Bigger turbo now or later

[23newb]

So i am getting rid of the EGR lines on the back of the TC engine, and getting it ready to put into the car either tomorrow or the next day BUT everytime I look at the IHI turbo it makes me think it should come out now while the engine is out. I have an Air Research .60 sitting in a box that was originally planned to go onto my BMW 2002 that should bolt right on, but then it only seems smart to port the E6 manifold which then leads to FMIC etc etc 

Originally my plan was to get the engine in and running before modifying - someone talk me off the ledge and tell me that the IHI will be enough till winter haha

What is the boost limit on a stock setup without adding a manual boost control - or is that the answer to running the IHI hard?

[88turbobird]

I'm here to tell you that a bigger turbo is the way to go haha the stock IHI runs out of steam pretty quick. The nice thing is that boost is pretty much on demand all the time (virtually no lag). I went from the stock IHI to a GT35 and that was probably a little too big for my setup. Full boost didn't come in until 4000ish rpm. A lot of members on here and other forums love the t3 upgrade on their 87-88TC's. Another popular upgrade is going to a t3/t4 hybrid. That's what I'm doing now.

You could always just get the car up and running and see what you think. Removing the turbo, manifold, etc. while having the engine in the car isn't too bad if you decide to upgrade the turbo afterwards. Porting the e6 manifold is a good idea. There's flow numbers floating around on one of the forums showing that a ported e6 has pretty decent numbers. Bo-port did a comparison between their tubular manifold, a stock and ported e6 and a stock and ported gnari manifold. Might as well add in some ported intakes while you're at it.. and a bigger cam... and a boost controller... haha

[23newb]

Once again thanks turbobird! Hard not to take it off and replace with it in the back of my mind everytime i look at the IHI. It is definitely the smallest turbo in my collection 

[Stinger]

IHI will support about as much power as the stock injectors will support so if you're running stock injectors, there is no real good reason to upgrade as you'll make less tq with a larger turbo and won't have enough fuel flow to gain power. The power limit here is about 240-250hp at the wheels at 18-19psi (max safe psi for an IHI).

If you'll have upgraded injectors/ECU/etc. and 250hp won't be enough until winter, the IHI needs to go.

[23newb]

Thanks Stinger, nothing else has been upgraded yet. Just have to block off the EGR lines and should be putting the engine and drivetrain back in the car tomorrow!! Will get it running and then tear it all back out to upgrade, or leave it in place and do the FMIC, injectors, PIMPx, turbo and manifold in the winter after i run it for a few months.

It will stay stock for now

[23newb]

Not directly related to the turbo, but speaking of injectors - are the Mustang and TC injectors the same? While swapping fuel rails today I was wondering, kept the TC injectors on the engine without knowing any better. Made sense that they came with the car so probably best to leave them there

[Stinger]

No, the turbo injectors is twice the size since the engine makes twice the power.

[23newb]

Is there room for a bigger turbo using the E6 manifold? Wondering whether a new top mount manifold is necessary

[Stinger]

There is certainly room for a much larger turbo on the E6.

[23newb]

Should have worded that better, physically there is room for a bigger turbo in the stock location? Would be awesome if I can just port the E6 and leave the bigger turbo in the stock location

[Stinger]

Yes, there is a lot of additional room in the stock location.

[23newb]

PERFECT! The FMIC tubing will be a dead give away to those that know, but want to keep as "stock" looking as possible.

As always thanks for the info