe/mx6/626 intercooler is not great, but i would say it's roughly comparable to a stock t2 cooler, which is to say that if that's all you've got and you're broke, you might as well put it in.

I have a probe intercooler on my mitsu-turbo minivan. And also on my stock turbo 626.

[OmniLuvr]

Shop could also end up charging him 300-400 for the same service...Gamble.

for sure, but thats more of a rebuild charge, mine was just to swap parts over and balance. i knew i had a good core, so wasnt worried, but even with the rebuild it "could" be cheaper than new. i have brought some work to him before, and the guy is pretty cool, plus talking to him directly works better. the shop was only 15 min away from me, and on my way to work.

[OmniLuvr]

roughly comparable to a stock t2 cooler

very rough, they have very small tubes and i dont think they have internal fins, basically a thick radiator, not "really" an intercooler. i was going to cut the tanks and make one out of the two that i have, but didnt want to waste the time, money, and energy on very thin metal cores... just me though... but something could be better than nothing, depending on power levels, not sure when they would choke up...

[Spraynlog]

Looking around the TU website, I see a budget intercooler for $175, good for 600HP. Anybody running one? I also need a wide band O2, is the $175 AEM on the same site any good? I'll likely be calling and ordering these items on Monday. Thanks to all for the comments.

[GLHNSLHT2]

The AEM is ok, pretty easy to set up for the newb or non-electircal type. I run the innovate stuff. But grounds are critical with it. I've got great grounds and have never had an issue with either of my LC-1's. The innovate widebands allows me to do a lot more than an AEM would and it's cheaper off ebay.

[Vigo]

very rough, they have very small tubes and i dont think they have internal fins, basically a thick radiator, not "really" an intercooler. i was going to cut the tanks and make one out of the two that i have, but didnt want to waste the time, money, and energy on very thin metal cores

I think it distills down to flow vs cooling. I think the probe cooler flows worse but cools better. Neither is great at ANYTHING though!


If Spraynlog is willing to spend $175 on an intercooler there are plenty of decent options out there.

I agree with Jay: The AEM is easy to setup and reliable but doesnt give you 'extras' like a lot of the other stuff out there.