Piston selection on turbo app.

[240Zdragon72]

As you may know, I am going to be doing a turbo swap. I know someone else in town that was doing the same thing. He said that you can put the flat top pistons in a turbo application. This would raise the compression ratio a little. I have thought of it, but I am not sure if he is pulling my leg. I would like to know from the forum if it would work. I'd ask on Hybrid Z, but I can't get on the website from where I am at. :disappoin

Greetings from the middle of nowhere...............

[Gav240z]

Depends on your compression ratio you can run turbo's with higher comp ratios but you need to have a good fuel on air control system. You also limit how much boost you can safely run.

FWIW i'd say it's best to build your turbo set up with a set of forged dished pistons and completely balance and shot peen the bottom end of the motor. It's false economy otherwise and a good bet you'll break something.

[240Zdragon72]

Thanks Gav. I'm looking forward to doing it when I get back to the states.

[spudea]

Higher compression turbo motor pros and cons:

Pros:Quicker turbo spool, better throttle and turbo response, more low end "grunt"

Cons: Limited to lower boost levels, greater tendancy for pinging/detenation/pre-ignition which could grenade your whole engine, engine will run slightly hotter, less spark advance which can kill your top end, too much timing retard and you lose lots of power and can burn exhaust valves. Aftermarket efi is almost a necessity in order to have complete control over timing, boost, fuel, etc.

If done right with megasquirt, the high compression turbo motor is really FUN. But it costs more money to do right and you can destroy the engine easily if done wrong. Forged pistons are a MUST. You may also consider swain coatings