Lessons learned ~ 2.3 stroker w/ stock turbo
Lessons learned ~ 2.3 stroker w/ stock turbo
I have had quite a few PMs about my setup and I wanted to put together a post where people can ask questions and also to let the community learn from my experiences and personal opinions. With that said let's get into it.
I spun my #1 bearing on the stock block and decided to go stroker to replace the bottom end. My setup is from Jackson Auto Machine in Maryland and approximate cost for the short block is $3400 https://www.jacksonautomachine.com/h...m?sectionId=31
If you want to go stroker then make sure that you budget for all the upgrades that need to go with it. You WILL need to factor in the following costs:
- Fuel At a minimum you need low impedance 750cc injectors. This gives enough head room to to run 60% IDC on the stock turbo
- Cooling. You will need an upgraded FMIC. The stroker will push your turbo harder (spool faster) so you will need a way to cool the intake charge better then the stocker can.
- Engine management/tuning. Make sure that you budget for tuning or some sort of engine management. I am running the UTEC but a custom flash will suffice or you can go full standalone.
- Boost control. You will need to control your boost (duh!)
- Monitoring This is very important! Make sure you have a way to keep tabs on what is going on with your new engine. At a minimum oil temp, EGT, oil pressure, and air/fuel ratio.
- Data Logging. You will need to keep tabs on your timing, air intake temps, injector duty cycle, etc.
- Clutch. You will be bumping up torque by ~30% so make sure that you have a clutch that can take it.
- Installation. If you won't be putting the shortblock in yourself make sure to budget at least 2k for installation
- Failure If you are replacing a short block with a spun bearing or someother terminal failure make sure to replace the oil cooler and get your head cleaned. The oil cooler is about ~$200 and head cleaning will run you about ~$300.
Can you get away with not adding a few components? Sure, but remember that you are spending a ton of cash on a shortblock so there is no reason to skimp.
I am currently running the stock '03 9.8t turbo and it's a really fun setup. The car drives like a V8 now with instant response and great torque. The drawback is surge. The 2.3l pushes a lot of exhaust gas and can spool the stock turbo at 2000 RPM. This is cool but the 9.8t hotside can't accept all that exhaust gas at such a low compressor speed. It causes an exhaust gas backup and surge. Also, keep in mind part throttle applications. At part throttle you will spool the turbo quick and without the throttle body being completely open, the intake manifold won't accept all the air you are trying to push and causes a backup of air. Again, you get surge.
All in all, I love my setup and the car runs way better then stock. Aside from the surge (which is easily controlled by the driver) there are no trade-offs. The car runs very smooth (way better then stock) and pulls like a bat out of hell. I make ~340hp ~340lb/ft at 21psi on straight 93oct. With race gas I could make a good bit more power but I have no desire to run race gas or alky injection so I am happy.
Below is my dyno sheet. You can see that the stock turbo is the weakpoint in my setup. It just runs out of breath up top and I am leaving a lot on the table powerwise. This was on a dynapack so it's says flywheel hp but the particular dynapack that I ran on reads the same if not a bit lower then a dynojet.
I can't comment on anyother shops kit since I only have experience with Jackson so I don't know if Buschur, AMS, slowboy, etc. will react the same way as the jackson 2.3l.
My final setup will be with a BB 50trim but I haven't decided who's kit to go with just yet.
Speed safely,
-NR
PS - My father-in-law just got a brand new C6 Vette. After a bit of fun he now has a complex with his $50k convertible
I spun my #1 bearing on the stock block and decided to go stroker to replace the bottom end. My setup is from Jackson Auto Machine in Maryland and approximate cost for the short block is $3400 https://www.jacksonautomachine.com/h...m?sectionId=31
If you want to go stroker then make sure that you budget for all the upgrades that need to go with it. You WILL need to factor in the following costs:
- Fuel At a minimum you need low impedance 750cc injectors. This gives enough head room to to run 60% IDC on the stock turbo
- Cooling. You will need an upgraded FMIC. The stroker will push your turbo harder (spool faster) so you will need a way to cool the intake charge better then the stocker can.
- Engine management/tuning. Make sure that you budget for tuning or some sort of engine management. I am running the UTEC but a custom flash will suffice or you can go full standalone.
- Boost control. You will need to control your boost (duh!)
- Monitoring This is very important! Make sure you have a way to keep tabs on what is going on with your new engine. At a minimum oil temp, EGT, oil pressure, and air/fuel ratio.
- Data Logging. You will need to keep tabs on your timing, air intake temps, injector duty cycle, etc.
- Clutch. You will be bumping up torque by ~30% so make sure that you have a clutch that can take it.
- Installation. If you won't be putting the shortblock in yourself make sure to budget at least 2k for installation
- Failure If you are replacing a short block with a spun bearing or someother terminal failure make sure to replace the oil cooler and get your head cleaned. The oil cooler is about ~$200 and head cleaning will run you about ~$300.
Can you get away with not adding a few components? Sure, but remember that you are spending a ton of cash on a shortblock so there is no reason to skimp.
I am currently running the stock '03 9.8t turbo and it's a really fun setup. The car drives like a V8 now with instant response and great torque. The drawback is surge. The 2.3l pushes a lot of exhaust gas and can spool the stock turbo at 2000 RPM. This is cool but the 9.8t hotside can't accept all that exhaust gas at such a low compressor speed. It causes an exhaust gas backup and surge. Also, keep in mind part throttle applications. At part throttle you will spool the turbo quick and without the throttle body being completely open, the intake manifold won't accept all the air you are trying to push and causes a backup of air. Again, you get surge.
All in all, I love my setup and the car runs way better then stock. Aside from the surge (which is easily controlled by the driver) there are no trade-offs. The car runs very smooth (way better then stock) and pulls like a bat out of hell. I make ~340hp ~340lb/ft at 21psi on straight 93oct. With race gas I could make a good bit more power but I have no desire to run race gas or alky injection so I am happy.
Below is my dyno sheet. You can see that the stock turbo is the weakpoint in my setup. It just runs out of breath up top and I am leaving a lot on the table powerwise. This was on a dynapack so it's says flywheel hp but the particular dynapack that I ran on reads the same if not a bit lower then a dynojet.
I can't comment on anyother shops kit since I only have experience with Jackson so I don't know if Buschur, AMS, slowboy, etc. will react the same way as the jackson 2.3l.
My final setup will be with a BB 50trim but I haven't decided who's kit to go with just yet.
Speed safely,
-NR
PS - My father-in-law just got a brand new C6 Vette. After a bit of fun he now has a complex with his $50k convertible
Originally Posted by nrcooled
...PS - My father-in-law just got a brand new C6 Vette. After a bit of fun he now has a complex with his $50k convertible
Should be a beast with a BB 50 trim.
l8r)
Great writeup!! My mods are listed below, and will be strapped down on the dyno in 2 weeks, with video and Dynograph to follow. Mine will show with, and without Meth, with, and without HKS DLI II hooked up. etc... I am glad you like your setup, and am sure I will also. I have the AMS stroker, and will be tuned by Andrew at Dyno4mance. Great thread!
Originally Posted by nrcooled
I have had quite a few PMs about my setup and I wanted to put together a post where people can ask questions and also to let the community learn from my experiences and personal opinions. With that said let's get into it.
I spun my #1 bearing on the stock block and decided to go stroker to replace the bottom end. My setup is from Jackson Auto Machine in Maryland and approximate cost for the short block is $3400 https://www.jacksonautomachine.com/h...m?sectionId=31
If you want to go stroker then make sure that you budget for all the upgrades that need to go with it. You WILL need to factor in the following costs:
- Fuel At a minimum you need low impedance 750cc injectors. This gives enough head room to to run 60% IDC on the stock turbo
- Cooling. You will need an upgraded FMIC. The stroker will push your turbo harder (spool faster) so you will need a way to cool the intake charge better then the stocker can.
- Engine management/tuning. Make sure that you budget for tuning or some sort of engine management. I am running the UTEC but a custom flash will suffice or you can go full standalone.
- Boost control. You will need to control your boost (duh!)
- Monitoring This is very important! Make sure you have a way to keep tabs on what is going on with your new engine. At a minimum oil temp, EGT, oil pressure, and air/fuel ratio.
- Data Logging. You will need to keep tabs on your timing, air intake temps, injector duty cycle, etc.
- Clutch. You will be bumping up torque by ~30% so make sure that you have a clutch that can take it.
- Installation. If you won't be putting the shortblock in yourself make sure to budget at least 2k for installation
- Failure If you are replacing a short block with a spun bearing or someother terminal failure make sure to replace the oil cooler and get your head cleaned. The oil cooler is about ~$200 and head cleaning will run you about ~$300.
Can you get away with not adding a few components? Sure, but remember that you are spending a ton of cash on a shortblock so there is no reason to skimp.
I am currently running the stock '03 9.8t turbo and it's a really fun setup. The car drives like a V8 now with instant response and great torque. The drawback is surge. The 2.3l pushes a lot of exhaust gas and can spool the stock turbo at 2000 RPM. This is cool but the 9.8t hotside can't accept all that exhaust gas at such a low compressor speed. It causes an exhaust gas backup and surge. Also, keep in mind part throttle applications. At part throttle you will spool the turbo quick and without the throttle body being completely open, the intake manifold won't accept all the air you are trying to push and causes a backup of air. Again, you get surge.
All in all, I love my setup and the car runs way better then stock. Aside from the surge (which is easily controlled by the driver) there are no trade-offs. The car runs very smooth (way better then stock) and pulls like a bat out of hell. I make ~340hp ~340lb/ft at 21psi on straight 93oct. With race gas I could make a good bit more power but I have no desire to run race gas or alky injection so I am happy.
Below is my dyno sheet. You can see that the stock turbo is the weakpoint in my setup. It just runs out of breath up top and I am leaving a lot on the table powerwise. This was on a dynapack so it's says flywheel hp but the particular dynapack that I ran on reads the same if not a bit lower then a dynojet.
I can't comment on anyother shops kit since I only have experience with Jackson so I don't know if Buschur, AMS, slowboy, etc. will react the same way as the jackson 2.3l.
My final setup will be with a BB 50trim but I haven't decided who's kit to go with just yet.
Speed safely,
-NR
PS - My father-in-law just got a brand new C6 Vette. After a bit of fun he now has a complex with his $50k convertible
I spun my #1 bearing on the stock block and decided to go stroker to replace the bottom end. My setup is from Jackson Auto Machine in Maryland and approximate cost for the short block is $3400 https://www.jacksonautomachine.com/h...m?sectionId=31
If you want to go stroker then make sure that you budget for all the upgrades that need to go with it. You WILL need to factor in the following costs:
- Fuel At a minimum you need low impedance 750cc injectors. This gives enough head room to to run 60% IDC on the stock turbo
- Cooling. You will need an upgraded FMIC. The stroker will push your turbo harder (spool faster) so you will need a way to cool the intake charge better then the stocker can.
- Engine management/tuning. Make sure that you budget for tuning or some sort of engine management. I am running the UTEC but a custom flash will suffice or you can go full standalone.
- Boost control. You will need to control your boost (duh!)
- Monitoring This is very important! Make sure you have a way to keep tabs on what is going on with your new engine. At a minimum oil temp, EGT, oil pressure, and air/fuel ratio.
- Data Logging. You will need to keep tabs on your timing, air intake temps, injector duty cycle, etc.
- Clutch. You will be bumping up torque by ~30% so make sure that you have a clutch that can take it.
- Installation. If you won't be putting the shortblock in yourself make sure to budget at least 2k for installation
- Failure If you are replacing a short block with a spun bearing or someother terminal failure make sure to replace the oil cooler and get your head cleaned. The oil cooler is about ~$200 and head cleaning will run you about ~$300.
Can you get away with not adding a few components? Sure, but remember that you are spending a ton of cash on a shortblock so there is no reason to skimp.
I am currently running the stock '03 9.8t turbo and it's a really fun setup. The car drives like a V8 now with instant response and great torque. The drawback is surge. The 2.3l pushes a lot of exhaust gas and can spool the stock turbo at 2000 RPM. This is cool but the 9.8t hotside can't accept all that exhaust gas at such a low compressor speed. It causes an exhaust gas backup and surge. Also, keep in mind part throttle applications. At part throttle you will spool the turbo quick and without the throttle body being completely open, the intake manifold won't accept all the air you are trying to push and causes a backup of air. Again, you get surge.
All in all, I love my setup and the car runs way better then stock. Aside from the surge (which is easily controlled by the driver) there are no trade-offs. The car runs very smooth (way better then stock) and pulls like a bat out of hell. I make ~340hp ~340lb/ft at 21psi on straight 93oct. With race gas I could make a good bit more power but I have no desire to run race gas or alky injection so I am happy.
Below is my dyno sheet. You can see that the stock turbo is the weakpoint in my setup. It just runs out of breath up top and I am leaving a lot on the table powerwise. This was on a dynapack so it's says flywheel hp but the particular dynapack that I ran on reads the same if not a bit lower then a dynojet.
I can't comment on anyother shops kit since I only have experience with Jackson so I don't know if Buschur, AMS, slowboy, etc. will react the same way as the jackson 2.3l.
My final setup will be with a BB 50trim but I haven't decided who's kit to go with just yet.
Speed safely,
-NR
PS - My father-in-law just got a brand new C6 Vette. After a bit of fun he now has a complex with his $50k convertible
Sorry if i'm missing the obvious here, but you're running a 2.3L stroker on a stock motor? no other mods? and you made 340/340?
If not, what mods do you have?
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Originally Posted by Sharkbite2000
Yes Stock Turbo, Stock Head,Factory cat was still on the car.
Very cool! My car should be finished next week and I will be on the Buschur 2.3 stroker with ALL the supporting mods. I want to see what the stock 03 turbo can do also! Should be fun.
Not all of my mods are listed, but you can see most of them in my sig. My setup will be on methanol injection though so hopefully the numbers will be nice.
Not all of my mods are listed, but you can see most of them in my sig. My setup will be on methanol injection though so hopefully the numbers will be nice.