Draw Through Turbo project for my 2.9 Stroker L series

[A to Z]

I have received warnings about this psi regulator.  So, I ordered one from Summit racing to replace it.

[A to Z]

03-01-2025 TURBO PROJECT UPDATE.  Carb is out with John at V-Performance being gone through again, as something I can't find is wrong.  At any rate, I used the day to get back in the car, and go through the wiring.  The Water/Meth injection pump wasn't coming on like it's supposed to.  I did some rewiring and changed the point where my switch is in line with the main power to the pump instead of the relay switching power.  IT WORKS!  So all is cleaned up now and I snapped a pic.  I think I am going to get a piece of black leather or vinyl and cut out a flap that will cover some of the setup on the side of the tunnel, cover the wiring so I can still see my stuff, but all the wiring is hid a little better.  I also wired in a very small amber light that comes on to let me know when the pump is running and providing water/methanol.  I Tightened up the motor mounts I had left loose for insulating the brake master cylinder area, and cut out 2 plates of aluminum to cover some spots on the firewall.  I normally polish them then install......later I can quickly take them off, polish them to match the others and quickly re-install.  I also happened to notice my fan belt snapped, so I ran down and got another.  Weird that it was worn out in 500 miles, but then the guy at Oreilley's was reading about it, and said the belt I was using was for under 1 horsepower usage.  I had picked it originally as it was the right length and size for what I need.....I put another new one on for now and will need to find the same size in a fan belt that is heavy duty and won't wear out.  Anyone know of a place that makes them out of Kevlar fiber?   Anyway, that was today.  I just need the carb back and then go to the muffler shop to tie the exhaust together and the project will be done.  Fine tune and maybe DYNO test.  Pics follow 

[A to Z]

03-08-2025 TURBO PROJECT UPDATE:  As the carb is still at the shop, I did a few other things today.  I received the reproduction Fuse box console cover, and moved all the factory attachments to the new plate and reinstalled, then I worked on the cover of the wiring exposed in the passenger side trans tunnel.  The material is a faux leather material I got on eBay as well as a button kit.  After figuring out how the buttons are installed, I then held the upholstery in and kept trimming it with scissors until I had the pattern I wanted and then added the snaps.  I had to use tape, and tools, wood block etc. to hold them in place as the Gorilla glue dried, so in looking at the pics you will see the tools being used moved as they are being used to hold the snaps in place while the glue dries.  Lastly, I had to make a trip to Lowes for additional hardware, but was able to get the upgraded fuel pressure regulator setup installed and sealed up with thread sealing dope.  See pics attached.  Cheers!

[jhaag]

Outstanding job of documenting your work with numerous photos and written descriptions! I wish I had taken a lot more photos of my ZX project.

 

John

[A to Z]

Thanks,  just dealing with some carburetor woes, not a big deal.  I will do some cleaning and detailing before calling it 100% complete.

[A to Z]

03-23-2025 TURBO PROJECT UPDATE: here are float bowls for the Mikuni HSR carb for my turbo setup. You can see the difference between an unmodified one and the modified one on the left. the overflow tube, look how much larger diameter it is, and the upper right-hand corner of the float bowl is modified, to increase flow for the accelerator pump, advertised as 50% more fuel flow! I had so many problems with my mikuni that I ordered a china copy off of Amazon for $113 shipped to learn about the carb......when it arrived it is EXACTLY the same carb! Some of the knockoffs are not similar, but this is a carbon copy. My mikuni I am convinced is a factory defect. I went ahead and changed all the jets in the china carb to mikuni jets, and put the modified float bowl on there. It is now "correct" and ready to go on!

[A to Z]

04-09-2025 TURBO UPGRADE UPDATE:  So, I started the day by pulling carb off and changed the pilot jet out to 37.5 and then dropped the needle back to the stock range and put everything together. she still won't run! so i put the largest pilot jet i have in the carb a 42.5 with the air screw all the way in she runs great! but won't idle.  There is still not enough fuel to idle, so I have to pump it, and so i got it running, and then I leaned out the door and sprayed starter fluid on places where there could be a vacuum leak and I found 3 places. Then I decided to get some permatek black gasket maker and run a bead on those spots then wipe it clean. once it is dry enough i will try again. Right now, with the 42.5 pilot jet AND the choke pulled she ALMOST idles! it's a big engine, so she wants fuel!  Right now she will start without starting fluid using the 70-accelerator nozzle. so, iII went ahead and ordered some pilot jets that are even richer which will be here in a couple days off of Amazon.  For the first time in 5 months the car left the garage and i was able to sweep it out and put the Z car back in the garage with the tail facing out. Laugh if you want but after 5 months of mental hell that is a huge deal! i almost have her ready to go! can you believe she likes a 42.5 pilot AND choke?!? but still wants more to idle on her own. 2.9 litre, she wants fuel!  After letting hte gasket maker harden up for an hour, she still wants more fuel, so when the Idle jets come in we will continue to feed the beast until she will idle on her own!  SO cool to actually get her out even if just in the parking lot.....progess is progress.  FWIW a neighbor commented on the car while it was out.
Sent from my iPhone

[A to Z]

for curiosity, on an HSR carb, the pilot jet for idle sprays into the bore right behind the needle.  here is a pic.  When I looked online I couldn't find a pic anywhere.

[A to Z]

My BIG pilot jets for the HSR carb arrived today.....at some point the beast will have enough fuel to idle!  cheap at amazon! No name China made, but they work.

[A to Z]

04-13-2025 TURBO PROJECT UPDATE: so now I am in the world of carb, carb, carb. I must have taken the carb off, changed jets and re-installed about 10 times today, I didn't keep count, but at any rate it was a lot! I got tan idea from another guy to use "Chat GPT" and when you give it all your information, you would be amazed at how well it can give you an idea on tuning everything in! I did manage to drive the Z to the nearby gas station to get some gas....and although it wouldn't idle without giving it gas, and it was rich, once I got into the mid range circuit of the carb it started running better, when I hit wide open throttle the sound, everything changed and it roared like a wild beast! seat of the pants it felt like 300 h.p. or close to it. I......Couldn't tell the boost, my AEM gauge is wonky....., it had to have been over 10 psi it felt like, FWIW. Then I heard a loud "POP" and the engine died. I pulled over and checked everything and everything seemed ok. I started it back up and drove it back home, and it didn't pull like that first time, but wasn't sure why. Later I was running it and watching it, and I could see a burning charge coming out of my main turbo coupler! So, the POP was the coupling giving out. No wonder I can't get it to idle. BUT, CHAT GPT gave me a lot of experience with it, and it is now sitting with a 47.5 pilot jet in it. I just ordered the coupling, so God willing we will give it a go at a later date! Here is a crummy pic, but you can kind of see how my customer center dash piece turned out.~Joe