Though most my job is as a tech writer for magazines, I do a fair bit of consultancy/PR type shiz for companies too, which while most the time is just 'work', now and again it's fun too, like this is. Basically, Chris from Compressor Racing was on about wanting some promotion, a demo car, etc, but didn't want to spend a fortune, and had no time to do anything himself, and me, sensing some potential work, as well as fun, said I could make something pretty retarded, and different, for not that much cash. So he gave me a (small!) budget, and asked what turbo(s) he had I wanted to do it with, and let me get on with it. So I did this... Bought a cheap E55 AMG with some bizarre paint job, and a nice Bilstein uprated suspension setup. MOT was due, but it cost about £40 in bulbs and bits and it passed, winner. Got Compressor Racing to supply a HX55V fucking hooj variable geometry turbo... Modified the exhaust, so an external wastegate runs off one X-pipe port, and the other carrys on back... Modified the boot floor quite a lot... A link/flex pipe coming from the X... And made the exhaust go to the turbo, which happens to be in the boot... In the boot is also the chargecooler, chargecooler pump, and oil scavenge pump... A full 4in turbo back system, not very long...! This is how it looks under the car... Enginebay still messy, but not finished yet... Got it started for the first time earlier. Noise is mostly the pumps as camera was next to them. Just a cold start and a few 1/4 throttle blips to about 3500rpm, then shut the engine off. With the VGT turbine fully closed the exhaust is fucking quiet! Nearly there, more updates (and then retarded burnouts and other stupid shit) once it's done...
Always wondered about rear mount, is the chargecooler actually necessary? wouldnt the sheer length of the pipe to the engine be enough to cool it? Be intrigued to see how laggy it is. Verrr interestings
The longest pipe in the world doesn't work as well as an intercooler or chargecooler. With a 5.4ltr V8 and a VGT turbine, it won't be laggy. Done right rear mounts aren't. TBH nothing I've done is ground breaking, everything that works, or doesn't, is well proven already, and been done correctly 1000s of times before, just never really done in the UK.
Ah spose, atleast you got space for the chargecooler in the boot lol What sort of control does the VGT turbo run? Last one I worked on was on a derv and just ran off boost pressure, presume the holsets similar?
They tend to run either off a boost controlled actuator or fully electronic working from loads of sensors- Turbo rpm, boost, backpressure, etc etc. I'm doing this one slightly different, boost is controlled by an external wastegate rather than the VGT, and the VGT is controlled by pre-turbo backpressure. Well TBF, boots are far from sealed, the amount of vents/holes in them add up to way more opening area than you'd find in an airbox of a turbo engine good for 1000bhp+ really, so I highly doubt it'd need more. BUT to help prevent it getting too hot in there (despite all the heat shielding etc), the plan it to cut some holes in the bootlid.
Love your other builds (i know this ones not urs) cant wait for this one too How much power u expecting??? (hehe 69th post)
Going by comparable setups on the same engine, 500bhp and similar torque is likely, on stock ECU, injectors, pump, etc. Not sure, we will see. Not chasing numbers anyhow, it's not exactly shy as it is. Even standard you just put it in 1st and press the throttle more than about 1/4 and it starts doing a burnout lol.
That`s a pretty sweet job you have. Look forward to seeing this progress, always learn shit from your threads.
Nah, usually my job is just writing and telling people stuff, so it's boring as fucking fuck (but that's prob as I'm used to it), this is the first time I've helped build a project car for someone in about 3 years I think!
Been following this on the CR Facebook page with interest. It was something I was going to do to a C43 I had some years back. Looking forward to seeing the finished project. Bit of a side note, I brought a HX35 from Compressor Racing from your recommendation of them on here!
Yeah, it spends most its day times dumped outside my mates workshop. Should be done soon enough and then it can come home.
Engine feeds the turbo, scavenge pump feeds it back to the engine (to the drivers side cam cover in fact, look at the engine bay pic).
