Turbo weight

[littleboyblues]

Do you guys know roughly how much a turbo system weighs? I know they'll probally all different and dependent on the intercooler size and all but im asking roughly or for a range. And as a side note....im assuming that s/c weigh more.

[E30PQ]

Do you guys know roughly how much a turbo system weighs? I know they'll probally all different and dependent on the intercooler size and all but im asking roughly or for a range. And as a side note....im assuming that s/c weigh more.

Each system is custom so the weights vary.  My guess is that we added 40 lbs to our car when we added the turbo, plumbing, intercooler, waste gate, etc. That might be on the high side for an estimate.

I would imagine that s/c is about the same weight after all is said and done.  Maybe a little more because it takes a substantial bracket to secure the s/c since it's belt driven.

[littleboyblues]

40 lbs would definitely make a difference to our 50/50 weight distribution then considering its right up at the front of the car.

[E30PQ]

40 lbs would definitely make a difference to our 50/50 weight distribution then considering its right up at the front of the car.

Yes, it's horsepower and torque vs. adding some weight.

In the case of our race car it was well worth adding a little weight since we were subtracting weight in other areas.

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2980038

http://www.m42club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9663

[littleboyblues]

So essentially, by adding a turbo to a m42 you simply converted the 318 into a 325 because the difference between the engine weights is around 40 lbs, im talking e30's (m42 vs m20). The less weight in the front of the 318 is one of the things it has over the 325. To me the feel of the 318 is the one thing i want to preserve.

Therefore, if a turbo is added can the delete of ps, a/c, mechanical fan be enough to balance the weight back to its original 220lbs or so?

As for a turboed m42 and a m20 with the same power, they are very different engines so im wondering, whats a turboed m42 like? Is there alot of lag with the setup you have? Like when does it kick in? And im sure the engine has still retained its revyness. However you are driving the car on the track so, no starting off of idle.

Btw i've been following your car build e30pq. Very interesting and is inspiring me to go turbo..

[E30PQ]

So essentially, by adding a turbo to a m42 you simply converted the 318 into a 325 because the difference between the engine weights is around 40 lbs, im talking e30's (m42 vs m20). The less weight in the front of the 318 is one of the things it has over the 325. To me the feel of the 318 is the one thing i want to preserve.

Therefore, if a turbo is added can the delete of ps, a/c, mechanical fan be enough to balance the weight back to its original 220lbs or so?

As for a turboed m42 and a m20 with the same power, they are very different engines so im wondering, whats a turboed m42 like? Is there alot of lag with the setup you have? Like when does it kick in? And im sure the engine has still retained its revyness. However you are driving the car on the track so, no starting off of idle.

Btw i've been following your car build e30pq. Very interesting and is inspiring me to go turbo..

True, our car is a dedicated race car that isn't street legal any more.  We have a lightened flywheel so that hurts stop and go you would experience on the street.  

Regarding lag, our car doesn't experience lag.  We designed our engine build to have a wide torque band.  The custom intake actually helped widen our torque curve even more.  Before the custom intake I needed to feather the pedal coming out of any slow corners so that I wouldn't spin the rear wheels.  With the new intake I can get back into the throttle without wheel spin.  

If your going to turbo an M42 its going to make more power than an M20 for about the same weight as an M20.  That's the game changer.

Our turbo M42 is making about 300hp and 300 ft lbs of torque at the rear wheels.  

If an M20 makes 200hp at the rear wheels (which they don't without some work) that would be 2/3 the power of our Turbo M42.  

To answer your question about what's a turbo M42 like to drive.... it's a blast.  

I have an S50 powered E30 street car with a full interior and a roll bar.  Its quick, its fun to drive and it has a great 6 cyl exhaust sound but the race car takes it to the next level.

With that said, I think a turbo M42 street car (if built right) could provide a much bigger thrill to drive than a normally aspirated 24v swap car.  

1)  The car would be lighter especially since 318 cars start out lighter than 325's.  

2)  It would be different because everyone and their little brother has done a 24v swap at this point.

3)  The turbo M42 car would handle well and still be faster than 24v swap car.

[littleboyblues]

True true true.

Just an aside question - what psi are you guys running to get power like that?

Thanks alot

[E30PQ]

We run between 16 to 18 lbs of boost.

[e30guydownunder]

This is why i moved my M42, gearbox and the intercooler, radiator, oil cooler all backwards. Engine and box is back ~95mm, everything is in the engine bay. Hopefully i will end up close to 50/50 again.

Currently:

[xwill112x]

there wont be much difference at all in your handling if any, as long as you have a good suspension.

[AcSchnitzer318is]

I run a very small turbo/intercooler, so my entire system might weigh 25lbs.  I can't turn 300hp though as with the race car (I'm at ~215rwhp @ 11psi).  I haven't noticed any change in handling characteristics except for the fact that I have a lot more power now coming out of turns.

I daily drive the car, but did lose some of that "factory" feel.  Mainly at idle though.  I run no ICV so engine temp and load causes a loapy/cam type of idle.  I can live with it though for the extra 100rwhp.  After engine is warmed up, and as long as the AC compressor isn't on, she idles nice and solid.

[deekay]

there are tons of ways to fix a 40lb weight change.

i would hazard a guess you could get the weight distribution back to stock simply by moving the battery to the trunk.

[rob_e30]

As Paul said, the 40lb. estimate is likely on the high side.  The only incremental components are the turbo itself, the intercooler, and the plumbing.  Both the intercooler and plumbing are aluminum so pretty light.  The IC bracket is steel so there are a few pounds there.  The manifold is probably similar in weight so no real difference there.  The turbo is the single heaviest component, but we've removed the AC compressor, condenser, AC lines, blower motor and heater core so that's more than a wash.

We've also removed all the front lights (fogs and headlights), horns, wiring harness, hood liner, etc.  I doubt we've added weight.  Then you can start looking at the carbon fiber hood, fiberglass fenders, fiberglass bumper cover/valance, and a significantly smaller intake manifold, cut out the spare tire well, removed all the interior, fiberglass trunk lid, windows, etc.  It's amazing how much stuff you can find to tear out.

[deekay]

good stuff... i've removed maybe a third of what you have but it's good to know it'll likely even out. thanks for the input, rob.

[Bunta]

Weight is a bit of a concern.

I'll be using an HX35(big heavy deisel turbo), 304ss manifold(not the lightest), 44mm wastegate, Thats really most of the weight maybe 50-60lbs. loosing the mechanical fan, A/C, and other junk will make up for the intercooler and piping weight.

Ive been looking into a fuel cell as well.
Get that gas a little more over the rear wheels and use a big battery.
That should even it out.



Hunter