Re: CHEAP turbo power

[QSHIPQ@aol.com]

In a message dated 97-05-07 16:56:17 EDT, you write:

<< On Wed, 7 May 1997, joe espana wrote:
 
 snip...
 > headlight set up, I removed the drivers side high beam and removed the
curved 
 > snorkel going to the air cleaner box. In its place I put a straight length
of 
 > pipe in that runs from the opening in the air cleaner to the opening where
the 
 > headlight used to be. Better throttle response, reduced turbo lag, more
power. 
 > It's noticable. The turbo and intake manifold run COLD. The car is still
street 
 > legal because there are still high beams in the primary lights. In all,
this mod 
 > was free. I rummaged through the parts bin at a local shop and the guy let
me 
 > take the hose i used for free. Air filter seems ok. Does get afeected only
in 
 > extremely heavy down pours, but not a prob with a K&N.
 > 2.This was the more surprising one.The pipe that leads from the air filter
boot 
 > to the turbo inlet elbow. Gets very hot because it's right next to the
exhaust 
 > manifold and turbo. I insulated it with many layers of aluminum foil (it's
got 
 > to be thick) to keep it cool. Surprisingly, it brought up my midrange. My 
 
 BRAVO, those are smart, cheap upgrades.  You were thinking there.   I 
 would only caution you to watch out for water ingestion to the engine 
 with your ram air setup.   That can blow 'er up real quick.
  >>
....  BE VERY CAREFUL HERE.  Ram air and CIS don't mix.  If you use ram air,
make sure that you make it Available to the airbox, but not rammed into it.
 Vacuum DRAWS the CIS air flap open, ram air will BLOW it open, creating a
rich condition that has catastrophic potential problems (rich fuel when you
DON't want it).  A better mod would be (early cars with the water bottle in
the back) to scoop air from below the car by the battery remote (between it
and the quarter panel), to make cold air available to the snorkel.  Secondly.
 You will find that the snorkel is "tuned".  That is to say, it's removal
doesn't increase performance, it's designed to be exactly that long, and
helps lowend response.  

The insulation is a good idea.  Another one would be to put an insulation
blanket between the intake and the exhaust manifolds.  

Scott