Purchase Enquiries for the Manifolds are available from:

Steven Brown
Tasty Turbo's
www.tastyturbos.com

Phone: (07) 3102 3150
Please email your enquiries to steven@tastyturbos.com

FIT are no longer involved in turbo development, we are unable to respond to enquires regarding turbo manifolds and, as such, ask that people Please DO NOT ENQUIRE to FIT about turbo manifolds, the information on this website is purely for informational purposes only.

Steve Brown at Tasty Turbo's is where you need to direct your Turbo Enquiries

Converting your standard Buick or Ecotec V6 into a Turbo V6 is quite an involved process that involves careful planning and discretion.

When we constructed the "Turbo Test Mule" we weren't given an instruction manual and a whole heap of components that we assembled all in one afternoon. It took months of planning, fabrication, design, installation and testing. We had to construct every piece of the system by hand and source components from various sources.

Once up and running the process didn't end there. We had to road test and analyse the design for flaws and durability. The whole process has taken over 1 ½ years of development time to achieve the results we have today.

For the time being, FIT doesn't have every component available from start to finish converting your V6 to a Turbo V6. All we have available are the turbo manifolds that form the foundation of your turbo conversion. You will be required to source a number of components from various sources and liaise with an approved turbo conversion specialist workshop to assemble and install the components for you.

Here is a summarised list of the components you will most likely need for your turbo conversion:

(Quoted in new prices as of November 2002)

• FIT Turbo Manifolds $2,450 for VT onwards, $1,450 for pre-VT models
• Turbo - Recommended Garrett GT25 (440hp version, internally gated) for anything up to 350rwhp $2,300
• Turbo - Recommended Garrett GT30 (500hp version, externally gated) for anything up to 400rwhp $2,400
• External Wastegate - Turbosmart 45mm Progate $800
• Front Mounted Intercooler and Plumbing (FMIC) - allow $1,600
• Bigger injectors - 42.5lb/hr (470cc) or 50lb/hr (550cc) set of six $820
• Bigger fuel pump - T-Rex, Bosch Motorsport, Walbro $550
• Rising rate fuel pressure regulator - Malpassi, Vortech $350
• Engine Management Upgrade/Tuning - Kalmaker, Haltech, Wolf $1,500 - $2,000
• Connection of Dump pipe to main Exhaust system $300

Here is a list of accessories that would be advisable to complement your turbo system:

• Boost Gauge - Autometer, Splitfire $140
• Boost Controller - (stay away from electronic boost controllers) manual controller $240
• Turbo Timer - Apex-i, Greddy $180

** Please note most of these components have been quoted as prices involved in the original development of the test mule. These prices may have gone up or down since.

THINGS CAN AND DO GO WRONG!!

As with any modification process you must be prepared for things to go wrong. Sometimes the whole process may all go smoothly and you never have anything go astray, and you just enjoy your new found power till eternity.

However, you must anticipate for there to be some problems along the way. Some of these issues may only be minor like say, your clutch starts slipping with all your new found power and you need to replace it with a heavier duty item. Other times, it may all end in disaster, with whole engine failure. Some of the outcome depends on luck, but the majority depends on the expert skill of the conversion workshop performing the installation and the skill of the engine tuner.

Which ever way it turns out, you must prepare yourself to have a bit in reserve just in case something goes horribly wrong, or that some components may need upgrading.

Other items which may need upgrading, depending on how the package holds together when tested on the dyno or driven on the road:

• Differential may fail - Upgrade to V8 diff assembly $800 - $1,500
• Gearbox may Fail - Upgrade to V8 or better spec's $1,500 - $2,500
• Tail shaft (unlikely) - Upgrade to better unit $800
• Braking system if it is not coping $1,200

• Minor engine failure - blown head gasket, cracked head
• Major engine failure - broken pistons, bent rods, broken crank, cracked block

The earlier model Buick V6's from VN through to VR should be able to hold between

• 200rwhp (auto)
• 230rwhp (manual)

• 250rwhp (auto)
• 280rwhp (manual)

In quoting the above, they should only be taken as guidelines. There really is no set rule that states how much power and engine will cope with when turbocharged. Some engines, just fail on their own accord, whether left alone, supercharged, or turbocharged. Engines can and do fail, it's a fact of life, hence the existence of mechanics. If your engine has less than 100,000kms on it you should be on par with the above. If the engine has done between 100,000kms and 200,000kms you should take a little more caution with your power expectation, maybe subtract 10hp from the above estimates. If your engine has done between 200,000kms and 300,000kms you should take even more caution and subtract 20hp from the above estimates. If your engine has less than 400,000 kms you should take greater caution and subtract 30hp from the above estimates. If your engine has greater than 400,000 kms you should consider rebuilding the engine with stronger components in order to harness the extra power of the turbo system.

• Run it very conservatively on low boost (7-8psi) for around 3 months until you are satisfied with the reliability of the package at that boost and power level
• 3 months later, tweak the combination a bit further. Try have it tuned for 10psi and see how that goes for 3 months
• 3 months after running on 10psi, try having it tuned for 14psi and see how it goes

Here is a dateline of the "Turbo Mules" performance schedule:

• First Month 289rwhp at 7psi boost
• 3 Months later 315rwhp at 10psi boost
• 6 Months later 334rwhp at 14psi boost
• 9 Months later 351rwhp at 16psi boost
• 12 Months later 366rwhp at 18psi boost
• 1 Year 3 Months later 374rwhp at 18psi boost
• 1 Year 6 Months later 440rwhp at 20psi boost

We tune it with plenty in reserve:

• Always targeting 11.5:1 to 11.8:1 Air/Fuel Ratio
• Always conservative timing, max power minus 1 degree for road use
• Always running 98+RON Premium Unleaded Fuel
• Always running low boost for general commuting, only running higher boost when required

• Purchase a Complete Supercharged V6 from the wreckers for around $3,500
• Purchase a Supercharged V6 Short motor from Holden for $2,400 and Bolt your Ecotec heads on
• Fully Rebuild your existing engine with forged pistons, heads, cam, rods ... etc $8,000

** Be aware the gasket kit for the complete supercharged motor is around $700.

The age and type of engine are the only factors that determine engine failure. There are a number of other factors to consider as well.

• The abilities of the engine tuner to provide enough safety margin in the tune
• How disciplined you are with driving the car sensibly

We now have the manifolds available. However we must emphasise the possible perils of turbo charging you V6 so you are well aware of what can go wrong.

If you have read through all of the above and are still determined to go ahead with your turbo conversion then you have a set of brass nuts. So long as you can survive the sometimes lengthy conversion process and all goes well you will end up with a very unique car that has the potential for a lot of power and ¼ mile acceleration.