Turbo Q45

[Sabre_Logos]

Hey guys. I've started work on turboing my 94 Q45. The goal is to make around 420 hp.

More info here:http://turbo-infiniti.org/viewtopic.php?t=70

 

[stevechumo]

You may shed some more info. on what turbo you're using, your setup...etc. The turbo looks huge and it looks like an overkill for only 420 hp.

 

[Lextreme II]

You are going to overheat the engine.......

 

[Anaema]

how will he overheat the engine? the turbo won't block airflow to the radiator. it might block airflow out of the radiator, but...... please specify.

 

[Lextreme II]

This is why:

The downpipe will heat up the radiator and it will overheat the whole system......

 

[jibbby]

You got Q45....Dude, you are on it with the car builds........ Is that a Q45 you got? Or is that a motor transplant in a Lexus you got going on there? Inquiring minds would like to know.......420rwhp will get the job done...

 

[Sabre_Logos]

Some more info on the setup: The car is a stock 94 Q45 with the VH45DE. I had to modify the engine bay to make space for the turbo, which is a T6 flanged Garrett T-76. I decided to stuff a big turbo in there because I will be increasing displacement in the future.

As far as packaging of the turbo is concerned, the engine bay is tight and I had to get creative. The radiator was replaced with a double-pass unit and the stock viscous fan replaced with an electric one. The battery was moved to the trunk and the oil filter relocated. I also installed an oil cooler and will be running an auxiliary radiator to help with engine temps. On top of that, I have a water/methanol injection setup which should also help in keeping the engine from overheating.

I am still building the hot side piping but everything looks like it should come together nicely. Once it is done, I will wrap the pipes to keep heat in. Yes, Lextreme is correct that the downpipe is very close to the radiator but some ceramic coating and wrap should take care of things. I will also have to put some kind of vent on the hood to let the heat out.

There is also a guy on Turbo-Infiniti.com who is working on a rear-mount turbo for his Q. Two different approaches but both are effective nevertheless.

 

[Sabre_Logos]

Some more pics:

 

[Lextreme II]

I was told by coating experts not to do both. Either you coat it or wrap it. You don't want to do both because of the moisture trap and destroy the coating. Even with water injection and so on. The radiator will be too hot to cool the fluid and you will have problems in a hot day with your ac turn on along with boosting.

Good luck!

 

[jibbby]

I like that Q45 motor...A little more juicy then your basic 1uz-fe for sure... The turbo setup should really get the car moving if you can keep the temp down...

Best of luck on your turbo build...Should be nice if you can pull it off...

 

[JustenGT8]

Don't you love 'experts'...was he trying to sell you something Lex? I have run coating and wrap for years with no probs at all.....how the hell is a bit of moisture going to ruin a high temp ceramic coating? the guy was blowing it out his arse.

can't see you having any heat issues with coating and wrap, you could actually touch my coated/wrapped downpipe with your bare hand. Add the bonnet vent and your additional cooling and you are well clear. Should be a bit of a torque weapon.

 

[Lextreme II]

Hey Justen,

Where have you been? Long time... I am not trying to be critical but there isnt much space between the DP and the radiator for any good size wrap. At least what I see from the pictures he posted. Secondly, the heat from the header support brackets will also going to heat up the firewall and going to melt the plastic plugs.

This is what I was referring:

 

[Anaema]

a T-72? thats huge. i wouldn't be spurised if you had monster lag with that. and even with increased displacement you will have a lot of lag. what is the HP figure you are looking for? 700+?

 

[turboandrew]

420 HP was stated earlier. I agree, that turbo is rediculously large for 420 HP.

 

[JustenGT8]

Hey Lex,
Just lurking around, nothing new on the GT8 lately although my new 8 spot brakes setup just arrived...will post details in appropriate spot.

I had less room for a 3 inch dump pipe on my Carlos Sainz GT4 and the rest of the bay is very heat unfriendly as well. With good planning you can still achieve a nice result and i had the thermal issues pretty well under control.

No doubt Sabre has a challenge on his hands but all looks doable to me for street use. As has been pointed out, that's a mother of a turbo if your goal is only 420hp. Based on Jaffa's big single experirnce though, i think it would still spool up OK and be pretty good on the street. I think 550hp flywheel is more likely without even trying so some work on support systems (injectors, fuel, IC etc) will be needed.

 

[Sabre_Logos]

420 HP was stated earlier. I agree, that turbo is rediculously large for 420 HP.

Underpromise, overdeliver. The 420 hp is a low estimate, it'll be more. Also, I'll be raising the boost later and would like to increase displacement possibly, so the turbo was sized with sufficient reserve capacity.

 

[Sabre_Logos]

Hey Justen,

Where have you been? Long time... I am not trying to be critical but there isnt much space between the DP and the radiator for any good size wrap. At least what I see from the pictures he posted. Secondly, the heat from the header support brackets will also going to heat up the firewall and going to melt the plastic plugs.

This is what I was referring:

Lextreme, you do bring up some good points. The downpipe is a 4 incher that necks down to 3.5 inches. I have about 1 inch on either side of the pipe for heat wrap. I'm thinking of having it coated on the inside and outside, then wrapping it.

The brackets will need some attention. I'm thinking maybe drilling a few holes in them to help dissipate heat and also putting some kind of heat insulator where they bolt to the body.

 

[jibbby]

These motors can take some good power in stock form so why not boost away? I think I read someone made 700-800hp or so with stock motor......

 

[Sabre_Logos]

I'm still working on the Q45 turbo project. It is taking a long time. Here are some more pics at various stages of completion.



I am using modified stock manifolds as the basis for the build. This is the driver's side.

Here's the passenger side manifold in the beginning stage.

This is the pipe that will carry the exhaust from both banks to the rear of the transmission, from there the flow heads to the front of the engine bay to the turbo.

Here's the pipe after completion.

Here's the rest of the piping heading to the turbo.

This is the spot where the oil drains back into the pan.

Here are the stock manifolds after modification.

 

[Sabre_Logos]

Some more pics:


Here are all the pipes for the pre-turbo hot side. I painted them in BBQ paint, wrapped them, painted the wrap, wrapped the wrap with aluminum foil tape and then painted everything with the high temp BBQ paint. All the pre-turbo piping is .065 stainless so it should survive with my experimental wrapping. Hopefully.

And this is where I am at present. Still a while to go as you can see.

I will move the MAF over to the left some more so I can get a piece of straight pipe after it.

Here's the car that the work is being done on.