Just ANOTHER 1990 Legacy turbo conversion.... hahahahahah
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No, its an ebay special. It is one of those standard huge FMIC, but it comes with STAINLESS piping! And a BOV. Great cost overall.
Reddevil, Awaiting new heart, will it ever happen?
1990 wagon, EJ25 12.3 @ 116.5 FAST Family wagon getting new motor soon
1992 wagon, wifes daily, high compression
1992 Touring wagon, should I keep it?
1990 wagon, EJ25 12.3 @ 116.5 FAST Family wagon getting new motor soon
1992 wagon, wifes daily, high compression
1992 Touring wagon, should I keep it?
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Well, it drives pretty sweet! Still untuned and I have it running rich, but because I am only running 8-10 psi, I bet I could run 89 octane! . However, to be safe, I filled it with V-power.
How does it spool? SLOW. But I was prepared for this. "Full" boost hits about4000-4500. I was not building an autocross monster, I was bulding something "safe". And it does GO when you get the RPMs up there.
EVERYTHING is heat wrapped. The turbo is completely wrapped, needs a blanket still, but the wrap definately helps.
How does it spool? SLOW. But I was prepared for this. "Full" boost hits about4000-4500. I was not building an autocross monster, I was bulding something "safe". And it does GO when you get the RPMs up there.
EVERYTHING is heat wrapped. The turbo is completely wrapped, needs a blanket still, but the wrap definately helps.
Reddevil, Awaiting new heart, will it ever happen?
1990 wagon, EJ25 12.3 @ 116.5 FAST Family wagon getting new motor soon
1992 wagon, wifes daily, high compression
1992 Touring wagon, should I keep it?
1990 wagon, EJ25 12.3 @ 116.5 FAST Family wagon getting new motor soon
1992 wagon, wifes daily, high compression
1992 Touring wagon, should I keep it?
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So I am attempting to boost higher than 7 psi and not havin much luck. Boost controller does nothing, must have a leak issue.
Reddevil, Awaiting new heart, will it ever happen?
1990 wagon, EJ25 12.3 @ 116.5 FAST Family wagon getting new motor soon
1992 wagon, wifes daily, high compression
1992 Touring wagon, should I keep it?
1990 wagon, EJ25 12.3 @ 116.5 FAST Family wagon getting new motor soon
1992 wagon, wifes daily, high compression
1992 Touring wagon, should I keep it?
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Found the issue! T-bolt clamp was 1 size too big... 1 size smaller and all the boost I want!
Finally feels fast and a lot more responsive with leaking out all that air!
Finally feels fast and a lot more responsive with leaking out all that air!
Reddevil, Awaiting new heart, will it ever happen?
1990 wagon, EJ25 12.3 @ 116.5 FAST Family wagon getting new motor soon
1992 wagon, wifes daily, high compression
1992 Touring wagon, should I keep it?
1990 wagon, EJ25 12.3 @ 116.5 FAST Family wagon getting new motor soon
1992 wagon, wifes daily, high compression
1992 Touring wagon, should I keep it?
Ya, that was a real noob move, Fo Sho.... ha ha ha.
This last shop I worked for had a smoke machine. It was so quick and easy to use that whenever I even slightlly suspected a vacum leak, I whipped that baby out and would usually have it diagnosed in 5 minuites.
One of those things would have come in so Effin handy at RTek. There pretty spendy, but Ive been trying to think ever since how to build one of my own on the cheap.

I think this one is the one we had at Action. It was somewhere in the $3k range.
This last shop I worked for had a smoke machine. It was so quick and easy to use that whenever I even slightlly suspected a vacum leak, I whipped that baby out and would usually have it diagnosed in 5 minuites.
One of those things would have come in so Effin handy at RTek. There pretty spendy, but Ive been trying to think ever since how to build one of my own on the cheap.

I think this one is the one we had at Action. It was somewhere in the $3k range.
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OK, been running 12 psi now. 200-230ish whp? The wagon does get up an go now. On my Test Track called the Fremont Run, I have gained about 15 mph over the baseline while NA. And I havent blown up. thats the good news.
The bad news is I am getting 14 miles to the gallon and thats just from put putting around with the occasional accelleration. I am betting BIG money I am huge rich on boost. NEED TO TUNE! The other bad news is my pressure plate doesnt have enough power to grab and hold the 6 puck under full boost when shifting from 3rd to 4th. I have to let off the power and then get back on it. Oh well, I didnt build this car to drag race.
The bad news is I am getting 14 miles to the gallon and thats just from put putting around with the occasional accelleration. I am betting BIG money I am huge rich on boost. NEED TO TUNE! The other bad news is my pressure plate doesnt have enough power to grab and hold the 6 puck under full boost when shifting from 3rd to 4th. I have to let off the power and then get back on it. Oh well, I didnt build this car to drag race.
Reddevil, Awaiting new heart, will it ever happen?
1990 wagon, EJ25 12.3 @ 116.5 FAST Family wagon getting new motor soon
1992 wagon, wifes daily, high compression
1992 Touring wagon, should I keep it?
1990 wagon, EJ25 12.3 @ 116.5 FAST Family wagon getting new motor soon
1992 wagon, wifes daily, high compression
1992 Touring wagon, should I keep it?
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So I had the turbo heat wrapped already but had been thinking maybe I could get the random turbo heat shields I had lying around to fit. I had two, probably from a twin turbo setup. I got the one in the rear to fit by simply pressing it on. The front one I had to cut some out of the bell curve area to lower it down, then it clipped right in!
So, from this....

To this with heat wrap....

To this with the heat shields. Notice I changed out air filter to a smaller version that doesnt hit the hood, nor need the red tape!

So, from this....
To this with heat wrap....
To this with the heat shields. Notice I changed out air filter to a smaller version that doesnt hit the hood, nor need the red tape!
Reddevil, Awaiting new heart, will it ever happen?
1990 wagon, EJ25 12.3 @ 116.5 FAST Family wagon getting new motor soon
1992 wagon, wifes daily, high compression
1992 Touring wagon, should I keep it?
1990 wagon, EJ25 12.3 @ 116.5 FAST Family wagon getting new motor soon
1992 wagon, wifes daily, high compression
1992 Touring wagon, should I keep it?
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18 psi is WAY to much for the 440s. haha.
I turned the boost up shooting for 15 psi, but it crept to 18 in 4th gear and my narrowband AFR guage quit being green!
550s going in today hopefully.
I turned the boost up shooting for 15 psi, but it crept to 18 in 4th gear and my narrowband AFR guage quit being green!
550s going in today hopefully.
Reddevil, Awaiting new heart, will it ever happen?
1990 wagon, EJ25 12.3 @ 116.5 FAST Family wagon getting new motor soon
1992 wagon, wifes daily, high compression
1992 Touring wagon, should I keep it?
1990 wagon, EJ25 12.3 @ 116.5 FAST Family wagon getting new motor soon
1992 wagon, wifes daily, high compression
1992 Touring wagon, should I keep it?
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550 injectors are in! They are the standard red 270cc injectors with the screens ground off. Idles fine. Need to tune of course....
Reddevil, Awaiting new heart, will it ever happen?
1990 wagon, EJ25 12.3 @ 116.5 FAST Family wagon getting new motor soon
1992 wagon, wifes daily, high compression
1992 Touring wagon, should I keep it?
1990 wagon, EJ25 12.3 @ 116.5 FAST Family wagon getting new motor soon
1992 wagon, wifes daily, high compression
1992 Touring wagon, should I keep it?
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It is not a swap per se....
I put in a different motor, and custom fabbed everything, but the wiring harness is 100% stock.
And I have turned the boost up to 17 and it runs great!
But.......
I logged it via the PP6 and was hitting 4.9 from 5200 rpm on! Not good. So I turned the boost back down to 13ish for now. I will be installing the Vortech rrfpr in the next few days. Damn I need to get tuned!
I put in a different motor, and custom fabbed everything, but the wiring harness is 100% stock.
And I have turned the boost up to 17 and it runs great!
But.......
I logged it via the PP6 and was hitting 4.9 from 5200 rpm on! Not good. So I turned the boost back down to 13ish for now. I will be installing the Vortech rrfpr in the next few days. Damn I need to get tuned!
Reddevil, Awaiting new heart, will it ever happen?
1990 wagon, EJ25 12.3 @ 116.5 FAST Family wagon getting new motor soon
1992 wagon, wifes daily, high compression
1992 Touring wagon, should I keep it?
1990 wagon, EJ25 12.3 @ 116.5 FAST Family wagon getting new motor soon
1992 wagon, wifes daily, high compression
1992 Touring wagon, should I keep it?
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Header wrap smells like baby poop. BURNING baby poop.

So I wrapped the header tonight. I also found that all the flanges were not flat (carbond deposits). So I ground them down on the sander. I used 55' of 2" wrap.
Results? SERIOUS burning baby poop smell. But I am hitting full boost almost 1000 rpm sooner!

Burned off the smell on the freeway and I am one
Reddevil, Awaiting new heart, will it ever happen?
1990 wagon, EJ25 12.3 @ 116.5 FAST Family wagon getting new motor soon
1992 wagon, wifes daily, high compression
1992 Touring wagon, should I keep it?
1990 wagon, EJ25 12.3 @ 116.5 FAST Family wagon getting new motor soon
1992 wagon, wifes daily, high compression
1992 Touring wagon, should I keep it?
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So why the hell havent I blown up this motor yet?
I KNOW the MAF is getting maxed out @14ish psi and I find it hard to believe the 550cc injectors are good for 20psi...
Yet today I hit 20! :huh: I backed off and turned the boost back down. I was tryin to turn it up from 13 to 15, but hit 20 instead.
I love this build!

Yet today I hit 20! :huh: I backed off and turned the boost back down. I was tryin to turn it up from 13 to 15, but hit 20 instead.
I love this build!
Reddevil, Awaiting new heart, will it ever happen?
1990 wagon, EJ25 12.3 @ 116.5 FAST Family wagon getting new motor soon
1992 wagon, wifes daily, high compression
1992 Touring wagon, should I keep it?
1990 wagon, EJ25 12.3 @ 116.5 FAST Family wagon getting new motor soon
1992 wagon, wifes daily, high compression
1992 Touring wagon, should I keep it?