OK. So my entire ATP turbo kit is here: logical first steps??? TIPS?? by nater

13 minute(s) of a 173 minute read

OK,

So I've starting routing my plumbing...I don't have pics yet (give me til tomorrow)...

Basically, what do I have to do to get my turbo inlet and the large elbow to clear my a/c (whatever those two lines are going into the firewall)...

I've pulled the little box off that seems to protect them a bit and started yanking at them and bending them away...

But it's still a tight fit. Is this the way it's supposed to be? Any tips?

And another thing, there is a canister of sorts which is associated with the a/c compressor via a/c lines (with the two bolts that are attached to the frame behind the passenger side headlight area)...I disconnected the lines going in and out (if you see above I already accidentally drained my freon with the sawzall)...where can I move that silver canister to????

I'll post pics later but I know you all knwo what I'm talking about w/o pics...

Help!!! 

Is it just as simple as bending these lines until they are sufficiently out of the way?

I mean, short of pulling out the a/c alltogether.

Ok guys,

So I lied...here's more pics from what I did this morning (not much but good to document, I suppose):

Self-expressive...i guess. TB plumbing...

Close-up of the a/c lines that I had to bend (notice the one on the right that I bent into the one on the left - but the left one doesn't budge. I still need to complete this as there still is not enough space for the elbow to attach to the turbo: help

This is a nice shot that shows how I (now, I was guessing what I needed to do as I've got no direction) ran the plumbing from the i/c to the throttle body. Anybody that sees anything wrong or that is important to point out PLEASE SPEAK UP AS THIS THREAD IS FOR OTHERS TO SEE LATER...

Another shot, but here's my question: where the heck do I put that a/c canister that is out of the way (now) on the bumper (the silver thing)?

A cool shot from above the car...

The pics are here so you can help me but also others as well when they do their turbo...so please chime in with any and all relevant info!!!!!

Thanks guys! 

May 09, 2004

The main reason for this thread and all the pics is b/c I know this is such an unknown territory for me, and I just dove right in and did it. While I'm not done - and it hasn't been easy...the point is, that if I can do it than many others can...

So, I'll try and take pics on every step I take and try to keep them from going to red X's so that others can learn before they get started on their turbo vr6 project

May 12, 2004

Guys,

What's this "nipple" sticking out of the last pipe that goes up and into the turbo (the first pipe out of the turbo going towards the inlet of the i/c???

My guess is you just need to cap it off, right?

So, WHAT DO I USE TO CAP IT OFF AND WHERE CAN I GET IT???

Here's the pic (it's the only 'nipple' you can see sticking out):

Thanks for all the good info on these nipple plugs.

VR6 Mole,

I'll let you know...as I def want to keep my a/c and I'll be NEEDING an a/c condensor.

And you are close.

I'm just west of Eagle, PA - straight shot down from you on Rt100.

I'll take a pic of what I get and post it up here so that others will get this stuff the first time around w/o having to post up like I did...Through all the searching and reading that is one thing that I never saw a post on.

May 14, 2004 

All of my plumbing is now done (basically)...

The only thing(s) really left to do is put back on the stock bumper (all cut up ), have the muffler shop do my dump tube for me (will take pics) and also have them do my exhaust...

But I'll have the oil pan back on tonight and new fluids (oil and coolant) in and will start her up.

Oh, one last thing...

Anybody have a diagram of ALL of the VACUUM lines I need to hook up here???

I'm confused...I see two nipples sticking out of my BOV and one or two coming out of my WG (I think...although I haven't looked at my WG for a while)...

Do I just route all of these back into my "vacuum system" in any way I can (ie. using brass Y connectors and just plugging them all in)?

You cap off the other? 

May 15, 2004

So my next step is to get the downpipe connected to either the flange on my stock CAT or to get it connected to a test pipe...

Problem is, the flange on my 3" DP is huge and my exhaust (w/o cat) is a TT 2.5"...

So, how long of a test pipe do I need (to go from downpipe to AFTER the cat) and where can I get that large flange so that I can just have the muffler shop weld it in place for me...?????

I heard Pep Boys (much like autozone) has some misc exhaust parts...do you think I can find what I need there?

Thanks buddy.

Found a local muffler shop that did the welding for me today. Car is about done.

I'll be firing her up tomorrow or during the week.

May 16, 2004

I fired up the car yesterday. I need to get the car to the muffler shop again b/c the guy didn't weld something perfectly. So, I'll be putting the front end back on today and get it "roadworthy" so nobodys' looking at me crazy....

I'll hit pep boys up for some exhaust parts to get me a bit quieter for the trip.

Car should be done this week. I've got a CLEARANCE issue with where the short U bend pipe goes into the TB. It is hitting the turbo really badly!!!! Any tips guys? I'm just going to hammer the hell out of it today until it fits?????

Matt,

There has to be an easier way of doing this??? I've seen these ATP stage 2 kits installed w/o the short runners w/o any "visable" issues so someone has to know how to do it.

I'm getting 'interference' w/ my intake pipe that goes into the TB with the Turbo...

I guess I could get a longer silicone connector and just use that as a flexible connector...my only fear is that under hard engine movement it may pop off...

Any more suggestions???

I'll post up pics this afternoon of what I'm upagainst...

Well,

She's running!

I've got some running issues right now but that's a tuning problem. Jeff and I will be working that out shortly.

I've also got exhaust issues but I'm going to have the muffler shop fix all that this week.

One BIG problem is a large oil leak in the worst of all spots - on my oil filter housing. Seems I didn't torque down my oil feed connector tight enough...at least that's where the oil appears to be coming from.

And I just got the front end back on!!!!

I'll try and fix it w/o having to pull the front end off again...

And, I actually did have to hammer away at that pipe just a tad bit on the underside of it so you can't see it at all. Still is a tough fit though.

Ok,

So here's the pics:

Of the front end. I butchered the bumper cover - if you can't tell that's great. But I can. I butchered the opening where there used to be the black plastic supports in the large opening. It needs to be sanded down flat and painted. Oh well!

So here's where I've still got some issues that I need you turbo experts to help with...Vacuum lines on the WG and on the BOV. I know I asked this already but ppl were talking "upper nipple" and "lower nipple" but I don't know what you guys mean when you say upper or lower...as I can't tell what's the top or the bottom anyway .

This pic shows my WG and the Vac line I've got attached and which one it's attached to.

That vac line then goes into the area where the fpr is...I just added a Y connector and that's where it is hooked up to now. The left part of that Y connector is going to my BOV...

This is a great picture showing where I hooked up my vac line from the Y connector at the FPR to the BOV. Is this correct? Please help here...plus, for others viewing this thread in the future I'd like them to know what the EFF they are doing too

This is just a pic of the engine bay near the back where all the turbo stuff is...please take a good look and let me know if I'm missing something (besides the engine cover ).

Guys,

Please help here as I'd like to make sure this is 100% correct. My guess is I've got some vac lines mixed up...please get me straight so I know I'm not effing something up here.

Thanks guys!!!!

May 17, 2004

So now for the really stupic question (feeling stupid right now...)...

I see plenty of (what I call) vac lines but where are my boost lines?

I thought it was one and the same?

so, according to my pic I've got a vac line that should be attached to the bottom of my WG (or closest to the exh manifold)...

And,

Looking at the BOV, I should have my vac line connected on the top...or farthest from the intake pipe, correct?

And yes, Marty...once I understand how a diaphram works I'll know exactly what the hell to do...But until then I gotta sound like a wee-tard first!

Am I understanding correctly that I need to get my boost line by hooking it up to the compressor housing somehow???

If so, that may be why my car is running a bit odd right now b/c I had no idea that there was a connection there to be had...

Correct me if I'm wrong here guys...

May 18, 2004

Update:

I don't know what the problem is...

The car ran yesterday, it ran pretty bad (as if it were missing a cylinder) but it ran. Today I couldnt' even start it...wouldnt' hold idle. I'm going to check to see if I soldered the MAF sensor wires wrong today.

But that's wierd, if I had...then it wouldn't have run yesterday.

So, my only bet here is to get with someone that has a turbo and compare everything...at this point I'm a bit at a loss...

I'll keep this thread posted on what I find out and how things progress...

Any tips here I'd appreciate it!

Thanks.

I'm not a total idiot when it comes to mechanical aptitude but when talking about vacuum lines and the like I am a self-proclaimed idiot.

I was just thinking that as long as I had them all connected together with one "source" of vacuum I'd be ok...but I totally forgot about the FPR...

Tim and Jason will stop by later today (hopefully) and we'll square this away.

Thanks guys!!! I"ll report back with pics what we do.

Goddam, is that WG LOUD!!! I'm def having it re-routed back into the exhaust later this week.

But it's amazing how quiet the exhaust is. I mean, it's quieter than stock but an amazing tone that the turbo adds...a nice rumble.

Yea, fpr wasn't connected to any line. We connected then it started up!

Now that I know it's all working correctly I'll take a couple pics of the engine bay which shows everything....

That way we can keep these pics on this thread for others to see.

But to be honest, my problems were quite simple and almost idiotic so I doubt anyone else will have major problems like I had. I mean, even though my car was freaking out it was a matter of just connecting one or two lines and all was well. No biggie.