TurboCharged a 1996-98 Acura TL 2.5?
 

Hi folks.
Id just became a member of this forum today.
Recently Id been interested in Turbos, I and have been studying it carefully.
My car is a 1997 Acura TL 2.5. My baby is gettting old, thus Id like to give her an update with more power.
As I looked for plug N play parts, I was horrified to find out about the lack of support (performance parts) for my car.
I looks like if I wanted ao hookup a Turbo, I'd have to start from scratch.
That is making my own exhaust manifold, pipes, ect.
I have already bought a portable welder kit from good old Sears, and have been welding, playing around with it for awhile now.By any chance, does anyone have an Acura TL 2.5 turbo kit already setup on their car? I'd glady buy it from ya. If not then lets began with some questons Im dying to ask.

-When making the custom exhaust manifold, what type of metal would I use? I mean can I use the aluminum pipe like thas used in a Cat system?

-How does one install a cartech adjustable FMU kit?
-Anyone tell me how, when,what,where to get tools to adjust the fuel/Air mixture?
--Once I got the turbo up and running, I'm also thinking of getting bigger exhaust pipes, catalytic convertor,and mufflers. Would that make a significant gain in HP?
-Once the turbo setup and exhaust upgrades have been complete, will there be a problem when getting a state inspection?

-My car is a 5 cylinder. What size turbo fan do you recommend I get to obtain maximum results.
Thats all the questions I have for now.
Thanks.

Re: TurboCharged a 1996-98 Acura TL 2.5?
 

Nope, nobody here has a kit to sell ya for that engine.

LOL, you don't want to use aluminum for your manifold or downpipe. That ---- will melt quick. Most use mild steel, schedule 10 will suffice and some use schedule 40.

An FMU is easily installed, just search. There are write-ups.

You can't adjust your air/fuel mixture if you use an FMU. But since you are talking about an "adjustable" FMU, just move the switch or however that ---- works.

Yes getting bigger exhaust will gain more HP. You don't want to get bigger cats, you want to eliminate them completely.

You most likely will NOT pass a state inspection with a custom turbo kit like this. You might be able to if it was tuned well, but that is impossible with an FMU.

What's a turbo fan?

Re: TurboCharged a 1996-98 Acura TL 2.5?
 

where are you located? because some states don't have any regulations on modification as long as you pass the sniffer test. I think by turbo fan he means like what size turbo/ a/r ratio.

Re: TurboCharged a 1996-98 Acura TL 2.5?
 

I'm from Rhode Island in the Eastside.
And yes, when I say Turbo fan, I meant size/ratio ect..
I was looking into a T3/T4, but maybe I could go bigger cause mines a 2.5 for optimization.
I dont know, I'm sure about this particular topic.
Building the custom manifold and pipes, it isn't hard. Just time consuming.
However, the problem Im having is adding more fuel to complement the increase air.

Re: TurboCharged a 1996-98 Acura TL 2.5?
 

You could always just use an SAFC, perhaps complimented with an MSD BTM.

Re: TurboCharged a 1996-98 Acura TL 2.5?
 

What he said-- or you could also use a boost dependent FMU to be cheap, but SAFC is much better. Get bigger injectors-- probably DSM 450's and tune your safc to work with them. You could also upgrade your fuel pump to a walbro 255 to be on the safe siide. You said yours is a 5 cylinder eh? I don't know anything about the model so maybe it is, if so does anyone know if you can still use an safc? If not, you might have to use the fmu. I imagine that a t3/t4 would be plenty if you got a good a/r ratio, and I don't know anything about rhode island's inspection standards but I'm sure someone else on here does.

Re: TurboCharged a 1996-98 Acura TL 2.5?
 

Glad to see you took my advice..

Like I said on the other board, I have a 97 2.5 TL as well. I've thought about boosting it. If I were to do so, I'd use Megasquirt II to handle the fuel and timing. That would give the most control out of any of the options given for about the same price as long as you have some soldering experience or are willing to learn.

As far as the sizing goes, you need to determine what you want from the turbo first and then do some math and start reading compressor maps. It's all in Maximum Boost as well as many sources on the net, including here.

Re: TurboCharged a 1996-98 Acura TL 2.5?
 

This is the inline-5, right? Exhaust side is ------- CRAMPED!!

Re: TurboCharged a 1996-98 Acura TL 2.5?
 

i remember reading about a guy who turbod a TL in superstreet or some mag. and they said it was a bitch cause of the lack of room and everything had to be custom....but they did say it made some great results
good luck

Re: TurboCharged a 1996-98 Acura TL 2.5?
 

Yeah, the only way I can see to do it is to relocate the battery to the trunk and put the turbo there. I think the exhaust manifold itself would be fine to use. Just fabricate an extension tube from it to the hotside inlet on the turbo. At least temporarily, I'd probably make a custom manifold afterwards and just make sure the angles of the brackets end up the same.