Hey all,

Anyone ever put a turbo on a 2.8 litre Hiace? I know turboglide in Oz sells kits and does installs. I just wonder if the folks who get them end up with cracked heads. I know the rad on the 2-LT is bigger than the 3-L. I was thinking I might buy a manifold from Oz, scrounge up a Garret T-25 and see what else needed doing ( air cleaner etc.), to see if it would be in budget. But if it's a stupid idea in the first place, that makes it a little academic!

Cheers,
Pard

Hi Pard,

I believe there is such a thing as a 3L-T .. ie factory turbocharged 3L.

It was not sold in many countries however.

There is no issue with putting a turbo on a 3L, but you will have to get a rising rate injector pump, and use a bigger diameter exhaust system.

You *can* use the existing pump, but the problem is that you will have to adjust the injection ratio so that at maximum boost it is delivering enough fuel.
However, when it is not under boost or is idling, it will then be getting too much fuel.

The problem with cracked heads is due to poor maintenance of the cooling system and the factory exhaust system being too small. This prevents heat from the turbo from escaping the manifold etc - and this extra heat build-up causes the head cracking issue.
Once you install a 2 1/2" or bigger exhaust, no more cracked heads.

If you work out a good, effective "aftermarket" add-on system, let us know. I'd be interested as I have considered doing it to my van as it is WAY underpowered with the 2.8 that it has at the moment.

Thanks for that clarification. The research I've done so far suggests that the only half economical way to get a turbo on would be to get a manifold and CT20 plus associated works off a dead 2L-t. The risk there is that you end up with a turbo that needs about $600-$800 of rebuilding. The other route would be to get a manifold from turboglide, which would be $600 at least before it was shipped here, and get a used Garret GT-25 (possible for about $200- $300), and then all the other gack . . . difficult to see it getting on the van and running for less than $1500-$2000 (more if I put a different pump on), and it would only save me $1000 in fuel and overtime. And I am selling it after the next tour we do on account of seating capacity needs going up. So with one tour left to do I do not think it is worth it :(.

I can tell you though that I got a significant power boost by putting on a 2.5" exhaust and a high-flow muffler. Cheapest safe boost available. My van used to top out at 108-12 km/h, now it does 120 on the flat. With what it takes to overcome increased wind resistance at those speeds, that must mean more than a 10% increase in power. Much more torque too. Hills that would slow me to 80 or so I can do at a little over 90. It is louder though. And you would need it for a turbo anyhow, so you could put it in first and see if you had enough of a boost.

Hey Pard - just wondering if you blanked off the EGR as well? I'm thinking about doing this....I should start another thread I guess.

Yes, I had that done. I can't say what it has or has not done, as I had a 2.5"exhaust put on at the same time, which resulted in way more power and maybe a bit better mpg, though the data on that is sketchy. Everyone seems to do it eventually on the other uk/oz forums. Why not get it over with and post some uncontaminated Canadian results, given how different it is driving around here than there:).