I've got the car up on the hoist installing the turbo right now. I'm running the Vulcan turbo manifold and a T3/To4E turbo. Just wondering how close is too close to the firewall? It's damn tight fit and I don't know if the manifold will work after all. If it does fit, so far it looks like the cold side is gonna be against the firewall liner. So is this ok? I'm going back at it and I'll check for replies every so offen.

 

only one way to find out lol..

 

vulcan makes an adapter if your having clearance issues, the adapter will put the turbo down about an inch so it's farther away from the firewall and the block. its on there sight.

 

As long as it is not touching and it is tight fitting, you should be absolutely fine.

 

Ya, there is no way it's fitting in there right now, even if I get the adaptor. With the adaptor there is gonna be different clearence problems with the water pump area, and a air filter wouldn't fit then either. The problem is that the flange is dead center and it should be a little bit to the drivers side.

Do you guys know whats behind that insulation? I may end up removing it and denting the firewall a bit. It a matter of like an 1/8 of an inch. I just don't want to beat on the firewall if there is something there in the interior I may damage. Other then that I don't reall give a damn.

But I'm done for the night and tommorows a new day lol

 

I did it on my car. Removed the insulation and started banging the firewall.

Just hope you don't plan on selling it or anything like that lol

 

I'm gonna most likey do that tommorow. I'm not selling anytime soon. I'll let you guys know. Anyone else have anything else to add?

 

i took off my insulation and am just gonna cover it in heat tape. just make sure u got clearance for when the engine torques backwards. heres a pic of mine. lotsa room but i got a "shorty" style header.

 

Good point about it moving back during acceleration

I fixed that issue with my old car by already having polyurethane engine mounts. That motor didn't move a centimeter lol

happy banging and try not to make any holes, your job is to dent not puncture.

 

my turbo is pretty close to the firewall too, actually with the new setup it sucked the fiberglass off of it lol, so I need to clean it up today and run the filter to a different location. My flange is dead center too and mine fit ok, maybe about 1.4" clearence to the firewall (at least the fiberglass) but it fits and doesn't hit under acceleration.

 

I've got engine and trans mounts so I'm not too worried about that. I can't even get more then 1 stuf in there. I'd have to pry the turbo up to get the other in. And then it will be jammed in there. I'll pull off the insulation off after work today and see what I can do.

Paul, I think your manifold it pretty much just like mine. Is the flange on a 45 degree pointing down? It looked like your flange was just barely to the driver's side a bit. Do you have any pic of the turbo in there? Or just the manifold?

 

I can take pics later today I do have a few though, let me find em



















that should hold ya over man lol

 

Cool, thanks Paul. I pulled the insulation off and there is a plastic thing just kinda floating around on the passenger side of the firewall. I can shove it up in the hole and move it around. Just doesn't look right to me. Do you know what that it? Kinda looks like it has something to do with the HVAC or something. I was going to pull it out cuz it's in the way, but I thought I better find out what it is first.

 

hmm I don't know man, I'm pulling the insulation out today, I'll let you know when I see what it is you're talking about. My new turbo sucked the insulation off the passenger side firewall already anyway

 

Right on man! I will also let you know if I find out lol

Searchin Alldata now but nothing there

 

I think thats some sorta drain or something.Maybe for condensation from the heater core or the a/c?I dont know,i just put that **** back in the hole when it fell out.

 

hmm could be... I need to look at it today

 

I was going to try and pull it out of there, but I supose the hole shouldn't be blocked off I guess.

 

wouldnt make sense for it to drain into that cushioning...i looked and im thinking im going to have the same damn problems....you could always cut the insul on the passenger side and leave it on the drivers side....get some heat rap or something....how much does the engine rock when you step on it? j/w because its looking like im just barely going to get it to fit..keep us updated on how everything goes

 

Alright, I got all the insulation off now and tried it again. Still no go! There is a small bump in the firewall right where the coldside sits. If I got it to fit it would rest right on that. I'd actually have to pry the turbo up a bit to get all the studs in, which I'm not gonna do. So it looks like that bump has to be flatened out and it will fit.

Paul, your turbo must just sit that little bit to the driver's side to clear that bump. The bump is only like 1 1/2 inchs wide and I'm hitting right in the middle of it.

Well I got it to fit. Fits just perfect now, just flatened out the little bump in the firewall and now I've got lots of room to spare!

 

i'm glad that worked out for you cause i'm using the same manifold and turbo housing

 

youve got a 50 trim and a vulcan mani? Thats good news man ima have to look at it...didnt hurt anything? and also how much room do you have behind there now? enough for the ngine to rock?

 

no mines a 60 trim, not installed yet motor is being built. i don't have to worry about much motor rocking, i have solid mounts.

 

Your project sounds like my sunfires...

If my manifold was moved over just a little bit, it would have been easier but that freaking bump in the firewall was tricky.

 

Well I'm done for today, got the rest of the winter to finish anyways lol. Got the turbo all bolted up & the oil lines ran. Here's a few pics.
This is where the turbo was hitting. Stupid me didn't take a pic afterwards. I can fit my hand easily behind the turbo now and have solid motor mounts so I should be ok.