Top Mount Turbo With Front Facing Plenum?

[DRFT 14]

I have just put together all my parts for a turbo upgrade on the good old RB20 and was wondering what others have done in regards to fitting a top mount manifold with the standard front facing plenum? The problem is the J Pipe, which sits exactly where the turbo will need to be.

How easy is to remove the J Pipe and have a pipe fabricated that is routed away from the turbo? What about the vacuum hoses etc on the J Pipe? My engine bay in the pic below will be fitted with a top mount manifold and Master Power T3/To4e. Looking at my IC piping configuration, what is the easiest way to go about doing this and leaving most of the existing pipes? I’m going to go back to the workshop that originally did the IC piping and want to keep costs to a minimum (running out of money!), so id prefer if the IC piping doesn’t have to be redone completely. Will this be possible?

This is the mani and turbo that will be installed-

[R31Nismoid]

nice and laggy

All you do it have it almost do a 180 bend from the Throttle Body... maybe about 150 degree and then go off the edge of the head to the left corner and join existing piping

[StockyMcStock]

if you wanted to keep the standard inlet manifold you should have used a low-mount manifold. everything else is a compromise, doing weird tight bends with your inlet piping adds a lot of restriction, for example a 90 degree bend in your piping adds as much restriction to flow as 3 metres of straight pipe.......

[BHDave]

You mean like this? I used a bit of 3 inch pipe and welded a nut to suit the brass fitting for the iac valve inlet. You can't run it any shorter in this configuration due to the breather hoses.

I couldn't get mine over the top of the engine as the wasn't anywhere near enough room between the top of the engine and the bonnet as nismoid has suggested. That was how i would have liked to do it.

http://www.skylinesaustralia.com/photopost...500/ppuser/2863

[GKTECH]

You mean like this? I used a bit of 3 inch pipe and welded a nut to suit the brass fitting for the iac valve inlet. You can't run it any shorter in this configuration due to the breather hoses.

I couldn't get mine over the top of the engine as the wasn't anywhere near enough room between the top of the engine and the bonnet as nismoid has suggested. That was how i would have liked to do it.

http://www.skylinesaustralia.com/photopost...500/ppuser/2863

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yep like that. Mines looks that too with a high mount setup

Greg

[DRFT 14]

Its interesting how everytime i compare the pic that has been posted and the pic of my car, the piping looks exactly the same. It travels through the exact same spot but still clears the turbo. Thats pretty good actually, I can keep the same bends and not add lag with a 180 degree bend. I also came across this pic which shows another variation, but still uses the "180 degree bend".

What have others done about the vacuum hose and the the other larger hose that extends from the plenum into the J Pipe. Can someone please tell me what the use of that hose is for? Im guessing its easy enough to adapt the hoses into the new pipe.....

[StockyMcStock]

that pic you posted BHDave is surprisingly good - i like it. the other one above is not quite as good, but functional i guess.

the hose which goes to the rear of the plenum is the idle air bypass hose - it is necessary! it must be referenced to the piping anywhere between the AFM and the throttle body. the other one is a PCV reference line to the intake pipe (so it only sees vacuum, never boost!) and is removable if you're fitting a catch can.

[mikymouse]

Your engine bay looks awesome DRFT 14. What turbo is that, if you don't mind me asking? Thanks!

[DRFT 14]

Thats not actually my engine bay. Its just a pic a had stored in my computer. The car is an R32 GTS-T and belongs to someone on the forum. Cant remmember the username though..