Turbo Swinger project almost complete

[mpgmike]

I've had it for about a month now, and finally got it off to the exhaust shop yesterday! Stock 225, auto tranny, loaded with practically every option available. The car only has 33k original miles, always garaged, and it looks practically like new.

I added a Garett turbo with a 318 2-bbl carb. It fit with the AC, PB and PS all hanging in the way. I'm using a Grainger valve to control boost and had the boost turned practically off to drive it to the exhaust shop. It still pulls stronger than it did before, probably mostly due to the 2-bbl conversion. I should be getting it back tomarrow so I can dial everything in.

Mike

[lotsaboost]

Man that's cool. Every time I see an A-body I feel like kicking myself. I sold my '69 Dart a couple yours back and have regretted it since. Would've been a sweet project to install one of my turbo 2.4's in. Hmmm, SRT-4 Dodge Dart...It just sounds so right.

Carlos

[black86glhs]

The cool part is that the compression on 225's are low enough that it should be ok with a little boost. Looks nice.

Bryan

[mpgmike]

I either wire brushed or sand blasted, then either painted or powder coated every part/nut/bracket I removed and reinstalled. It has the MSD-BTM for timing control (hidden in the driver's kick panel totally out of site with the wiring spliced where nobody could possibly see). This is a project I can truly put my name on (and did if you look at the red and yellow sticker on the bonnet) as I did the very best I know how. I know the owner will be pleased when he gets it back this weekend (hopefully this weekend). I took about 60 pics and will be taking a couple more when I get it back. The owner will have a photo album of the project on CD so he knows exactly what work was done and how it was done.

Mike

[ohiorob]

very nice work

[xf69fs]

Heres the funny thing. I was thinkign about that today. Putting a 2.5 with 16v conversion or a 2.4 turbo in my 70 dart.

Make 350hp with the motor, would be a quick car with 25ish mpg.

Ryan

[mpgmike]

Quote:

Originally Posted by xf69fs Heres the funny thing. I was thinkign about that today. Putting a 2.5 with 16v conversion or a 2.4 turbo in my 70 dart. Make 350hp with the motor, would be a quick car with 25ish mpg. Ryan

You could run the .81 torsion bars and it'd still handle better than the /6 with .87 340 bars. Just hook a Dakota tranny and go, right?

Mike

[BLUEBALL]

What mods did you do to the carb for boost? Good lookin project

[mpgmike]

The bowl vent is vented to the bonnet internally, so I just plugged the external vent. Now the bowls are vented to boost. I had 3 different carbs on the bench to choose from, all 318 versions. I chose the one with the tightest throttle shaft. On a turbo application, tight throttle shafts are important.

I have an assortment of jets and power valves to choose from and when it comes back from the exhaust shop, I'll mix and match to get the mixture right at boost. I ended up using way more of the vacuum ports than I thought I would.

I installed a check valve (one of those emissions type used on '80s cars) in the vacuum advance to prevent boost from blowing out the diaphragm. I also had to run a boost line to the fuel pump so the vent is referenced to boost. This is supposed to create a 1:1 rising rate pressure increase up to a point and that will most likely be the limiting factor to how much boost it can run. For boost control, the tried and true G-valve.

Mike

[xf69fs]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mpgmike You could run the .81 torsion bars and it'd still handle better than the /6 with .87 340 bars. Just hook a Dakota tranny and go, right? Mike

Well I have a 5.9 magnum in the garage that was going into the dart. But I think a 4 banger with 300 ish hp and less weight would work. And torsion bars??? HAHAH No, I am going big with an alterKation front end. Rack and pinion, mustang II spindles, coil overs. Save some serious weight off the nose of the car.

If I dont go that route, I will keep the torsion bars and pu a rack and pinion in it anyways. A guy I know made a setup for his 68 Charger. It works good. But he has to make a set of tubular lower control arms for my turbo neon first

Ryan

[mpgmike]

I just picked it up from the exhaust shop last evening. Though not drastic, there was a noticeable loss in power from the addition. That's ok since I'll be turning up the boost as I tune it. I can see how going 3" or larger exhaust can make such a difference. This is 2.5" comp bent 409 stainless.

Mike

[detobias]

rare aluminum 2-bbl manifold ?

you *must* do a little 0-60 work before you deliver that and let us know what it'll do ; I always thout the /6 was a natural to turbo since the manifolds are so nice & close..

*sweet* job putting it together ; almost looks stock

[mpgmike]

I stand corrected. It wasn't the addition of exhaust that dropped power, it was the fact that after making a nicer turbo-to-bonnet pipe, they put the bonnet back on crooked and all the boost was blowing out the sides.

I got it tuned now. There is a bit of a flat spot that I just can't get rid of. I manipulated the MSD-BTM, distributor timing, power valves, jets, etc and it just won't go away. I talked to the owner of the car and he is aware of that flat spot.

Other than that, it will womp a stock 318 equivelent, but I wouldn't be barking at any 340 versions.

Mike

[mpgmike]

Oops, sorry Brian. I may have just killed your "sleeper" status by posting that pic.

Mike

[mpgmike]

There is already an article on the turbo build and the manifold construction on Allpar.com. I just submitted an article on the details of the Swinger so it should be up coming within the next 2 weeks or so.

Mike