Turbo Question (not an is it available!)

[celicauk]

I have been looking into doing this myself as no one seems to be supplying one. This may be listed as the number one dumb question of the week but......

Is there any reason why the trubo needs to be mounted directly onto the manifold? I am thinking of making a manifold with equal length pipes, out to a single pipe whic brings the exhaust output to the front of the engine. This would then be fed into the turbo and an exhaust out pipe run to the rear and down the normal route. The main reasons for this are:

1 - Fit a larger turbo unit more easily.
2 - Shorten the length of the pipes running from the intercooler to the intake and throttle body etc.

I can understand the need for equal length pipes and I know about heat shielding the exhaust pipe etc. I don't know if the exhaust gas temperature is important like the intake air needs to be cooled.

Flame at will but a few sensible answers would be appreciated.

Thanks

[lafaygts]

I think that in general the turbo is put closest to the head so that the compressed exhaust gasses dont decompress or cool down. Most turbo manifolds have all of the exhaust tubes meet just befor the turbo. This might also make the turbo spool slower also. The only car that I have seen that has somwhat of a different setup is the WRX. It might work though.

i think it has to do with pressure.. you want it where the pressure is most which is right at the exhaust manifold..

[celicauk]

So would using a hybrid turbo designed to use lower exhaust gas pressures work?

Also I am probably being thick but why would the pressure be lower, surely once the gases are pushed out they maintain velocity/pressure until they hit the first obstruction, i.e. the CAT.

Does anyone agree that it would be better on our cars to have the turbo unit itself mounted at the front of the car nearer to the throttle body than buried behind the engine?

Cheers

[jer925]

The turbo is not driven by the pressure or the volume of the exhaust gases. It is driven by the heat of the exhaust gases. That's why it is kept rather close to the engine because the less heat that is loss the more the turbo will be effecient.:eek:

[celicauk]

OK, so if the pipe work is well insulated, as it would have to be anyway, would that compensate enough for heat loss or am I well off track here.

[Novus]

You'll probably find that the cost of keeping the pipe properly insulated for it's length is going to be above the cost of keeping the turbo right at the exhaust manifold. It's a good idea though. The hassle you eliminate might be worth the cost. It'd be a pretty cool piece of engineering that's for sure.

[celicauk]

Thanks for the help guys. I might just give it a try to see what happens.