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We plunked a stock metro T3 setup on a standard 998 pre A+ block running stock-like full skirt +.020 dished pistons, a stock non ecomomy non-metro 1275 cam, and a stock 12G1316 1275 head with a pocketed block, stock pressed steel 1275 rockers. Measured and calculated compression was 8.5:1 or very close to it. Turbo was pretty ragged out and smoky after just a few hours of run time, and we went through 2 head gaskets before going a bit more conservative on the timing and boost, but it was FRIGGIN' FAST compared to what we were running previously: a NA +.030 998 with 11:1 compression and a 274 cam and 1275 head.

I think when I drove it we were at only 6 or 7 psi of boost. We used the metro turbo carb and plenum with an extra blowoff valve on the plenum. We were also running 110 leaded race gas. The needle we ended up needing was a BDK (that may have been modified previously, don't know for sure though).

Previously others said the 1275 head wouldn't work. Well, it did. HOWEVER it did crack on Saturday between the intake/exhaust but we still kept using it after the second head gasket change. Timing was done using some 1980s era timing kit from a motorcycle that allowed boost retard. not sure what the guys ended up using for timing figures, but once they went conservative after the second gasket change it was still friggin fast-- it was on par and very possibly faster than our other car-- which sported a NA +.060 1275 with 284 cam running 1.5 rockers, ported head, 11.5-12"1 compression, 110 leaded race fuel.

I am a serous convert now. That T3 turbo was amazing on the track. When I drove it after the detune and cracked head, it was crazy strong but would fall off boost if it got too close to 3K rpms. We were on a racetrack running a 14 hour, 2-day race so it wasn't too often that it would fall flat.

I suggested to the guys who did the tuning that a T2 is a more popular option according to this board and they said for around town drivability that would be true, but for the track we may even want to go to a bigger T3!

Pics of the car/weekend are here:
http://www.hubgarage.com/mygarage/Spank/vehicles/68209

We also ran a moke and a Citroen (aka sChITROEN)

1 question: Is it possible to use an 11 stud setup on a 998 with a 1275 head?

I like your car,sounds fun. Wil and Ben have had good results with the 940 heads on 998s.

yes they do go quite wel l, get an intercooler in there and sort the other issues out then you will have a relible motor.

REMEMBER an intercooler is not the icing on the cake its .......MORE! CAKE!

cake where?

Previous experience shows that at 18psi an almost identical setup will make 140bananas. At 7psi I'd expect 80ish, should feel fast enough in something as light as your car looks.

Fastest 998 mini in the world? 13.05 1/4 mile 106mph

www.twin-turbo.co.uk

mmm cakes.

I run a supercharger and I don't care the TB is on the wrong side.
VEMS + 12 PSI + Liquid Intercooler = Small Bore FUN!

If I had to guess, I'd say it was in the 80ish at the wheels-- on par with my NA 1275 race car that dynoed with 89 at the wheels, but the power comes on a bit sooner. Probably it's the torque curve I'm feeling.

That top pic you linked is Josh of Yoshifab (www.yoshifab.com). He's the guy who did the at-the-track tuning. He says we can easily get 30% more with nothing more than optimizing the timing and boost on a dyno.

Back to my hidden question:

Has anyone ever done a 998 with 11 studs?

11 stud is not really needed. We did have 11 stud on one block, but there was no need. We are running 150+ bananas with a 9 stud.

As has already been said you need an intercooler otherwise no amount of optimzing will release the true potential.

http://www.twin-turbo.co.uk
http://www.hillclimbandsprint.co.uk/default.asp

A man without a project is like a like a woman without a shopping list.

Actually we still have 11 studs Ben. But we fitted them to stop head gasket failures which were ultimately being caused by a faulty torque wrench.

Fastest 998 mini in the world? 13.05 1/4 mile 106mph

www.twin-turbo.co.uk

I didn't think that the new head was 11 stud. Oh well I have only changed it in a rush so have just forgotten.

http://www.twin-turbo.co.uk
http://www.hillclimbandsprint.co.uk/default.asp

A man without a project is like a like a woman without a shopping list.

We're in the throes of preparing for the next race and we were granted some wiggle room in the rules that otherwise limit us to $500 for purchase and prep of the car. Which means we can upgrade some stuff.

first on the list is replacing the cracked head:



The next is doing something about our wobbly old smoky turbo



Josh says it's because of shaft wobble and the carbon seal is bad and under vacuum it sucks in oil.

We really liked the performance of the stock metro T3 on the track, but finding a Metro T3 here in the US for within our budget is not really going to happen.

We feel we have 3 options:

1) Rebuild our current turbo using some generic, made in China kit if one is available-- but if there is shaft wear then Josh says we're stuck. If it's bearings and a seal then we're ok.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/t3-t4-t3-t0...=item588cee3fc5

2) Find another T3 from a salvage yard to use as a core and put our wheels on the other turbo-- not sure if this is doable.

3) Buy a completely new offshore turbo: he suggested a KO3 from a 1.8 golf reproduced by these guys
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/K03-KO3-TUR...sQ5fAccessories

I know a lot of you all run T2 or smaller off of European spec cars, but we don't exactly have those over here to pilfer them from. And we like the 3K and up power band so the stock single diff pin gearbox has a better chance of surviving the event.

If you have another suggestion that'll give us similar performace to the stock unit and that would be available here in the US or cheap ebay clones that may or may not last 2 events, Please make the suggestion.

Thanks!

It might not be your turbo that is shot.

On our van, the valve guides where well worn. The turbo was creating a vacuum and sucking oil down the guides into the exhaust port when off boost.

You're other option is to ask on here for another T3.

Edited by apbellamy on 4th Mar, 2011.

I think mitsi starion / conquest runs a T3.

I thought about the guide wear-- the guides are a bit loose, but it also has new guide seals on intake and exhaust. Doesn't mean it can't still be them, though.

There is discernible play in the shaft, but I don't know what the norm is-- I'm just going off of what Josh said when he felt it before we ever used it. He's never played with mini turbos before-- he's used to DSM and Volvo stuff. Oh, he also holds the land speed record for turbocharged scooters-- under 50cc I think.

The problem with a T3 from the UK is shipping a big lump like that isn't cheap and then there's always the risk of getting one no better than what we already have. The 2 that I have (one on the car and one missing the intake housing and exhaust elbow) both came from the UK in their current conditions years ago when the exchange rate was more favorable and I already had a crate full of parts headed this way.

I did pull a turbo off of an 80s dodge shelby 2.2L car, but I'm thinking that's going to be too big. I don't need power in the 6500rpm range. 3K and topping off around 6k would be great.

BTW: here's some in car video from an Opel that was chasing us during the last race when we had the turbo in it. No smoke from it while on track, just after idling in the pits.

http://www.vimeo.com/17969333

Alpa said something about a twin turbo subaru Forester each turbo being well suited to the setup.

But you'll have to do the search, I am too tired !

Rusty by nature

Postage for a T3 to the US is about £60. I'll have a T3 going spare soon.

Dont you have any small turbodiesel cars there ?

Some of their turbo's could be well suited.

or maybe a little big for a 998cc, but the Subaru TD04
Similar used on Mitsubishi 3000gt twin turbo etc, or Valant estate

One turbo off a twin turbo Supra ? One turbo off a twin turbo skyline ?

or some of the twin turbo Subarus as mentioned.

Although from a fitment point of view sticking with a Garrett has obvious advantages.

Maybe a GT28 off some of the Jap stuff ?

I wouldnt necessarily worry too much about the cracks between the valve seats. I ran mine for a very long time like that, and it never seemed to get much worse. Detonation is the main cause though.

Edited by stevieturbo on 5th Mar, 2011.

9.85 @ 145mph
202mph standing mile
speed didn't kill me, but taxation probably will

Surely they have Sasbs over in the US or volvos, both that have suitable turbos. The ever popular GT1752 is Saab.

http://www.twin-turbo.co.uk
http://www.hillclimbandsprint.co.uk/default.asp

A man without a project is like a like a woman without a shopping list.

Just for clarification: If it were oil from the turbo, I should have oil residue in the hose from the turbo to the plenum, or in the plenum itself, no?

Typically if it's worn valve guides, I would expect oil at startup and oil to have been pooled in the pistons when I removed the head. There was no oil in the cylinders when the head was pulled-- pistons were dry.

If it was oil from the cold side you get oil in the boost hoses and plenum, if it was from the hot side it would go straight in the exhaust and burn off.

Yea, the intake side is dry for the most part. I guess it was going out of the exhaust side, from the carbon seal (as it was explained to me).

I mentioned some of the "one of" turbos -- ie forester-- and nobody here seems to know of any twin turbo anything with take-off stock turbos.

The latest suggestion from this side has been to go with a K03 from a 1.8 vw

Anyone tried one of those? Thoughts?

try these cars , nissan pulsar or silvia 1980's models, nissan silvia t28, mitsubishi gto, mazda rx7's um nissan skylines or toyota starlet 1.3 turbo think thats its a ct9, just a few cars u could try.

1966 MK1 1034CC TURBO MINI

Subaru Foresters are not twin turbo. Some Jap import Legacy estates are, but may be quite rare over there.

Mitsubishi 3000GT is likely more common, or a 4cylinder turbodiesel engined car.

Or some other's already mentioned.

9.85 @ 145mph
202mph standing mile
speed didn't kill me, but taxation probably will

Well they are so rare that I bought them on ebay in the UK and another time in the US :) .
$100-150 a pair. I bought 2 in advance at that price.

std 998 A+, g295, MD266, RHF4, 109hp @0.8bar/5400rpm

Just came off the dyno. With 8.09 lbs of boost, we are getting 65.06 hp (for comparison, on the same dyno with NA 998 running about 11:1 compression, a 274 cam we had 52hp). We also gained in torque, but I don't have the numbers in front of me.

We went from 53 hp to 65 just by increasing the timing 1-2 degrees at a time until the torque and hp stopped increasing, then backed it down. I took it down another degree and it's sitting at 64.5 hp for our upcoming race.