Turbo Cavalier

SMOKEmUP · Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 1:13 am Post subject: Turbo Cavalier

I'm toying with the idea of turbocharging my cavalier convertible. However I'm not going for power but for gas mileage. Don't get me wrong I want to challenge myself to build it so I could run a 12 second quarter mile, trapping over 108 mph, and get 30 mpg city / 40 mpg highway.

Do you think it's possible?

10sec.et · Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 1:21 am Post subject:

personally, i think that the fun factor would offset any short falls in fuel mileage Burn Out

SMOKEmUP · Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 2:08 am Post subject:

You can buy a turbo manifold for under $100 to your door. I'm thinking of running a Mitsubishi 14b or 16g turbo (since they are cheap). So for turbo and manifold / wastegate I'm looking at less than $500. I still need an intercooler and I'm thinking of running a water to air with an ice reservoir(so I can turn up the boost at the track). I think all in all the turbo bill would be $1500 by the time I'm done with exhaust and fueling. But if the turbo is setup right I'll bet I can get the VE / BSFC very high. I plan to do a bunch data logging to see where the car spends most of it's time and try to optimize the tune for that rpm range.

If cost wasn't an option I'd run a Garrett GT28RS aka the disco potato turbo.

clay · Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 8:19 am Post subject:

You sound just like the rest of us - you've already got more than you can do but can't resist the urge to tinker with something else Laughing

. Sad as it is - I've had the same thought about the Saturn on the drive to work.......I have an idea to try to increase mileage but don't have the time to try it right now. It's an electronic circuit that will allow me to alter the signal from the O2 to the computer. We'll see. I'm all for your idea - especially if it's more fun and at least the same mileage. By the way - what are you getting with it? I'm in the high 30's to occasionally a low 40 with my SC2 - driving like a grandma of course. Others with the single cams are in the 42 - 43 range. Clay

SMOKEmUP · Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 10:09 am Post subject:

Paul P · Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2012 4:56 pm Post subject:

Maybe I should go turbo on the Focus and we by 2 to get a deal? Laughing

Big Dave · Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 10:39 am Post subject:

My new Silverado 5.3L LS-3 is getting 14.0 mpg which is ten more miles per gallon than the 502 TBI EFI big block that it replaced. Same level of power and peformance (I haven't tried to tow anything with it yet) with my only complaint being the time lag from the time I press the gas and the motor actually responds (I think it isn't so much drive by wire but drive by smoke signals, or semifor it is so slow). I couldn't be happier with it's mileage based upon what I was used to before.

I am wondering if you had the Camaro as a daily driver before the Cavilier I would think it must be a much more frugal ride. Was the LS-1 350 giving that good a mileage much that you can even compare the two?

Big Dave

SMOKEmUP · Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 1:26 pm Post subject:

The LS3 is 6.2L, not 5.3. If you have the 5.3 motor I think it's the LM7.

My 02 Z averages around 14-18 mpg city, 26- 30 mpg highway, depending how I drive. Problem with the Z is my foot turns to lead when I drive it Very Happy

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