thecheatscalc

Sept 21, 2007

I've been wanting to get a turbo for quite a while to build one of these... what? A TURBOJET, like what you see on an airplane. It has three basic parts:
1-compressor (forces more air through the engine)
2-combustor (creates a pressure differential with... well fire)
3-exducer (attached directly to the compressor, uses some of the pressure differential to keep the air flow going/increase air flow)

What does a turbo have?
compressor- that's what gives the "boost" for your engine
exducer- runs off the exhaust of your car to pressurize the intake


But NO combustor, that's the engine's job, sadly we don't have an engine to do this combusting, but fortunately, a combustor isn't TOO hard to build. And besides, if we had an engine, it wouldn't be a JET now would it?

Ok, so now the problem of GETTING a turbo. If you know anything about cars, they ain't cheap. Even REFURBISHED goes for upwards of $170 for a SMALL one! We need a BIG one. Ok, well not too huge... I have to be able to afford it... So, the ebay engine was once again whipped to produce results. Yes, I scoured that site... and after a good bit of looking I got a used Garret T3 turbo with a .43 A/R ratio.  Fortunately I got out with only spending $80 total (Ok, well $79.99) which is a pretty good deal. Was described as basically "used, turns good, minimal shaft play" unless it's a gross underestimation, it should be just fine. I'll be running it harder then anything it could ever have been on, so it better be in good condition!

reminds me of this song by wierd al yankovic...


However, I got this particular one because the T3 and T4 are VERY common turbocharger, and are ridiculously easy to get replacement parts for. Not to mention cheap. If the turbo does come with a bad thrust bearing or gaskets, it'll only cost about $15 to get new parts.

Anyways, that's day one of the ongoing turbo project! I'll try to get video diaries as per request, but, until I at LEAST get the turbo, it'll be a while.

PS: as for the other stuff like a pyrometer (keep from burning out the turbo... also useful for keeping molten aluminum from overheating just before a pour...) a tachometer (excessively overspinning would be a 99% chance I'd bust the oil bearings... which would mean game over for that turbo) pressure gauges, ect.

Oh, and if anyone can find a GOOD  CHEAP 12v 1/4-1/2hp DC motor with a range of ~1800RPM +/- 1000, I'm very interested. that and a cheap procon pump rated for at least 60GPH at 50PSI...

Oct, 2, 2007

Well darn it! USPS doesn't seem to update their site at ALL. Which is pretty darned annoying! Since the 28th of September it's had the status "accepted". That's just great... thank you government run programs... Well, nothing to do but wait...

HOWEVER, my pyrometer and oil pressure gauge came in, YAY! Good old privatized organizations. It got here in just TWO DAYS, that's shipping! Now I need not worry about under pressurizing the fuel line, nor burning the engine up.This is GOOD news, some other random stuff on the way, but mainly, I'm waiting for the Turbo.

So now we finally get the first real pictures up!

Here's the pyrometer... all $150 of it!




And the oil pressure gauge, man, it's got a zillion adapters!



The cool thing is that because it's remote, I won't have issues with it getting hot.

Sept 29, 2007

Finally, after winning the auction, five days later the thing is shipped. It's a bummer, but I do hear there's some new protection from paypal that takes a few days. Darn. Oh well, I've got my tracking number, and am settling down to wait! Next week'll be interesting, I've got a BUNCH of stuff coming! Actually, I'm getting a few necessaries today from amazon with the instructables $250 gift certificate! Namely an oil pressure gauge, a pyrometer (an unsettling $150... but, it costs a bunch to get up to 1800 degrees F and have a probe, so, it's necessary.

Anyways, check back in a few days and I'll should have pictures and stuff!

Oct 9, 07

 

Well... finally.... after AGES of waiting (I have NO clue why it took so long, the thing could have been here sooner if taken on horseback! it's that bad! Anyways, the post office has changed the status to "arrived". Though the package hasn't officially arrived at the doorstep, I'm pretty excited! Now to see if the Garret T3 is in good shape! i took a chance on ebay... so we'll see. Updates as it arrives!

 

PS: oh, and a few days back the Tach came in too... Surprisingly enough, it shines a pretty bright dot! Being a laser enthusiast,  I'd estimate it's possibly around 35mW. Works great though! I'll probably post pictures later... been busy and have got to get back to my schoolwork... oh boy! just like Christmas!

Oct 9, 07 (later that day) 

 

Wow, it's here, it's really here! Just a few minutes ago it arrived!

 I'll get pictures later tonight, I'm bogged down with work right now, but that's ok, should be updated around 7 tonight!

 Comments though. First, the box looked like it had come falling from the sky after being used in the world series of soccer. Honestly, the UGLIEST box I've seen to date. Geez, no wonder it took so long to get here, they probably kicked it here by foot! 

 

Inside: (gee, I think I'll take it to the garage before my mom sees it on the kitchen table and screams)

 [URL=http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/thecheatscalc/turbocharger/IMG_3189.jpg][IMG]http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/thecheatscalc/turbocharger/th_IMG_3189.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
[URL=http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/thecheatscalc/turbocharger/IMG_3188.jpg][IMG]http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/thecheatscalc/turbocharger/th_IMG_3188.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

Now that's a messy packing job... or is it? though it could be sold as modern art, the packing was quite well done, and though abused throughly, the turbo itself is in good condition! well, so long as it got here, in one piece, and was protected, no qualms here! Also, I thought the guy just chucked some crap laying around the garage in there and sent it off. Not so, those dirty rags are ACTUALLY carefully positioned! yup, that's right, they're actually shoved in all the orifices! So, the compressor is still pristine and clean, and I don't have to worry about chunks of Styrofoam getting in there. Nor is there any sort of moisture damage because of the rags shoved in there, good job!

 [URL=http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/thecheatscalc/turbocharger/IMG_3185.jpg][IMG]http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/thecheatscalc/turbocharger/th_IMG_3185.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

I basically just took off the connection for the exhaust pipe (unnecessary, but It might be useful for connecting a jet pipe...) and gave it a quick lookover. And what do you know, the compressor is BEAUTIFULLY clean, and the exducer not so (lots of soot, but it's got exaust going through it, what do you expect?) but still in good shape. I'd like to give it a nice cleaning soon, but so far, little/no damage, and as far as I can tell, no play in the bearings (yet it spins VERY easily!) This is GOOD. Not only that, but contrary to the picture I saw on the ebay listing, there's little to no rusting on the housings! (compressor completely clean, outside of oil bearing is slightly rusty... but expected, and the exducer is in great shape, I really didn't see much rust at all)

 

So, all in all, looks like I got a good buy for $80 So long as there isn't a problem with oil leakage from the bearings, this one looks to be good as new!

 

Heh, now I've got grease and soot all over my fingers... Ah, quite refreshing!  just makes operating the camera a pain... I don't want to get it dirty!