Twin Turbo 4.9

[Raptor22]

My dad was throwing around the idea of putting twin turbos in the 1989 F150 4x4. What would be involved with the setup? How would this effect the computer and/or the fuel injection system? I was looking at Garrett models, but I'm not sure what to go for. Is there somewhere else I should look? What kind of power/torque should I look for? I have heard of people beating 5.4s and 302s after turbos, but is that a realistic expectation?

Thanks guys.

 

[Skandocious]

Keep in mind that you'll tear the engine apart with any more than a few pounds of boost unless you beef up the internals. Like forged internals, for example.

 

[Raptor22]

Keep in mind that you'll tear the engine apart with any more than a few pounds of boost unless you beef up the internals. Like forged internals, for example.

Well, what would that involve? How much boost is too much for stock internals?

 

[Skandocious]

I seem to recall people saying that it's not smart to run more than 3 or 4psi on stock internals. I'm only speaking from what I've read, not from personal experience.

 

[Raptor22]

I seem to recall people saying that it's not smart to run more than 3 or 4psi on stock internals. I'm only speaking from what I've read, not from personal experience.

Okay, what would 3 or 4 psi give me as far as power and torque figures?

 

[TheRoadVirus]

Your best, least complicated bet, with the 4.9 would be a single turbo setup. You're looking at a helluva lot of work to get a turbo to work correctly, and don't forget that then you have to start worrying about beefing up the transmission and so on.

Your best resource for this kind of research or to get the best answers is 'theturboforums.com' which was formerly 'turbomustangs.com'.

 

[Raptor22]

Your best, least complicated bet, with the 4.9 would be a single turbo setup. You're looking at a helluva lot of work to get a turbo to work correctly, and don't forget that then you have to start worrying about beefing up the transmission and so on.

Your best resource for this kind of research or to get the best answers is 'theturboforums.com' which was formerly 'turbomustangs.com'.

So you are basically saying it would be a pain in the ass? What other sources are there for cheap power/torque?

 

[TheRoadVirus]

I think you'd be way better off getting yourself a header, cam and possibly a tune. You're looking at alot of cash/work to make a turbo useable and run well.

 

[Skandocious]

So you are basically saying it would be a pain in the ass? What other sources are there for cheap power/torque?

I wouldn't consider a turbo as being cheap, by any means, lol. Other good power upgrades-- cam, heads, headers, exhaust, rockers. Any combination of those will yield some nice numbers.

 

[Raptor22]

I wouldn't consider a turbo as being cheap, by any means, lol. Other good power upgrades-- cam, heads, headers, exhaust, rockers. Any combination of those will yield some nice numbers.

Whats the price range for all of those upgrades, and what results?

 

[Skandocious]

Just for parts? Cam-- couple hundred. Heads-- upper hundreds, closer to a thousand (depending on which heads, ported or not, etc). Headers-- couple hundred (depending on headers... they can be as cheap as $150 or as expensive as $1000). Exhaust-- a few hundred, depending on the setup. Rockers-- couple hundred.

 

[O'Rattlecan]

Unless you want the pride of beefing up a 300 I6, you might consider an engine swap and snag a computer from a similar truck in a junkyard. building a 302 or 351 would be substantially cheaper and parts would be much easier to find.

Ryan

 

[TheRoadVirus]

I whole-heartedly agree with that suggestion.

 

[Raptor22]

Unless you want the pride of beefing up a 300 I6,

To be honest with you Ryan, thats most of it.

 

[A_G]

for one twin turbos would be hard because you would be running compoound turbos , where the first one is bigger then the seconds. now heres the problem a 4.9 has one header...so you would have a big cluster of crap on that one side, where as with a "V" style engine would have header(s) so there would be one tubro on each side, each creating the same amount of boost.

On a side note, 6.5 duracrap and 350ci have the same header. my buddy is doing a turbo set up on his 350 with the 6.5 duracrap parts.

 

[Raptor22]

for one twin turbos would be hard because you would be running compoound turbos , where the first one is bigger then the seconds. now heres the problem a 4.9 has one header...so you would have a big cluster of crap on that one side, where as with a "V" style engine would have header(s) so there would be one tubro on each side, each creating the same amount of boost.

On a side note, 6.5 duracrap and 350ci have the same header. my buddy is doing a turbo set up on his 350 with the 6.5 duracrap parts.

So what about 1 medium sized turbo? Too much?

 

[TheRoadVirus]

A single turbo setup would be much easier, IMO. It's just the amount of work that goes into it, which translates to $$$.

 

[A_G]

So what about 1 medium sized turbo? Too much?

as long as your A/R ratio fits the engine

 

[dragogt]

Hope yall don't hate for this... But here's a link to one that's been done.

http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/250890-just-turbod-my-300-six.html

 

[tomtoc]

Hope yall don't hate for this... But here's a link to one that's been done.

http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/250890-just-turbod-my-300-six.html

I can easily keep up with a 351

...so y not just buy the 351?