Turboing my LFX

[Vaddy]

Now that this journey is almost coming to an end and have everything done, I have uploaded a youtube video kinda summarizing everything, I will go into much more detail down to the last bolt that I removed a bit later but hoping the V6 community will see this and there being more turbo V6s out there in the road. If this video gets enough traction, there can be a official turbo kit in the future for these engines

https://youtu.be/fJTgZkw7hQc

Also a thing to mention, if you don't remove the oil pan to drill and tap. Make sure to remove the oil drain line and clean the metal shards with your fingers that might be on the wall or the floor of the oil pan and get a tube and pour mineral spirits down there. I cant stress that enough, once you a take a turn, the oil will catch those shards and get sucked up

[Vaddy]

Heres a summary of how much and everything that I got to make this project possible.

Turbo Kit($3,773)[Intercooler,BOV,Wastegate,Vacuum Reference, Heat Shielding]: https://huronspeed.com/product/cam5t4/
MAF Extension($50): https://www.bmotorsports.com/shop/pr...oducts_id/3432
Drill and Tap($11): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MG92FX1...t_details&th=1
Grease($18): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09NL7V11R...roduct_details
10-AN 90 Degree($13): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0752LBRVV...t_details&th=1
4-AN 90 Degree($10): https://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS+Performa...10891/10002/-1
1/4 Drill(~$40) + Battery
Step Drill($14): https://www.harborfreight.com/power-...lls-91616.html
Oil Passage Block($200): https://www.keislerautomation.com/un...-passage-block
Oil Filter($4): https://www.walmart.com/ip/ACDelco-P...943239&veh=sem
Overflow Tank($20): https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/...3-001/17191312
CatchCan Setup($384)
Vacuum Pump($120): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00SZ4QFW0...roduct_details
Intake Coupler(~$20)
Power Steering Pulley($20): https://www.autozone.com/suspension-...7360&gclsrc=ds
Power Steering(~$100): https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...ring+pump,7380
Pulley Installer/Remover($35): https://www.autozone.com/test-scan-a...ce=c&gclsrc=ds
Mineral Spirits($9): https://www.homedepot.com/p/Klean-St...5379&gclsrc=ds
O2 Extenders(~$100)[Front and Rear, Contact gen5diy1@gmail.com]
Tune (Depends but mine is $650)
3D Printed Headers(Depends if the chinese company deliver promised metal piece $600)

Total: ~$6,000

Which is actually cheaper than the procharger by $1000, so that is a win

[co14camaro]

Great job so far! I've done a few from scratch turbo builds so I know what your going through. I've got a couple of recommendations. First, get that drain fitting welded to the pan if possible. Trust me, it will leak no matter how sealed you think it is.
I'm glad your redesigning that downpipe because that 90 degree turn would cause a hell of a lot of backpressure and would've made tuning a nightmare! Your EGTs would be through the roof and likely melt some pistons. On the topic of tuning, in now way will you be able to run E85 with the stock fuel injectors and in tank pump. I don't think even the stock high pressure pump will do enough, so look into upgrading those pieces. You should be able to get parts for a 14 ATS-V to bolt onto your engine.
Also I highly recommend EGT and Wideband O2 sensor on each bank. You'd be amazed at how different each bank can run. If EGTs (Exhaust Gas Temp) get too high parts start melting real quick. Oh and you will need a larger capacity MAP sensor and a competent tuner familiar with HP Tuners and tuning a dual VVT engine. That 650 you quote for a tune won't cover it. Figure spending a day on a loaded dyno and good tuner to be around 1500 to 2k. He's got to tune everything from a cold start on E85 to every throttle position in between idle and full throttle. The stock PCM will constantly try to reach an AFR of 14.7:1 under light throttle/cruising. Unfortunately even cruising you can hit positive pressure, and an AFR of 14.7:1 with a high compression motor and positive pressure can equal BOOM!
Great find on that oil filter adapter. I initially tried one from v8roadsters but it used AN fittings and they hit the AC compressor. This new design eliminates that problem! I highly recommend getting a spin on oil cooler kit. These engines run hot and introducing hot turbo oil will make it even worse! Get that oil as cool as possible if you want your engine to live lol.

[Vaddy]

Originally Posted by co14camaro

Great job so far! I've done a few from scratch turbo builds so I know what your going through. I've got a couple of recommendations. First, get that drain fitting welded to the pan if possible. Trust me, it will leak no matter how sealed you think it is.
I'm glad your redesigning that downpipe because that 90 degree turn would cause a hell of a lot of backpressure and would've made tuning a nightmare! Your EGTs would be through the roof and likely melt some pistons. On the topic of tuning, in now way will you be able to run E85 with the stock fuel injectors and in tank pump. I don't think even the stock high pressure pump will do enough, so look into upgrading those pieces. You should be able to get parts for a 14 ATS-V to bolt onto your engine.
Also I highly recommend EGT and Wideband O2 sensor on each bank. You'd be amazed at how different each bank can run. If EGTs (Exhaust Gas Temp) get too high parts start melting real quick. Oh and you will need a larger capacity MAP sensor and a competent tuner familiar with HP Tuners and tuning a dual VVT engine. That 650 you quote for a tune won't cover it. Figure spending a day on a loaded dyno and good tuner to be around 1500 to 2k. He's got to tune everything from a cold start on E85 to every throttle position in between idle and full throttle. The stock PCM will constantly try to reach an AFR of 14.7:1 under light throttle/cruising. Unfortunately even cruising you can hit positive pressure, and an AFR of 14.7:1 with a high compression motor and positive pressure can equal BOOM!
Great find on that oil filter adapter. I initially tried one from v8roadsters but it used AN fittings and they hit the AC compressor. This new design eliminates that problem! I highly recommend getting a spin on oil cooler kit. These engines run hot and introducing hot turbo oil will make it even worse! Get that oil as cool as possible if you want your engine to live lol.

Appreciate it brother! And, thank you for the suggestions. I will go to a muffler shop after I get the car running to get that drain welded. Yea I knew that 90 degree turn would create so much problems, glad I switched it up, that would have been bad. As for the Fueling system, I've definitely wanted to upgrade all of that, and even considering the car is now 80k miles, I want to replace all of that. And for the wideband o2 sensors, I was wondering where I could get those or what I would have to do, I was researching them the other day but can't find much with this car obviously. And the MAP sensor I already know about, the zl1 map sensor is 3 bar better than the 1 bar this car has. I am only going to be running 5psi so I'm not looking to upgrade the MAP sensor rn, but definitely will. Man, I wish I could get someone like that to tune this car but no one near me knows how to tune this car, maybe tracy lewis could help me out, he's 3 hours away. And the oil cooler, imma need that for sure. Thanks for your wisdom man!

[co14camaro]

Muffler shop won't be able to weld that fitting on the pan. Its Aluminum and requires a TIG welder and unless its a high end shop they won't have one lol.

Tracy would definitely be able to tune the car for you but figure at least double that 650 for tuning. Oh and I don't know if you have a manual tranny, but if you do the stock clutch will give up the ghost pretty quick. If its an auto you'll be fine but you would benefit from a transmission tune as well. Once you add things up 7k for a base procharger kit that includes the tune ain't so bad is it?

[Vaddy]

Originally Posted by co14camaro

Muffler shop won't be able to weld that fitting on the pan. Its Aluminum and requires a TIG welder and unless its a high end shop they won't have one lol.

Tracy would definitely be able to tune the car for you but figure at least double that 650 for tuning. Oh and I don't know if you have a manual tranny, but if you do the stock clutch will give up the ghost pretty quick. If its an auto you'll be fine but you would benefit from a transmission tune as well. Once you add things up 7k for a base procharger kit that includes the tune ain't so bad is it?

There's alot of reasons why I wanted to go turbo other than the price, even so stage 2 is around 8k so take that lol. I'll go to Tracy instead then

[Vaddy]

Update: I am still learning how to go on about Metal 3D printing but the header as a whole is too big especially the passenger side to be 3D printed in Aluminium or Stainless Steel. So I am separating parts of it to be welded, and being able to get it printed in Stainless Steel. Bad news is that it is around 2k to print both sides, 1k each. If you really wanted to save money, you can print it in Aluminium and the price would be half of that but beware that they will probably melt. I will share the files as soon as they arrive and fit.

[xlmusicp]

@Vaddy

Join this group and start a thread on your turbo build
https://gmv6performance.com/

New site dedicated for the V6 platform ONLY

[Vaddy]

Aluminum came in and fit perfectly! The stainless steel one is coming in Monday, you can technically print both in aluminum and save yourself 2k and drive long enough to get someone to fabricate it in stainless steel or just pay the 2k to get it in Steel. I will post a video on how I did everything once the second one comes in. Also the down pipe no longer hits the steering rack

[Vaddy]

I’ve forgotten about this tread but the build is complete and successful. I have been having fun with it and will increase the power to try to beat that 1/4 mile time. I know the one big issue with this engine is it goes pretty lean, but most of us over by the Facebook group are figuring out ways to combat this, one has added a dual pump already and when I decide to build the engine I will figure out the LF4 HPFP. For those wanting to turbo charge their car like mine. Don’t worry Huron Speed toke the challenge to make us a kit, I just gotta create a downpipe for them to allow AC and 6th gen V6s are getting a kit too. Thanks for everyone following this journey of mine.

[KillboyPowerhead]

Nice. Did you end up trying to 3D print an intake manifold? What size throttle body did you end up going with?

[Vaddy]

Originally Posted by KillboyPowerhead

Nice. Did you end up trying to 3D print an intake manifold? What size throttle body did you end up going with?

Haven’t 3D printed the manifold yet, probably by next month I will be able to and 80mm all the way, I might do testing of my own and increase it to like 90 or even a 100mm TB to see if there’s any gains.