Garret 2554R

[jello]

I recently had to rebuild my motor. In the process, I also adapted my exhaust and intake to a Garret GT2554R turbo. I used Crambury's adapter plate, and made my own exhaust parts, clocked the turbo, and fabricated up a wastegate actuator, modified some coolant lines, oil lines, and boost lines. Adapted as well as i could see similarly to LGM's turbo upgrade.

I finally started and drove the car last night.

Although I have a 0.75 bar wastgate actuator, I'm only getting a max of about 0.25 bar of boost. And I'm not hearing the BOV when I close the throttle, so I'm suspecting the gauge is right. (I had a BOV before from an upgrade by Bill's Isuzu Performance).

I didn't have time to look for intake system (compressor side) leaks an double check the wastegate actuatator - and those are my first things to look at in the next couple days.

I thought I'd ask if anyone has other suggestions of things to look at.

Phil

[esprit888]

Have you tried to disconnect the wastegate actuator temporarily and take a short run as it souds as if its either opening too early or is partially open to begin with?

I recently had to rebuild my motor. In the process, I also adapted my exhaust and intake to a Garret GT2554R turbo. I used Crambury's adapter plate, and made my own exhaust parts, clocked the turbo, and fabricated up a wastegate actuator, modified some coolant lines, oil lines, and boost lines. Adapted as well as i could see similarly to LGM's turbo upgrade.

I finally started and drove the car last night.

Although I have a 0.75 bar wastgate actuator, I'm only getting a max of about 0.25 bar of boost. And I'm not hearing the BOV when I close the throttle, so I'm suspecting the gauge is right. (I had a BOV before from an upgrade by Bill's Isuzu Performance).

I didn't have time to look for intake system (compressor side) leaks an double check the wastegate actuatator - and those are my first things to look at in the next couple days.

I thought I'd ask if anyone has other suggestions of things to look at.

Phil

[lotusgirlmarie]

Yep. Boost leak or too little peasure on the wastegate's flapper valve. Just curious but is there a high pitched hiss when under load? This would be the biggest indicator of boost leak.

[jello]

Thanks! It's going to be a pain in my hand and arm, but I'll adjust the wastegate actuator rod. I put two adjustable sections in it (had to in order to get around the water/oil lines - which I hard plumbed).

When I set it up, I had the wastegate actuator closed tightly on the bench with very little or no stress on the rod/actuator - I take it that it needs to be pulling shut.

Phil

[lotusgirlmarie]

Correct. 7-12LBS preassure against the flapper valve. This is also dependant on the wastegate preassure. Good rule is if the flapper valve is closed you should have to pull the rod 2-3mm to get it to seat on the flapper's actuator arm.

[jello]

Thanks for the advice. It's kind of a pain in the hands to tighten up that actuator rod, but I'm in the process. I've tightened down about 3mm - but I'm only getting 0.5bar of boost now. That's better than 0.25 though. I've got a 0.75 bar actuator - so I guess I need to keep messing with it. Hopefully I'll get it all evened out this weekend.

Any additional advice is appreciated.

Phil

[tigerdog]

Thanks for the advice. It's kind of a pain in the hands to tighten up that actuator rod, but I'm in the process.

Hi Phil,
Any update on this thread? What boost did you end up with and were you satisfied in the end?
Doug

[jello]

No update. I actually got frustrated with it, acquired a thunderbird turbo, had it rebuilt and adapted to the elan, and am still getting 0.5 bar boost max. But I'm back to the original actuator, so that makes sense. I may go back to it, but this has become my daily driver while I work on my '94 esprit. When I start driving the esprit, maybe I'll get back to the elan.

Phil

[tigerdog]

No update. I actually got frustrated with it, acquired a thunderbird turbo, had it rebuilt and adapted to the elan, and am still getting 0.5 bar boost max. Phil

Thanks, Phil. FWIW, posting the 2554 in the "for sale" section might find a taker. There are still a couple of folks who bought LGM conversion kits but don't yet have the turbo.

[jello]

Oddly enough, I can't imagine selling it without going up to a 2560. I spent over 60 hours of work making the appropriate down pipe, and getting the oil and water lines and heat shields functional. I suppose those parts will fit on a GT2560R, but since I have the 2554, I'll probably just use it. Unfortunately, I didn't get in on the LGM conversion, I bought the adapter plate from crambury (sp?) and made everything else myself by hand. I have a really nice schedule 40 stainless steel downpipe that bolts up to all the original heat shields

There's actually a long story here, and I got more flustered with my rebuilt engine that was not getting near the oil pressure it had before it blew. Due to that situation, I did a wholesale change out engine and turbo with parts from an impuse RS and the Thunderbird turbo. I had to adapt the thunderbird turbo yet again because it's threads and fittings are different than the Impulse/lotus turbo's fittings. Engine and turbo got 10 miles before I swapped out.

I put the engine on a stand, and will correct the oil pressure problem - then I'll correct my turbo actuator, and use that Garret 2554R. It's just a matter of time. Good to have a spare engine handy.