TurboClunker (a.k.a. cheap-ass slaps a turbo on his LX)

[scottryana]

You can unbolt the turbine section from the center section and get a little better access to the oil drain fitting.

 

[Heckraiser]

Yeah, I figured that would be an option, but I was in "press on!" mode. We'll see if it leaks and I may re-do it later. Trying to get the truck on the road before my wife's surgery Monday. Believe it or not, the 80 is actually the easiest ingress/egress vehicle we own.

 

[Heckraiser]

Feed line done. Before screwing it on, you're supposed to pour a little fresh oil into the turbo feed hole and spin the wheel.

Intake cut to length (yes, the feed line is HUGE. Definitely going to redo someday):

 

[scottryana]

Looks like there is going to be a firing it up video very soon!!

 

[Heckraiser]

lol, with my luck it will be a dead battery followed by a jumpstart and a neighborhood full of smoke

 

[BlueCruiser84]

lol, with my luck it will be a dead battery followed by a jumpstart and a neighborhood full of smoke

Don't say that! I can't wait to see your AWD burnout. Will turbo'd 80s do it?

I really wish there was a way to get this done on an OBD1. A dude did it on a 62 with a mechanical FPR or something. Seems like a lot more work than losing weight.

 

[Heckraiser]

Decided a downpipe was too much work and made a 3.5" bro-dozer smoke stack instead. Still need to source a flapper top for it. Think it will pass emissions?

:edit: I spent 15 minutes looking for those safety glasses this morning and didn't notice them on my cowl until I posted this picture

 

[Oscar Witte]

Decided a downpipe was too much work and made a 3.5" bro-dozer smoke stack instead. Think it will pass emissions?

View attachment 1272725

:edit: I took 15 minutes looking for those safety glasses this morning and didn't notice them on my cowl until I posted this picture

Get a flapper!!!!

 

[retrofive]

Get a flapper!!!!

I agree!

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

Make it the stack the same height as a snorkel to really confuse people

 

[Heckraiser]

I have to make the downpipe into two sections, otherwise I don't think there would be any way to remove it without a sawzall. I've spent at least an hour trying to detach what used to be the y-pipe from the 2nd cat and had to come in and take a break. Just installed the cats less than two years ago, so I'm shocked at how fused together everything is. Nothing comes fast in this project.

The intial bend is 3.5" then it tapers down to 3". There will be one more reducer on the bottom half connecting the 3" pipe to the stock 2.5" exhaust. The flange is located right where the exhaust crosses over the frame, so hopefully it will be accessible from the wheel well... that was the idea anyway.

Pile-o-bird s***:

 

[Heckraiser]

I got the shape of the upper and lower downpipe sections finalized, and damn, I'm super happy with the way it turned out. The flange is in the perfect location to reach through the wheelwell without removing the tire. Everything is pretty smooth and just looks like a good overall layout. I was even a little proud of myself until I went to finish weld the pipes and burned a bunch of holes in it and generally screwed it up. I'm thinking I'm going to have to call in some help for the finish welding--I'm going to do more damage than good and I don't really have time to practice up if I'm going to get this done any time soon.

 

[Heckraiser]

Here's what the whole thing looks like off the truck. I still need to figure out how to plumb the wastegate into it. Just realized that I ran out of gas, so hopefully that's why my welds are crap. I am a very novice welder, but that was a particularly bad showing (you can see some of the butchery on the weld closest to the cat)

:edit: For those who are curious, that's a 3.5" v-band flange, 3.5" 90* bend, 3.5-3 reducer, 3" 45* bend, couple of 2-bolt flanges, straight 3" section and a 3-2.5 reducer all tacked onto the lower section of the stock y-pipe.

 

[Toyotamech]

Nice progress. Seeing the challenges you've come across, are better helping me plan my setup. Thanx

 

[hamishpotter]

can we see some video/audio of that engine?

 

[Heckraiser]

The main downpipe is welded up. Man, that was really a humbling experience. This is my 3rd time attempting to weld anything of any significance and my technique could definitely use some improvement. Also, what I thought would work fine in the tacked mock-up phase made welding more difficult. I should have put more effort into fitting the joints up perfectly so the final welding would go smoother. Spent a lot of time filling in holes, and whatever performance I've gained by using large diameter mandrel bends has probably been lost somewhat by molten steel stalactites hanging into the exhaust Ok, maybe it's not that bad. Anyhoo, I think it will hold together and I don't see any daylight in the pipes so I'm calling it good.

So my 2-peice downpipe is actually turning into a 3-piece so I can get the wastegate plumbed in and still get the exhaust on and off the car without pulling the turbo.

Beginning of wastegate tube:

 

[Heckraiser]

A buddy came over to give me an assist on the wastegate exhaust. We discovered that a 1-piece upper section is possible with the proper tetris skills *cue the tetris music*. He also convinced me to put this section of flex pipe on the wastegate dump in case stuff expands with heat or moves around. I didn't anticipate this, but he's a smart guy, so I relented. Barring any leaks or fudge-ups, the exhaust is done! I plan to paint the whole thing with VHT and heat wrap it, but again, my friend convinced me to run it first to make sure there are no leaks that need to be welded up. The finish line is in sight, and I am very exhausted (just noticed the pun ), but grateful for the help of friends

 

[BlueCruiser84]

I got so excited when I saw the mini stack....

 

[Heckraiser]

If it weren't for the baby polar bears, I would be tempted Sure woulda been a helluva lot easier. Reminds my of an acquaintance's saab 900 with a divorced wastegate that would shoot flames out under the car.

 

[scottryana]

They call it a scream pipe the the wastegate isn't tied back into the exhaust. It is pretty wild but would get old I think. lol.

If it weren't for the baby polar bears, I would be tempted Sure woulda been a helluva lot easier. Reminds my of an acquaintance's saab 900 with a divorced wastegate that would shoot flames out under the car.