legacycentral bbs

hey guy
i just installed a used tdo4 on my '94 legacy touring wagon. i clocked it and am making the elbow. what are ft/lb specs for the studs and bolts? i know i need a boost guage but what else do i need? what is a good boost guage? do i need to by-pass the computer boost control? i did by just running a hose from the port on the turbo outlet to the waste gate. my car is stock everything but the turbo. do i need anything to make my car run as a ever day driver. the turbo has around 20k on it, is it boken in? what do i need the do before i run the car for the first time? How do you reset the ecu? do i need to?

i am new to owning a turbo car so i know nothing. please help. any info can help.

thanks
steve

I never reset the ecu although it couldnt hurt to. As for a boost gauge, if you want one thats really accurate, you can always get a pressure gauge from the compressor section of any home improvement store or you can buy one like greddy or spw like mine.

The torque spec for the nuts connecting the turbo to the uppipe and downpipe are 35 N-m... I think that's 26 ft-lbs.

I started to do the same thing to install a TD04 on my car but gave up and just swapped in another VF11 because of time constraints... Did you cut off the compressor outlet nipple and seal up the hole? And grind off the clocking positioning pin? I think you'll need to shave away the pipe coming out the compressor inlet in order to fit an elbow well. Were you able to machine the wastegate actuator mounting bracket to fit the new location of the turbo?

If the turbo's 20,000 miles old I think it should be fully broken in.

What you did with the wastegate plumbing effectively bypasses the stock boost control. See how that goes for now.

I think you should reset the ECU. Just disconnect the negative battery terminal and press the brake pedal for 30 seconds or so.

Look for a thread legacy92ej22t started about his turbo swap (I think it's called something like "and so it begins") and also a more recent thread started by azn2nr about turbo swaps... You do need to prime the turbo's bearings with oil by following the technique in azn2nr's thread.

I have the instructions for priming the bearing in my thread too.

Steve- Are you running an intercooler? You should be if you aren't.

Yes, you will need to bypass the OEM boost control solenoid but leave the electrical connections hooked up. You will need a MBC (Manual Boost Controller) and a boost gauge. For a MBC you can get a cheap Joe-P (or make one yourself, search to learn how) or a nice Hallman for a few bucks more, around $45. Autometer makes a really nice Vac/Boost gauge. I run the Phantom series as well as a few others here and we all like them a lot. They run around $45-60 USD.

So really you should do as follows BEFORE running the vehicle.

1. Get a boost gauge hooked up, you NEED to know what the turbo is doing, very, very important. Do a search in the Turbo forum for more info.

2. Get a MBC. Again, do a search in the turbo forum for more info.

3. Get a intercooler hooked up. You can get a Saab 900 for $20-45 USD and they are really easy and cheap to plumb in. Do a search in the Intercooler forum.

4. If you want to run more then around 10-11 psi I would get a TEB (Turbo Back Exhaust).

5. If you do that and want to run more then 13 psi at sea level you'll need a FCD (Fuel Cut Defender). Again, do a search in the Turbo forum for more info. VRG3 designed an easy FCD that can be made yourself if you're a little crafty.

I hope that's helpful and good luck!

baah, I made one of those FCD's. For being soo simple it took me a while, maybe the soder was too big. Just need to plug it in and see if it works now.

i need to get the car on the road asap. if i plan on running low boost do i need the intercooler right now? with the MBC,can i turn the boost down to the stock Legacy (8.7psi correct?) setting or will the wastegate not let me? what is a very safe number to shot for if not? i don't want to take the motor out of the car because of something stupid. i don't want a world beater, this car is my everyday driver. it doesn't need to be anything crazy.

also i changed the spark plug while the car is down and the ones on the drivers side look lean, is this normal? if not what could be wrong?

You can set the boost at 8.7 or lower if you just hook the hose from the nipple on the turbo to the wastegate. I'm running 10-12 psi on a TD05 without an intercooler and not having a problem, but i wouldnt recommend it. You actually dont need to install the manual boost controller for 8.7psi, just hook it up to the stock boost solenoid or w/e its called.

Well really that depends. I don't remember which wastegate actuator the TD04 has but the TD05's is a 9 psi actuator. So you'll get a minumim 9 psi if it has the same one. If you have a MBC and turn it all the way down you'll get wastegate boost, which would be the 9psi. If you just hook the nipple on the compressor outlet to the wastegate, as mentioned, then you'll still get the 9 psi.

The TD04 will push a bit more air then the VF11 but as long as you only run 9 psi you should be ok without an intercooler. 9 psi is a bit below the TD04's effeciency range though.

Either way you should at least put in a boost gauge and I would start looking for a cheap Saab 900 setup that you can add later. It's cheap and easy so why not have the added safety and performance?

a boost gauge is a difinite. i will try to find a intercooler this weekend. where is it locate at on the saab (in the grill, fender, under hood or where)? i have a class saturday till noon and the junkyard is only open to 3 so i need to now where to look. what boost do you recommend? what else do i need? if i go more than 10psi i need a turbo back right?