m52 Turbo Build

[pbonsalb]

5 or 7 can help depending on the fitting used by adding to or raking away from the angle. It just takes some experimenting to figure out what drain fitting or combination of fittings works best. If you went 7, you might use a cheap straight drain and let the hose make the rest of any needed curve. Or with 5, a 90 drain might work.

[328iFun]

Gotcha

What do you think about that spa pbon? Worth a shot?

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[pbonsalb]

I hate to pay $24 for a part that may not work. Probably would but not sure. And your fancy hose might not fit. Is the spa part 3/8 or 1/2 or 5/8?

The best way to do a project like this is to find someone who has done it and copy them. Since some here have spa and are draining to the pan drain, I am surprised no one has posted a picture or provided the exact parts needed.

[Butters Stoch]

Exact part has been posted. Home depot 1/2npt to 5/8 barb. Just a straight barb fitting.

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[328iFun]

I hate to pay $24 for a part that may not work. Probably would but not sure. And your fancy hose might not fit. Is the spa part 3/8 or 1/2 or 5/8?

The best way to do a project like this is to find someone who has done it and copy them. Since some here have spa and are draining to the pan drain, I am surprised no one has posted a picture or provided the exact parts needed.

Man,

I've got so much crap laying around that I didn't use. Once I've got this build solid I'm going to start a for sale thread. I've got restrictors, t3/t4 adapter plates, vanos oil bolt, various nuts bolts, piping, MAFS, DMES, brass fittings,
hoses, boots, scavenge pumps... I could probably boost another E36 for half of what cost me this go around. And that's not including all the crap I've returned. There is no 'straight-forwardness' in these builds if you've never done one before. And I think most of the guys on here that are FI are too busy screwing around with their own cars to really post specific details on certain things, really.

Ill add the steel braided hose into the pile of spare parts at $20.00 a foot... I had a layout in mind with the dipstick tube so I went out and bought quality parts so I didn't have to mess with it ever again. But now draining to the oil drain bolt mixed it all up a bit. I've been fooling with this drain system since I started this project and this is probably 3rd or 4th time redoing it

My turbo sits a bit lower than most builds on here because I had to use about half-3/4 inch thick T3 to T4 adapter plate. My SPA manifold was advertised as a T4, so I bought a T4 Turbo. When I got the parts in it of course they didn't line up. Oh and I have like 2-3 spare adapters plates as well because I couldn't get a few of them to work.

I would not have started this build if I knew it was going to cost this much or be this involved. Or I would saved and bought a kit.

Anyway, too late now.

The SPA flange is advertised as 3/4 in diameter, I ordered it so hopefully it line the hose up with the hole. From the looks of it, it should. If not it appears to be mild steel so the flange can be cut and welded if needed.

https://www.ebay.com/i/182275912820?chn=ps&dispItem=1

- - - Updated - - -

Exact part has been posted. Home depot 1/2npt to 5/8 barb. Just a straight barb fitting.

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I am good with the 1/2 barb fitting. I am looking for the best turbo drain adapter option at this point

[328iFun]

When the car is setup correctly. After all this work and money I am torn between either:

1. Turning the PSI's as high as the bottom end can hand and letting it rip

or

2. Leaving it around 7-10 PSI for longevity.

There is no middle ground.

[328iFun]

I am going to go with:

Bit for Drain Plug:
45/64
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1


Tap for Drain Plug:
1/2-14
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1


Drain Flange:
SPA 3/4 out
http://www.ebay.com/itm/182275912820?rmvSB=true

image hosting

Brass Fitting for Oil Drain Plug
1/2 to 3/4 barb
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1


Hose:
Vibrant 3/4 Silicone Hose
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1


Clamps:
3/4 T-Bolt Clamps
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1


Same as Butters except the diameters are wider, which I don't think would hurt. If it works it will documented for other people

[pbonsalb]

I agree it's no fun having to spend more time working on the car than driving it. A few people actually prefer the project to the driving, but not me. I would not want the car if I did not drive it a lot. Hopefully you are just about done sorting the car and an now enjoy it. I would run 8-10 psi for 1000 miles while you learn to drive more power and continue sorting it out. Then I would head for 16-20 psi and leave it there for a long time -- until you have time and money and energy to break stuff. The happy place is around 500 rwhp.

[328iFun]

The project itself doesn't bother me as much and turning the wrench. And a few minutes behind the wheel as long as everything is working properly makes it worth it.

Its not really knowing what works and what doesn't and throwing money at the car with no solution.

I think it may write-up a detailed list of what you need and how to install a bottom mount turbo kit for the E36 when its all said and done to the nut and bolt size. I'm surprised it hasn't been done

[abq]

I am about to go thru this ordeal for the second time.. I am changing up my setup from a t3 spa/gt35 to a t4spa/gt40. I havent gotten around to mounting the setup but i wonder if I can use the same parts as you? Butters any experience with the spa t4/gt40 setup? I was hoping to to go to the pan like the OP.

Also for everyone who is using this method how much QTs of oil do you fill the motor up with?

[328iFun]

I am about to go thru this ordeal for the second time.. I am changing up my setup from a t3 spa/gt35 to a t4spa/gt40. I havent gotten around to mounting the setup but i wonder if I can use the same parts as you? Butters any experience with the spa t4/gt40 setup? I was hoping to to go to the pan like the OP.

Also for everyone who is using this method how much QTs of oil do you fill the motor up with?

I don't see why it wouldn't work.

I know of several people running it Butter's method and it works fine.

As for oil capacity it would depend upon on how long your feed/drain hoses and the size of the center cartridge. I wouldn't imagine it would make or break you though, I don't think it would hold that much extra.

[abq]

I don't see why it wouldn't work.

I know of several people running it Butter's method and it works fine.

As for oil capacity it would depend upon on how long your feed/drain hoses and the size of the center cartridge. I wouldn't imagine it would make or break you though, I don't think it would hold that much extra.

With my current setup anything over 6.5 QTs gets smokey on turns. Just trying to compare what others have seen since the oil capacity is 6.9 Qts on these motors.

Also thanks for all the help! look forward to seeing your progress.

[328iFun]

I was doing some research of why Butters method works as opposed to just doing it (as I like to always know how things work and why)

But

I've read that the line basically becomes an extension of the oil pan. And that as long as the turbo drain is higher than the oil in the pan it should work fine. Oil will fill the turbo drain line to same oil height of the pan

Makes sense, I would have never figured that out own my own. Way to go Butters.

Looks mine may sit high enough.

[pbonsalb]

I am about to go thru this ordeal for the second time.. I am changing up my setup from a t3 spa/gt35 to a t4spa/gt40. I havent gotten around to mounting the setup but i wonder if I can use the same parts as you? Butters any experience with the spa t4/gt40 setup? I was hoping to to go to the pan like the OP.

Also for everyone who is using this method how much QTs of oil do you fill the motor up with?

Why not stick with the T3 flange? There are some high performing T3 turbos that make gt40 power levels.

[abq]

Why not stick with the T3 flange? There are some high performing T3 turbos that make gt40 power levels.

I originally bought the gt40 because the PO (DSM Owner) said it had a t3 housing and I was too concerned with shaft play to verify flange size before buying which ended up screwing me. So I tried selling off the gt40 but it wasnt moving and happened to find the T4 SPA for cheap so figured I would just run it... still hoping the gt40 sells cause I want to spare my knuckles to the manifold swap horror that will occur.

[328iFun]

It took me 6-7 hours to install spa manifold with head on

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[abq]

It took me 6-7 hours to install spa manifold with head on

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oh man dreading it. Took me the same amount of time. I did a few bolts and walked away over a course of a week cause it was getting annoying.
I almost want to pull the motor out this time and swap/install everything. Might just be easier.

[328iFun]

Pulled a motor myself today.

Got bored waiting for parts :

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[328iFun]

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[328iFun]

oh man dreading it. Took me the same amount of time. I did a few bolts and walked away over a course of a week cause it was getting annoying.
I almost want to pull the motor out this time and swap/install everything. Might just be easier.

Just take your time you be alright

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[rajicase]

Looks more like you pulled a car than an engine XD

[328iFun]

Lol, yeah dropped subframe and threw the body off of it ha

Start tearing it down and building it back up soon

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[someguy2800]

You do know you can get the engine out of the car without cutting it in half right? It's gonna be a pain to put that back together

[328iFun]

I'll flux core it back together

Be fine

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[Thompson501]

Lol, welding practice