User-C3

Mounted the turbo in the location of the factory AC/Heater unit, I am obviously running neither. I made a bracket that wraps around the turbo and bolts onto tabs I have made on the frame. driver side manifold is flipped forward and passenger side is in the normal position.



a couple images of the turbo mount








The cross over setup


and all welded up

User-C3

The merge pipe was pretty tricky, I am running a 2.5" cross over into a single 3" feeding the turbo with a 3" flexpipe. The merg aslo has to wrap around the bottom of the frame and come up into the turbo and to do this I had make a series of cuts in the 3" tubing to make the bend a bit tighter. The clearance tolerance in this area is really tight to say the least.







The wastegate had an original position planned but quickly found out it wsa not going to work out. The second choice ended up being the best way to go and the most optimal for flow. I also needed another flexpipe for the waste gate tubing based on the location and luckly had one lying around the garage that I found on the street some months ago.






Here is a good shot of the way it wraps the frame rail. I had to cut out part of the inner fender to allow for the merg to be put in and taken out. I will make a sheet metal removable panel to replace the removed fiberglass section.


Needed an oil restrictor for the turbo oil feed line. I noticed the turbo had a fitting on it, which can be seen in some of the earlier photos. It was in a sense a reducer of sorts, and I didnt need it there, but it didnt fit in the oil feed port. I got a brass fitting that fit the feed port, and my feed line. Tapped the inside of the brass fitting and screwed in the reducer with a bunch of locktite. Once in there I took my cut off wheel and cut off the other end of the fitting creating a perfect restrictor.

User-C3

Ive had the idea for a single shorty style side pipe coming through the fender vent for quite some time. This leads up to the last couple days of work, and where it stand right now. I started by masking off the area I wanted to cut. I will making a sheet metal piece to fill the gaps and creat a nice asthetic around the tubing and help with some heat protection.




This is v-band for the down pipe/side pipe off the turbo. I am welding on a 4" V-band but running a 3" tubing, the clearance is so tight I had to run a reducer inside the v-band clamp thats buts up against the turbo housing where the outlet is. It's the perfect size for the outlet, but I wanted the ability to upgrade the exhaust size later if desired.


And how it sits right now

User-C3

I orderd a bunch of heat wrap to wrap the manifolds, and all the other hot side piping. I also ordered an OBX resonator. That will be the "muffler of sorts to go on the sidepipe, should look pretty good, and sound good as well.
Made an oil return bung for the turbo. I'm a fan of the make it before you buy it.


Did some finishing welds on the V-band and down pipe for the sidepipe. I also started smoothing it out to polish it, but I think I may just wrap it to the resonator.


Welded the 4" V-band flange to the turbo housing. Welded both outside and inside.

groovyjay

This is a great build!

User-C3

Thanks. Not too bad for a young 20-something doing what he can.

groovyjay

Even better! Here's the one I build when I was in my 20's

72LS1Vette

Looking really good! I admire your fabrication skills. I could use you for a next-door neighbor!

I do have one question regarding the shoulder harness mount. Do you think the tubing is going to be strong enough in the unfortunate event of a crash? The lower bar is braced pretty parallel to the bar but it looks to me like the upper bar would bend forward under load. The braces for the upper bar are at an angle so I don't think they would offer much support. Most 5-point harnesses that I've seen are mounted to a roll cage that is welded to the frame.



Rick B.

User-C3

Love this vette, Ive seen it around the forum a bit, Probably the only C3 I have seen that can pull off the 20's.

User-C3

The tubing is pretty thick stuff. I am no math wizz, or can say I know a whole lot about physics, but the way the forward facing support bars brace the cross section, they will hold a majority of the load. If you consider most harness' are wraped around a single cross bar. Mind you it is welded into the main cage hoop, its still just a single bar with no aditional bracing. I was more worried about the connection points than anything, I think they would be the weakest link in the setup. When I installed it I grabbed multiple different locations trying to see if there was any play at all, no go, just shook the whole car. I'm pretty confident in it, but also not sure if its 100% permanant, it cost me a couple bucks and does the job for the most part. Thinking about a cage, but not sure yet.

User-C3

I've never really liked the look of the radiator surround. My intercooler setup will be infront of the radiator and will put the intake tubes coming straight over the top of the rad. Knowing this the suround would have to be altered to give clearance for the tubes, and also for mounting of the intercoolers. So I decided to make a new one that took care of all my needs. I started by using the factory setup as a template and made this crude wood jig. Its a bit janky but its doing the job. So far I have the side plates made for mounting, the bottom rad supports and bottom bar tacked in place. Working out now how the intercooler is going to be located.

User-C3

Made some progress lately. Pretty much wraped up the radiator/ intercooler mount. I'm very pleased with it, just need to paint the unpolished rods and mount plates.











got all the hotside piping heat wrapped. Everything is now connected and waiting for some finalized minor things to fire it up and hear the turbo. Cant wait...
I also changed up the brake booster which you can see in this photo. I couldnt run the stock booster because it was hitting the manifold after I flipped it to go up and forward. I picked up a 7" dual diaphragm chrome unit, cleaned up and painted my master and got it all bolted up. Fits great, and looks even better, I will be interested to see how it feels once up and running.

riggs 74

Wow that is looking very impressive, I kind of wish I went that route with my LSX build, I guess I could start over and go this route. ???

Your work is fantastic along with your skills, keep up the good work. I'm looking forward to your progress reports.


Riggs

Mod75

Nice fab skills, great project.

Also wish you where my neighbor, my welding skills are not very good.

User-C3

Thanks for the compliments. Its never too late. Thats the great thing about this stuff, it can always be upgraded, and if you do it smart, not brake the bank either.

Thanks..... I do tend to do a bit of welding for people, always willing to help out. I need to start charging for the gas use though. Gets expensive

groovyjay

Nice job on the radiator support! I fabricated one too and can appreciate the work it takes.

Chappie

Very cool build. I agree with the awesome fabrication skills. I like the exhaust exiting through the vents. It reminds me of Bill Mitchell's Stingray Racer.


Chappie

battery1882

very interesting, I was thinking about building a c3 for drifting. How is the car compared to any other cars you've drifted?

User-C3

Thanks, The jig I made was the way to go. I cant imagine trying to fabricate it on the car. It helped a lot being able to work it on the bench.

I appreciate it, thanks. Yea that car is very cool

I know I have seen a thread about if a c3 would make a good drift car. Nobody had anything real good to say about it, but then again it was mostly purists who couldnt imagine anyone using a car like this to actually drive, and have some real fun with. I will say this, with the full VBP suspension setup it helps a ton. The car is super stiff, the engine is behind the front wheels and suprisingly there is some decent steering angle. I have a rack and pinion I will be installing eventually, and I would like to figure out a way to get more steering angle out of the car. The only problem is it becomes a frame issue, and needing to modify or notch the frame. I suppose the other option would be extending the A-arms and adding flares to allow for more clearance. I will get to it but it will be low on the priorities.
I say go for it, I have seen older muscle cars setup for drifting, and to be honest its just pure bad ***. The corvette isnt too terribly heavy either. people are drifting modern GTO's and those things weigh a ton.

User-C3

Previously I was using the A/C delete panel but it didnt allow enough room for the turbo so I cut a new sheet metal panel out.


Painted the engine bay side with high temp paint, and the interior side with bed liner.


I then covered the engine bay side with some aluminum tape to act as a bit of a heat diflector


I am pleased with the outcome, looks pretty clean