how much boost before boom!

[ericjon262]

well, right now, it's a cam only 3500, I may touch up the lower intake while I have it off for the cam swap. I am most concerned with pistons/rods, and head gaskets, and how long they tend to live!

[TGP37]

Stock pistons, no more then 8 psi. Gives a small cushion to 12 psi for boost creep. 8-12 psi goes a long way with these motors. Especially in a Fiero, you'll have a fast 6 speed turbo. This is based on the 3100/3400. I can't be specific about the 3500, but they are really close in design.

The tune plays a major role. A bad tune can break on the first run at 5 psi, a good tune can handle 8 psi boost well, a great tune can push up to 14-16 psi range.......on mostly stock engines. These are extremes but you get the idea.

Since you mentioned a dyno tune, they may have good solid advise.

I, personally, would not go past 8 psi on stock pistons.

btw, saw the pics in the other thread.....looks good man! I'm still tweeking my turbo. I had a flux core welder and the welds leaked all over the place. Then I tig welded a new set up and it is air tight all the way, no question about it. Flux is good for tack welds imho, no more.

[G.I.Ceo]

there is no "factory tune" for what I am building! it's going to get a custom dyno tune. like I said in an above post, I would like to run about 16 PSI. which should be good for about 425 hp on a stock 3500, but of coarse mine isn't stock.

I hate to burst your bubble but I just don't see this happening. To make a 3500 handle 16 PSI you will have to put in almost $15,000 to $20,000 in engine, turbo, and transmission. There is a guy with a 3400 that's turbo'd that makes 400 hp. That car has a full race block with stage 3 everything a 4T65E-HD transmission and the turbo kit from Milzy and he has had a lot of little issues. The other thing you need to keep in mind is creating that much power out of 3500 how are you going to be able to control it? I hope you know the people for all the custom fab work and the parts you will need to make this work. I'm not saying it cant be done but I just hope you know what your getting yourself into and have the experience. What vehicle are you trying to do this all in?

[TGP37]

........turbo kit from Milzy and he has had a lot of little issues.

LOL, there is the problem!

[G.I.Ceo]

LOL, there is the problem!

I wont disagree with you on that one. But still you probably know as well as I do how much time, money, and effort it will take to do what this guy is wanting to do.

[ericjon262]

it's going into a five speed Fiero, and it'll be built for less than $15K, I guarantee it.

[TGP37]

it's going into a five speed Fiero, and it'll be built for less than $15K, I guarantee it.

Just cammed and turboed......no more then 4-5 psi max.

Upgrade the fuel system with a tune, 8 psi max

Anything 12+ needs a lot of mods to last.

[bearbear3_4]

I had a flux core welder and the welds leaked all over the place. Then I tig welded a new set up and it is air tight all the way, no question about it. Flux is good for tack welds imho, no more.

I had the same problem, just switched to a name branded wire and it worked a lot better.

As far as when things go boom, there are a lot of things that come into play. Like how the people who built your engine feel that day.

[TGP37]

I had the same problem, just switched to a name branded wire and it worked a lot better.

As far as when things go boom, there are a lot of things that come into play. Like how the people who built your engine feel that day.

I agree and may I add......it's not so much if the engine will die. They all die, how long they live is what matters. This is why a track car can push more boost versus the daily driver with identical modifications, generally.

[RedZMonte]

10psi would be the max i would ever run a stock motor it you want good power and still have any sort of reliability. honestly with a good IC setup, the right turbo and tune you will make 425 on less then 16psi. 16psi you will want to atleast have Forged Pistons, BIG injectors (60-80#), E85 and a big pump or twin pumps. I would start at 5psi to get it working and running correctly then work my way up to 10psi. with a good tune 10psi should make over 300hp. if your running Meth Inj. then you should be mid 300's on 10psi +/-. 7psi on my LQ1 is 331hp with a Auto 4T60-E. 10 PSI is the most i would run on a stock motor with fuel system and tune. that is just my take on it..

[ericjon262]

please don't think I wasn't going to build the fuel system! I haven't figured out what I'm going to do yet, but it is going to be built! the setup will be a/w intercooled.

[TGP37]

please don't think I wasn't going to build the fuel system! I haven't figured out what I'm going to do yet, but it is going to be built! the setup will be a/w intercooled.

Yeah yeah, lol. Air-water intercoolers are nice. If you are jammed for space, water/meth injection systems can do the job.

[Driver_10]

16 lbs of boost, huh. Just make a vid is all I ask.

[ericjon262]

I plan for many videos, don't worry.

[TGP37]

Turbo failure, what it can do. Don't waste all your hard work for a few 16 psi runs on stock pistons, etc.

Even though the video is based on a diesel, just 1 time w/o a proper tune or simply just too much boost can ruin it all just like that.