Info needed turbo x16xel

[Wyley]

Hi guys just lookin for some info on the above
has anyone ever done it before ?
Just a few questions I have about it
which turbo to use ?
do I need to uprate block internals? arps are a must
Can I buy a ready made manifold ? Or is it a custom job ?
can I buy a inter cooler and boost pipe kit or is it a custom job again ?
I'm a mechanic but new to this end of it
cheers guys

[small9918]

Well to start you will need forged rods., you will need either different pistons or a decomp plate to drop compression, pretty sure manifolds will need to be custom although someone may do an off the shelf one and you could probably get away with using a vx inlet manny with the throttle removed. There's 2 lads, on one corsa sport and one on mig, both boosted there's and blew the bottom ends to pieces. You will also need stand alone management the fuel system will need updating and hours trying to set it up nicely and even if you do it all properly and spend thousands you'd probably only see around 200bhp before g eating reliability problems.

the better and probably cheaper option will be either a 20xe, 20let or try sourcing a Vxr lump. Or save your Money put the 16xe on a set of itbs and exhaust mapped properly should be good for around 145 150bhp.

[Wyley]

[small9918]

Hate to say it mate but 1500euro won't even get you close! Set of forged rods and pistons will set you Back about 900quid management will cost you about 500 plus mapping and setting up costs. The. You'd need 200oddf or fuel pumps swirl pots ect, powerbox should work although I'm not sure about inlet runner lengths, inter cooler and pipings gonna set you back about 150 for a cheap setup custom turbo manifolds gonna be another few hundred.. List goes on mate. Have a google about it's been done a fair few times, just needs to be done properly first time round otherwise yourl have massive reliability issuers and it will probably end up blowing up.

[Wyley]

Sorry forgot to mention I'd have no problem doubling or tripling it to get it done right first time
Could I use k16 c20let turbo mmaybes I do I have to use swirls pots and stuff ?
no way upping the fuel pressure and different pump would work ?
Custom aanything over here will cost a bomb as there's bearly any shops about ?
If I get low comp pistons from a vxr corsa and bore block I shouldn't have to use decomp plates or use 3xheadgaskets ?
this is the way I'd really like to go hope it happens

[Dave]

Steel Rods - You can get PEC branded steel rods, from a UK seller on eBay HEREHERE

[Dave]

[Wyley]

Thanks so much Dave and small for help
i honestly think this is the way I'm going to go
Mapping on opel is **** over here so I'm prepared for a trip over to yous to get it done right
how would I get a custom manifold made up do I have to hand the shop a x16 exhaust flange and say make a turbo manifold to suit whatever the turbo fitment I get is ???yea .
I've a full c20let and k16 but I don't wanna use it you may think just fit that it be cheaper but I don't want too for many reasons
I don't think the k16 separates from the manifold on it
fueling yes that was along the lines I was thinking of
I'm gonna start making a list of bits now
another bit I'm unsure of is this waste gate and dump valve stuff
ive a bedroom full of Opel raritys including 3 sets of good wheels that are no use to us when I go 5 stud that's gonna fund it for us and a gsi to brake

[Dave]

Thanks so much Dave and small for help
i honestly think this is the way I'm going to go
Mapping on opel is **** over here so I'm prepared for a trip over to yous to get it done right
how would I get a custom manifold made up do I have to hand the shop a x16 exhaust flange and say make a turbo manifold to suit whatever the turbo fitment I get is ???yea .
I've a full c20let and k16 but I don't wanna use it you may think just fit that it be cheaper but I don't want too for many reasons
I don't think the k16 separates from the manifold on it
fueling yes that was along the lines I was thinking of
I'm gonna start making a list of bits now
another bit I'm unsure of is this waste gate and dump valve stuff
ive a bedroom full of Opel raritys including 3 sets of good wheels that are no use to us when I go 5 stud that's gonna fund it for us and a gsi to brake

To get a custom one made up, yeh, if you can find a flange, then buy that, and say to them, make that a tubular turbo manifold to fit a T3 or T4 turbo. Or if you cant find a flange (i dont know of anywhere that sells them, but there are places selling C20XE ones, so I'd imageine they could make you one) then give them the old manifold for them to either cut a new flange from like a stencil, or to cut up and use to weld onto directly. Either way it can be done. Ring around a few decent exhaust/tuning shops and ask them.

RE: The K16, yeh you're right, the standard manifold IS the turbo exhaust housing aswell, probably not a good way to go.

The dump valve and wastegate. Well the wastegate will depend on what type of turbo you get. If you get an internal wastegate turbo (you probably will at this power level) then the wastegate is inside the turbo exhaust housing, and on the outside of the turbo you'll have the wastegate actuator, which is a vacuum/boost referecnce controlled actuator, that moces the wastegate flap inside the turbo. Literally all you'd have to do is pipe a vac line to the wastegate actuator for this to work. If you were going more power, or just like shiney fancy things, then you could go external wastegate, which is where you run a phsyical wastegate, attached to the exhaust manifold (so you'd need the exhaust place to fit a wastegate port into the turbo manifold too. Obviously if you do this, you'd have to buy an externally wastegated turbo, which doesnt use the wastegate actuator or anything. All the vac pipes would now run to the external wastegate sitting on the turbo manifold. It all makes sense if you understnad what it's doing and where, lol.

Dave

[Wyley]

Ahh yes I understand now and know what they do so k16 in internally wastgated cause it has a actuator no I rather not go externally
Are internals wastgated turbod better ?
Can I run a dump valve ? Probley a stupid ? At this point just heard they engine don't run right with them
think I heard the name David Dixon when it comes to flanges would he have one ?
Which is better or handier t3 or t4 ?
good exhaust places are few and far between over here but ill find one
thanks again wish I had your knowledge on this stuff

[craig55]

Dave dixon for flanges

I understand being diffrent is good but this route over a let is still like chalk and cheese the x16 isnt a good engine

[Wyley]

Would just like to stay small block for handling
I believe that well hoping that doing this properly first Time it will last
but there's a doubt in me mind when I take it on a odd track day it'll blow up
hopfully not

[Sam_Sri]

As long as you've got forged pistons and rods, arp rod bolts/head studs, uprated valvesprings etc and everythings set up proper you shouldn't have too much of a problem. Seen a few examples running close to 200bhp with no problems, it will cost a lot though!

Can pick up all the turbo parts 2nd hand around 600-1k I've seen kits go for (turbo, manifolds, intercooler and pipework), management can be up to 1k and forged bottom end your looking at 1k then you need to pay for it all to be set up

[Dave]

Ahh yes I understand now and know what they do so k16 in internally wastgated cause it has a actuator no I rather not go externally
Are internals wastgated turbod better ?
No, they're simpler, so i guess if youre going for simple then they're better, but by design they are limited on what power they can produce. Using an external wastegate with say a 1.5" dump port, can vent a ton more exhaust gas than the internal wastegate port can built into the turbine housing.

Can I run a dump valve ? Probley a stupid ? At this point just heard they engine don't run right with them
Yeh, you'll need to run one, sorry I forgot to reply to that bit of the question in the earlier post. When you buy/make your boost pipes you'll put a dump valve take off port in one of them, somewhere close to the tophat/inlet. You'll connect your dump valve there, and run a vac line to it. On a LET the dump valve take off is built into the aftermarket top hats that you can buy from the likes of TX Autoosport etc..

think I heard the name David Dixon when it comes to flanges would he have one ?
Yes, was trying to think of the name earlier, but couldnt think of it, lol. If you tell him what you're up to he'll proba have a few bits you'll want, or will offer advice, been on vaux scene a while.

Which is better or handier t3 or t4 ?
Very open question, the difference between them is the size of the turbine housing. Obviously T4 being bigger than T3. Smaller turbos are more suited to your application because you have a smaller engine, whack a big turbo on and you'll spend til 5.5k rpm trying to spool the bugger up. What you probably want to be looking for, is a T3/T4 Hybrid, also called T3/4 or T34 (wrongly). Basically what this is is a T3 turbine housing and wheel, mated to a T4 compressor housing and wheel, so it's easier for smaller engines to spool up, due to the smaller turbine wheel, but creates higher boost due to the larger compressor housing and compressor wheel.

good exhaust places are few and far between over here but ill find one
thanks again wish I had your knowledge on this stuff
No problem, you do have our knowledge, you're on the forum lol. Ask away!

Would just like to stay small block for handling
I believe that well hoping that doing this properly first Time it will last
but there's a doubt in me mind when I take it on a odd track day it'll blow up
hopfully not
Nah it won't blow up if you do it right. Get a wideband AFR gauge/sensor for it, get it mapped so it cant go lean and you're golden tbh. Invest in an electronic boost controller too, its a couple hundred quid to buy new, but with it controlling your boost, its near impossible to ever go overboost and blow up the engine. Something thats always possible using bleed valves/manual boost controllers.

Dave

[Rob]

if you get the suspension right, it handles as good as a small block.

10 years ago keeping a small block was done because brakes and suspension wasnt as advanced. now there is no difference.


and, having seen how x16's are generally **** even in std form, i wouldnt want to sink silly money into one. if you have a c20let already, spend 1500 euro refreshing it to a good spec.


btw pec psitons are actually very good.