yet another 3sfe turbo thread - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Zuph · 08-08-2003, 05:38 PM

I've been digging around quite a while on these forums for information on turbocharging my '89 Camry. This is what I've managed to glean so far:

Get a 3sgte exhaust manifold, and a turbo off an old MR2 or other car that used a CT-26 turbo. Bolt everything on, get some custom plumbing (to summarize greatly), get that Vortec FMU, and mess with the wastegate (preferably getting a new one that is more dynamic) so your engine doesn't create a quantum singularity, and enjoy your 3sfte.

I know that in reality, it is not this simply, but for the sake of time and space, this is, in general, what seems to be the thing to do. Some people have also said that you should rebuild your engine, and preferable put a metal 3sgte head gasket on your engine before doing this. I'd like to know if I'm missing anything MAJOR, like needing to replace my transmission or something odd, and whether a rebuild + head gasket change is really necesary.

Also, what kind of boost levels would be safe? (I read about how someone ran theirs at 10PSI and it messed stuff up). What kind of horsepower gains am I going to be looking at, (aside from "It'll drive like a different car"), and what various other pitfalls am I looking at?

I was looking at doing a 3sgte swap, but decided that it would be too difficult, and putting a turbocharger on my current engine seems quite a bit easier, and definitly cheaper. I appreciate any replied, even if they are just "Omg n00b."

88 LE · 08-08-2003, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Zuph
Get a 3sgte exhaust manifold, and a turbo off an old MR2 or other car that used a CT-26 turbo. Bolt everything on, get some custom plumbing (to summarize greatly), get that Vortec FMU, and mess with the wastegate (preferably getting a new one that is more dynamic) so your engine doesn't create a quantum singularity, and enjoy your 3sfte.

Don't forget about the oil lines (feed and return) to the turbo.

About the wastegate. I would use a external one. The stock internal wastegate on the CT-26 will hit the block and the turbo won't bolt on. So just unbolt it.

You have to weld a little piece of metal over the hole in the turbine housing where the flapper door from the internal wastegate shuts against.

Quote:

I'd like to know if I'm missing anything MAJOR, like needing to replace my transmission or something odd, and whether a rebuild + head gasket change is really necesary.

You can use the stock tranny.

How many miles do you have on your engine?

Quote:

Also, what kind of boost levels would be safe? (I read about how someone ran theirs at 10PSI and it messed stuff up).

I suggest no more then 7psi on stock internals.

I was the one that ran 10psi (damn spring in the wastegate was to tight) and melted a piston.

Zuph · 08-08-2003, 11:19 PM

Right now, I have around 89K miles on the car. It was a hand-me-down from a grandma who inherited enough to buy a new corolla with cash. It runs great, no mechanical problems at all, and I have all the paperwork for it, so I'm not going to complain.

Also, I don't have the equipment (nor skill) to custom make all the piping i'll need. How much am I looking at to get that made for me?

Thanks.

jm_2thow · 08-09-2003, 01:35 AM

the piping really wouldnt be that hard to do, if u take your time, i reiterate TAKE YOUR TIME and think about what your doing several times before u actually do it u can safe alot of money and it will look profesional, if u have a friend at a local exhaust shop or are really nice to the people u can have them bend aluminum exhaust pipe for u and it will work just great

jm_2thow · 08-09-2003, 01:40 AM

o ya i had a question on this matter to, do u need to do ne thign to the fuel system/ignition system besides the fmu if u r just going to run 5-7 psi? will the computer handle the boost fine ?

88 LE · 08-09-2003, 03:13 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by jm_2thow
do u need to do ne thign to the fuel system/ignition system besides the fmu if u r just going to run 5-7 psi?

You can retard the ignition timing if you want to.

Quote:

will the computer handle the boost fine?

The computer doesn't know that the engine is seeing boost.

***zoni*** · 08-09-2003, 03:22 PM

I would suggest doing a complete engine swap. If you dont want to do that, there is always the option of a head swap, which in effect is very much like an engine swap while leaving the engine in the car.

like they said, you will need oil lines, i'd say a 3sgte oil pan would be cool with that and the stock 3sgte oil lines should work fine.

88LE, would you be able to run a 3sgte ECU??? Otherwise, you have to worry about turbo management and integration into the main 3sfe ecu.

You would probably want to upgrade your exhaust too.

menaboy64 · 08-09-2003, 03:32 PM

I'm also trying to start this project on my 87 Camry 3sfe, listen to 88 LE, he knows his shit. I am also going the "3s-gte manifold and ct-26 turbo" route. It seems the simplest and safest. I will be able to document my trials and tribulations on this project as soon as I attain all the necessary parts and hopefully it will be helpful as a guideline for others.

xavior66 · 08-09-2003, 07:16 PM

Heh, want an absolute brainfart of info about this? Try out the SC3 forums and use the search button for turbocharging the 3S-FE. Great discussions on there.

Zuph · 08-09-2003, 07:52 PM

So I'll need to fit an oil return on to the oil pan. What's the best we to do the oil feed?

Also, at 89K, do I really *have* to rebuild the engine to run 5-7 PSI?

Also, does anyone have any solid numbers as to the HP gain at those levels?

At some time in the future I do plan on doing a 3sgte swap, but until I can afford that (which will be a while) I'd like a moderate amount of performance for a decent price. Thanks guys.

88 LE · 08-10-2003, 05:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Zoni_Camry
88LE, would you be able to run a 3sgte ECU???

If you do a head swap you need the ECU plus a bunch of other things to make it work.

88 LE · 08-10-2003, 07:02 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Zuph
So I'll need to fit an oil return on to the oil pan.

Yup.

You got 2 options.

1. Weld on a fitting. I removed the oil pan, drilled a hole, and welded on a 3/4" NPT to -8 AN fitting.

I used stainless steel braided hose and AN fittings. You can also use hard line, but its harder to work with and you need some special tools (flaring tool and tubing bender).

2. Use the oil pan off a 3S-GTE.

Quote:

What's the best we to do the oil feed?

Off the cylinder head where the oil pressure sensor screws in.

Its kinda hard to explain so i'll just post some pics of my setup.

crazy_camry · 08-10-2003, 11:35 PM

do you need to use a new fuel pump? djprefix used the supra twin turbo fuel pump, but was that the later model jza80, or an earlier twin turbo supra (ie 1ggte engine)?

***zoni*** · 08-11-2003, 03:55 AM

MOST likely it was from the MKIV supra TT, 2jz-gte engine.

the mkIII supras were single turbo 7m-gte

however i have no clue about the 1jz-gte. i know that engine is sometimes swapped into supras.

djprefix · 08-11-2003, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Zoni_Camry
MOST likely it was from the MKIV supra TT, 2jz-gte engine.

the mkIII supras were single turbo 7m-gte

however i have no clue about the 1jz-gte. i know that engine is sometimes swapped into supras.

I just found this thread, ha! I used the 94-98 supra TT walbro 255lph fuel pump. When running 7psi you'll be running around 110psi of fuel pressure and your stock fuel pump won't take that for long.