What a great saying! I couldn't agree more. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

I built my first turbo truck the same way. Because I thought I could and wanted to prove it to myself. Nothing like the feeling when a complex plan comes together, especially one somebody else has poo-poo'ed....

Anyone that has been here a while will recall the nay sayers that said that a turbo 4X4 was all wrong. On the 2.6 the head would grenade, the turbo runs too hot for off road and about fifty other reasons why it wont work.

Apparently a lot of us dont listen very well

Over the years I did learn a few lessons the hard way...

It's way better than not trying at all. No rational explanation for our toys, other than it makes the owner happy and a project well is good for the soul.

That is reason enough.

Great work Frank!

Kevin

Totally agreed !!!

Anyone who still remembers.. I bought Kevin's Raider back in 2000 and built that motor up during the next 4-5 months... New AMC head, CAM, pistons, special coatings, etc,etc..

I abuse the HELL outta this motor... 14psi... PERIOD..

well, 7 years later.. no problems. Ciao

Jason

P.S. Hey Kev !! How's OR ??

It was just an excuse for another bad pun. (There was talk of knock sensors).

Anyway, I enjoyed reading your answer. It will fit nicely in your archives.

Thanks.

While waiting for the machine shop, I'm playing with cam timing and piston specs - trying to get an idea of what happens with various combinations and the resulting drivability and potential detonation tradeoffs. Here's a calculator for estimating dynamic CR with variable cam specs:

web page

I used the following input data:

bore = 3.587"
stroke = 2.992"
rod length = 5.625" (rough measurement with rule)
static compression ratio =
- 8.9 w/Montero pistons
- 10.0 w/Diamante pistons
inlet valve closes ABDC =
- 59* w/Montero cams
- 66* w/Diamante cams
boost pressure = 7 psi
target altitude = 0 (sea level)

Dynamic CR results at 0/7 psi:

7.36/10.86 = 8.9 pistons w/Montero cams
6.99/10.32 = 8.9 pistons w/Diamante cams
8.25/12.18 = 10.0 pistons w/Montero cams
7.83/11.56 = 10.0 pistons w/Diamante cams

I've read that good N/A street engines have a dynamic CR of 7.5-8.5 and wondering if the later-closing Diamante cams used with the 8.9 pistons will make the engine a dog when not under boost.......

So, I tried using the DOHC specs for turbo (8:1/55*ABDC) and non-turbo (10:1/55*ABDC) and got these results:

6.83/10.08 = turbo
8.49/12.53 = non-turbo

Obviously, I'm not going to use the 10:1 pistons with a blower unless I was also using a racing cam and needed to get the dynamic CR up to where it all worked together, but it's interesting to find the turbo DOHC engine at 6.83:1 dynamic CR - but I suppose the M/T allows the engine to get into the torque range before launch.

The combination of Diamante cams and 8.9 pistons seems to give a measure of detonation protection under boost compared to the Montero cams - if the tradeoff isn't too bad with no boost.

This is all theoretical and conjectural "what-ifs" on my part...... opinions/corrections welcomed.

Frank

I'm pretty disgusted with transmission shops right about now - well, one of 'em in particular. Because of a real butcher job of installing my transmission after the rebuild, it has taken me 12+ hours of single-handed struggling (stripped bellhousing threads, SAE over-tapped threads, pulled thread-serts, over-torqued everything except for the loose bolts, missing bolts, etc - you name it, I've seen it today) to get to this point:


Incredibly, there's no visible damage from detonation - only the head gasket blew. The cylinders here are 2-4-6, L-R and #6 was where the detonation evidence was noted. I found the third head bolt from the left (upper row) to be loose, so I guess that's where she blew:


The other side looks the same:


The valves look fine as well:



When the Diamante block is finished - and if there are no interchange issues, I might rebuild this one as a stock 3.0L and offer it for a reasonable price if anyone is interested in it.

Frank

I'd be interested. You'd have to time it just right so that I was getting my tax refunds at the same time though. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

And who may I ask is going to put that in for you? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

I'm hoping some new kid will pop onto the Wire here soon...someone that lives nearby. Preferably someone who's into mountain bikes and/or dirtbikes, so I'll have lots of good stuff to trade. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />