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tt 2.9l idea


necessaryevil

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 5, 2010
Messages
172
City
salem,or.
Vehicle Year
1987
Transmission
Manual
ive been bouncing a few ideas around for the 2.9l and my gf brought up the idea of tt t3s, the only problem i could foresee is the engine management. other then internal engine what does everyone think of this?
 
just do a 302 or 4.0 swap it would be much easy and more reliable in my opinion

but the cool factor is there with the tt
 
i was really thinking about the 4.0 swap then she tossed in the tt idea. if i build up a very healthy motor and a set of t3s set to about 15-18lbs it would be a real screamer in the upper rpm range, and since i spend a lot of time in sand and snow it would almost perfect. i am just stumped on how to tune the ecm.
 
prolly have to send of the ecm with you specs and get a custom tune
 
i recall a mass air flow set up for the later 2.9s...i think 92? if you swapped over to that set up you may not have to worry about a custom tune set up
 
Good luck finding someone.

You're either looking at a custom engine management system, like a megasquirt, or trying the MAF PCM. JP3/BBR has claimed that the MAF setup worked fine for his setup. But that's a lot of boost. Best bet is to aim low and slowly make your way up - a goal for that amount of boost out of the box on a custom setup like that, is just asking for failure.
 
Good luck finding someone.

You're either looking at a custom engine management system, like a megasquirt, or trying the MAF PCM. JP3/BBR has claimed that the MAF setup worked fine for his setup. But that's a lot of boost. Best bet is to aim low and slowly make your way up - a goal for that amount of boost out of the box on a custom setup like that, is just asking for failure.

Especially on a 2.9. With the 2.9's head problems I'd be wary of a single turbo blowing 10 PSI, I would def avoid twins, especially at 15 to 18 lbs.
 
i recall a mass air flow set up for the later 2.9s...i think 92? if you swapped over to that set up you may not have to worry about a custom tune set up

in the tech library there is a well put together conversion write up. thought bout it for mine when i was contemplating a turbo or twin turbo setup.

ended up finding a 4.0, if i later choose too, i'll turbo that!
 
a 2.9 has a dizzy so changing the timing won't be an issue. and what about a manual fpr? between those two things i bet you'd be fine. as of right now i don't recall as to whether or not the 2.9's have a MAP sensor......i don't think so though. a map sensor would help even more

why twins? its not like a 2.9 needs 2. i'd bet if you did a single you'd spool it better and still get the 18psi you want. psi is relative to engine air demand so 18psi on a 2.9 would be like 9 psi on a 351

i can't tell you how many times i considered putting a 4-71 on all the broncos i've had over the years..........so i feel you
 
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I would probably skip the 2.9 and just go for a 4.0l and get the bump in displacement and better heads. Also bolts in to the RBV without any fabrication. A single turbo sized for your application and a stand alone management system would be perfect.

Don't mickey mouse a turbo system together. Do it right the first time and you'll save yourself untold numbers of headaches.
 
bump in displacement and a stand alone management system would be perfect.

isn't that always the case?

putting a single turbo onto the 2.9 would likely be as much work as the simple 4.0 swap. maybe a touch more but would net gobs more hp. the cost of the turbo would be
1, the turbo unit
2, the manual fuel pressure regulator
3, manual boost controller
4, blow off valve
5, various small "odds-n-ends"
6, duct work. in the past for the intake ducting i have had exhaust shops bend the pieces i need out of 3" exhaust, and bought 3" 100psi hose from "evco house of hose" for $12/foot.
7, modification to your exhaust. usually pretty minimal
8, oil feed/return lines i usually use a "T" in the sending unit threads. and just dump it back into any number of places in the motor

i usually find a stock turbo'd vehicle at the junkyard and get most of the hard parts from it
 
2.9 on boost =
BigExplosion.gif
 
isn't that always the case?

putting a single turbo onto the 2.9 would likely be as much work as the simple 4.0 swap. maybe a touch more but would net gobs more hp. the cost of the turbo would be
1, the turbo unit
2, the manual fuel pressure regulator
3, manual boost controller
4, blow off valve
5, various small "odds-n-ends"
6, duct work. in the past for the intake ducting i have had exhaust shops bend the pieces i need out of 3" exhaust, and bought 3" 100psi hose from "evco house of hose" for $12/foot.
7, modification to your exhaust. usually pretty minimal
8, oil feed/return lines i usually use a "T" in the sending unit threads. and just dump it back into any number of places in the motor

i usually find a stock turbo'd vehicle at the junkyard and get most of the hard parts from it

Why yes it is always the case. However, the 4.0 motors are not expensive and are stronger engines to begin with. At the very least, they have better heads and eliminated some (but not all) of the oiling problems of the 2.9.
You wouldn't just go with the 4.0 for its extra 1.1l of displacement. You'd g with it to save yourself trouble in the future by eliminating the weaknesses of the 2.9.

You could then turbo your new 4.0 powerplant and have a more powerful and reliable system than the 2.9 would provide.
 
You could then turbo your new 4.0 powerplant and have a more powerful and reliable system than the 2.9 would provide.

agreed. and you could put a turbo on any number of engines that would be stronger still........where does it end?
i would follow you. that is the whole reason my build snowballed into the monstrosity it is, because i always upgraded where possible. he's different from us he just wants to hop up his 2.9. and at that magic number of boost (where it makes lots of power, but still is reliable) it would be as good or better than a stock 4.0l
 
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