Turbo my Chevy express van!

**chucksrt** · 10-29-2011, 08:13 PM

I have a 96 Chevy Express hi top conversion van 1500. I have a 383 stroker with edelbrock 90909 aluminum heads, cca 08-300-8 roller cam, roller 1.5 rockers, doug thorley long tube tri y headers, a built 4l60E transmission from CPT, stock 3.42 rear. I am thinking about doing a remote mount turbo kit. There is a ton of room to mount a turbo on the passenger side near the trans. I want to build something that is as close to the headers as i can! I was figuring on running between 8-12psi of boost. I have forged pistons but still have a cast crank soi I figured this is as much boost as it could handle, it has 9.6:1 compression. I am looking for a toy kind of build but want to retain a decent mpg!!! I still have to figure out how to setup the electronics to allow for boost need a 3 bar map or will i be able to use the maf it came with and have the computer reflashed to accept boost? this is still the early stages of gathering info so it will be a little bit until I actually start building the kit.

**1998454** · 10-29-2011, 09:26 PM

What intake are you running?

**Fast305** · 10-29-2011, 09:29 PM

Originally Posted by chucksrt

I have a 96 Chevy Express hi top conversion van 1500. I have a 383 stroker with edelbrock 90909 aluminum heads, cca 08-300-8 roller cam, roller 1.5 rockers, doug thorley long tube tri y headers, a built 4l60E transmission from CPT, stock 3.42 rear. I am thinking about doing a remote mount turbo kit. There is a ton of room to mount a turbo on the passenger side near the trans. I want to build something that is as close to the headers as i can! I was figuring on running between 8-12psi of boost. I have forged pistons but still have a cast crank soi I figured this is as much boost as it could handle, it has 9.6:1 compression. I am looking for a toy kind of build but want to retain a decent mpg!!! I still have to figure out how to setup the electronics to allow for boost need a 3 bar map or will i be able to use the maf it came with and have the computer reflashed to accept boost? this is still the early stages of gathering info so it will be a little bit until I actually start building the kit.

0411 swap running the 02 L31 operating system with HP Tuners 2-bar map sensor would allow boost up to 15 psi.

Sounds like I sweet build. Did you have to do any cutting to make the throley headers fit? I have thought of picking up a set of the throley's for the 97.

**chucksrt** · 10-29-2011, 09:41 PM

I am planning on upgrading to the http://www.summitracing.com/parts/EDL-7138/ , http://www.summitracing.com/parts/EDL-3869/ , http://www.summitracing.com/parts/EDL-3627/ for a start. still need to see what will work best.

**chucksrt** · 10-29-2011, 09:46 PM

The Thorley headers are awesome!!! direct fit no real mods needed. They come with the down pipes and all clamps and brackets to mount it on a 2500 series van (doesn't direct fit the 1500 van due to mounting brackets of the down pipes). I have been really thinking about the 0411 swap but if I can keep what I have I would prefer to do so. You will not be disappointed with the thorley headers!!!!

Originally Posted by Fast305

0411 swap running the 02 L31 operating system with HP Tuners 2-bar map sensor would allow boost up to 15 psi.

Sounds like I sweet build. Did you have to do any cutting to make the throley headers fit? I have thought of picking up a set of the throley's for the 97.

**1998454** · 10-29-2011, 09:47 PM

Sounds like it should be a pretty stout setup. reason i asked about the intake is the stock vortec fuel injectors won't flow enough for a turbo engine. I'm amazed it's acceptable with the mods you already have. I'm no turbo expert, but isn't 9.6cr and 12psi race gas territory?

**Koots** · 10-29-2011, 09:56 PM

I know the runners won't match up, but there are turbo setups on the 6.5TD that are designed for HMMWV and vans, that have a hi center mount turbo, designed to fit back in between the heads and a 3 piece intake to run from the turbo outlet into each head.

Might be worth looking at, but won't be easy to just slap together.

**chucksrt** · 10-29-2011, 09:57 PM

I'm not sure it is acceptable yet!!! I haven't really gotten a chance to break it in yet! Now that I have my trans back I will try to find a nice day to install it, when I do I will break it in and have it dyno'd to see if everything is up to snuff! 12psi is excessive for street! Start low and work your way up from there (with the assistance of the dyno of course!!!)

**chucksrt** · 10-29-2011, 10:05 PM

The intake runners? Summit says it's a direct fit. BMW has a center mount turbo setup on their newer engines , i'm guessing your saying the turbo sits in the intake valley like the bimmer? the dizzy should be in the way? are you saying outlet as the impeller or the exhaust side of the turbo? I plan on putting the turbo right where the two down pipes come together under the van and running a oil pump to return oil from the turbo back to the pan and a single outlet off the turbo to an intercooler to the throttle body.

Originally Posted by Koots

I know the runners won't match up, but there are turbo setups on the 6.5TD that are designed for HMMWV and vans, that have a hi center mount turbo, designed to fit back in between the heads and a 3 piece intake to run from the turbo outlet into each head.

Might be worth looking at, but won't be easy to just slap together.

**Koots** · 10-29-2011, 10:22 PM

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Intake-Manif...e#ht_488wt_922

This is a link to the 2 pieces of the manifold that bolt to the heads. The port openings on the intake manifold probably won't match with the port openings on a SBC head. I don't know for sure but all my instincts say it won't match up properly. But if you could fabricate well enough, you could cut out the head flange and weld a new flange to fit the heads you are using.

There is a center piece that mount to both of these pieces, then onto the outlet of the compressor turbo to. Pressurize the intake. If it could be fabricated (might not be worth it, depends on your resources) then it would give you an OEM turbo position for your van.

I'm not sure what size turbo can fit, but the 6.5TDs use a turbo just a little smaller than one in a 6BT cummins. I'm sure bigger turbos can fit, just have to. B creative in its routing.

**chucksrt** · 10-29-2011, 11:01 PM

With the above mentioned intake from edelbrock I should be fine! I am not overly concerned with it sitting where the intake is but I would like to keep the turbo as close to the headers as I can! Precision turbo has a really nice turbo as does Garrett! I think 400+whp would be nice!