Decision made - The Cruza is booked in for the turbo - Go me go!!!

[muzza01]

I know, it's the age old question, should I turbo the 1HZ.  To cut to the chase I am really happy with my Cruza. I have done this truck since I bought it stock as a rock about 5 years ago. The only thing that,lets me down is the power or lack of especially dragging the CT up a hill.

I ran in to a mate today (AJ off the forum) and he recently bought a wrecked 105 series with a turboed 1HZ in it. He has swapped this engine into his 105 Cruza and he is really happy with the extra power and his fuel consumption has improved, especially towing the CT.

I know it will be a lot cheaper to turbo my 105 than buy a new (2nd hand) turboed 4B especially when I have expensive tastes and like the 200 and 76 series. 

Anyway I would like to ask other swaggers their opinions especially if they have turboed their own 1 HZ.  My Cruza has just under 200k Kms, I don't intend to have the boost too high and I may consider an inter cooler. All advice and opinions gratefully received.

[Steffo1]

I have a '93 1HZ tilley with an after market turbo on it & it eats up & spits out my mates '95 non turbo equivalent. Also have a 3" exhaust.
Steve

[Jakster1]

A Turbo will change the way it drives and you can get some good results going down that path.
But make sure  You Get someone who knows what they're doing to set it up Properly for you otherwise it could end in catastrophic engine failure. Get boost and egt gauges too so you know if something bad is happening inside your engine and give you a chance to fix  the problem before it melts pistons or something.
I personally don't have one but do have mates that do or have.

[Jason B]

I am going to do it Muzza01.

I have a number of similar threads on here with a lot of advice on the same subject.

You will be told by some that they would never do it again etc etc. however they have all moved on to better more powerful vehicles so that's understandable.

My opinion is that if it's done properly and the boost levels are conservative then your chances of running into problems are reduced.

I am going with Denco, turbo, intercooler and exhaust, set up on the dyno at 8-10 lb of boost max. They are not cheap. But then neither is throwing $60k at a second hand 200 series and I prefer the simplicity of the 80.

Good luck with your research and your decision.

Jas.

[Rumpig]

i have put a turbo, intercooler and 3" exhaust on my 1HZ 105 series, the differance between now and stock is chalk and cheese....if you put the turbo on you need to do the bigger exhaust or you're wasting your time, you'll barely notice a differance if you don't.
would i do the same again?....probably not, as i reckon i'd preferred to have chucked a 1HD FTE motor in instead, but nobody was really doing that like they have been the last few years back when i put the turbo set up i have on. I have looked at that option now, but the prices being quoted are rediculous IMHO for a motor with the amount of klms on it they are putting forward as a low klm motor now with the age they are. If i had a stock standard 1HZ now i'd look at trading it on a 76 series instead of adding the turbo, intercooler and exhaust...infact i was actually  looking at doing that not too long back even though i have the goodies added on mine.

[Steffo1]

I have a '93 1HZ tilley with an after market turbo on it & it eats up & spits out my mates '95 non turbo equivalent. Also have a 3" exhaust.
Steve

Forgot to mention the 300,000 coming up in 4,000ks
Steve

[Jason B]

i have put a turbo, intercooler and 3" exhaust on my 1HZ 105 series, the differance between now and stock is chalk and cheese....if you put the turbo on you need to do the bigger exhaust or you're wasting your time, you'll barely notice a differance if you don't.
would i do the same again?....probably not, as i reckon i'd preferred to have chucked a 1HD FTE motor in instead, but nobody was really doing that like they have been the last few years back when i put the turbo set up i have on. I have looked at that option now, but the prices being quoted are rediculous IMHO for a motor with the amount of klms on it they are putting forward as a low klm motor now with the age they are. If i had a stock standard 1HZ now i'd look at trading it on a 76 series instead of adding the turbo, intercooler and exhaust...infact i was actually  looking at doing that not too long back even though i have the goodies added on mine.

You would be happy with the 76 for towing, however off road compared to your 100 you would be bitterly dissapointed. We have one for work and it's hopeless. Did a 10 vehicle 4wd trip today in the blue mountains. A very well sorted 76 (lots of $$$) was the only vehicle to constantly get stuck. Very poor articulation, narrow track and the combo is just hopeless.

76 engine in a 100 on the other hand would equal miles of  !

Jas

[cheif carlos]

I have done it. Turbo, intercooler, 3inch exhaust on a hz105 with 33's, bar work, steel roof rack
It had an air/water intercooler, had that ripped off it started to leak
Exhaust always requires adjusting as it does not have flexible joint
Uses more fuel than factory V8
Broken a gear box, it is only designed for naturally aspirated - ie the hilux gearbox
Would not use a large diesel shop as have found them one faced a holes best most helpful businesses have been small ones

If you want to do it consider upgrading gearbox and putting in the 1hd-fte motor don't waste your money turboing it

the hz105 is the worst fourby to turbo IMHO, upgrade to something new

[dazzler]

I know, it's the age old question, should I turbo the 1HZ. 

Not designed for it.  Just like the 3L 2.8 Tojo.

Some last, some don't.

I reckon there are two options depending on how you approach it.

If you are accepting that you are taking a risk but prepared to take it and the $$ it might cost then go for it.

If you are not accepting of the risk and will be mighty peeved if it goes bang and can't justify the $$ then don't.

I went down this track with my 2.8 4runner and killed it on the hills out of Sydney.  Cooling system was perfect head let go.  You will hear people telling you to intercool so the charge is cooled but then your just making the bang bigger as the air is denser - more bang more heat - more boom




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[DaveR]

Some say not to, I'll say go for it.
My 94 Troopy has just shy of 450,000 on the clock. Turbo was fitted by a Turbo Dynamics agent in central west NSW at about 75,000 k.
There has never been a problem at all, the engine has had no surgery at all, just pump, injectors, cam belts etc etc. I don't have boost or any other gauges, no need.
I serviced the turbo for the sake of it recently and to clean it up as I fitted the oil catch can.
My guess is that those who have had troubles have had the troubles due to lack of maintenance.

[Beachman]

When we decided to buy a 1HZ cruiser I originally wanted to buy one which has already had a turbo fitted. But after some research I started reading stories about turbo’s leading to engine failure.

I put that down to turbo‘s being set up with too much boost, so decided to look for a non-turbo and get it done myself properly at a later date. It then took a couple of months to find a nice cruiser and due to a couple of unexpected house expenses I put off adding a turbo for another 8-12 months.

Once I had the money I then start researching turbo’s for the 1HZ again and I started reading stories of conservative owners who didn’t have the boost up too much and regularly serviced the car ending up with cracked pistons etc. 

I decided to keep the 1HZ standard as didn’t want to enter the turbo minefield. My take is 50% of the 1HZ with turbo’s can handle huge boost and being punished daily, but the other 50% will go boom at some stage. Thing is, no one knows which of the above categories your motor is going to fall into!!  I also believe the 1HZ in the 80 series cruisers handles the turbo better than the 1HZ in the 100 series cruisers. 

If I had the money I would do a conversion to the factory TD motor, but as Rumpig says the cost of this is ridiculous. 

[tikety]

we looked to turbo our old 80 but a lot of mechanics recommended that the cost out ways the value compared to putting the money into a newer rig, hence we bought 100 factory turbo amazing the difference power and fuel economy, let alone comfort. just a different view for thought.

[dazzler]

My guess is that those who have had troubles have had the troubles due to lack of maintenance.

Any evidence to support this theory?

(That's sounds argumentative but not meant to be)


Edit: just realised yours is a troops.  That's an amazing result as they have the worst overheating record of all the cruisers as the air flow is less through engine bay.  Sounds like a good bus!

[DaveR]

Any evidence to support this theory?

(That's sounds argumentative but not meant to be)


Edit: just realised yours is a troops.  That's an amazing result as they have the worst overheating record of all the cruisers as the air flow is less through engine bay.  Sounds like a good bus!

Valid question it is sir, no arguments for me, but, my comment is from the days when I was a mechanic who was either installing the turbos or maintaining the 4wd's. I always without failure found signs  neglect or abuse in engines with aftermarket turbos fitted and a costly failure. The neglect took various forms, sometimes absolute stupidity as well.
However, if it is well cared for, just the way your intended to without the turbo, it will be fine.

My Troopy, yes, high temps under the bonnet for sure, that is why the bull bar sits long way forward and the radiator has been swapped for a bigger type.

[Footy Shorts Shane]

Can you get the old engine off your mate, slap a set of turbo pistons, 1HDT rods and freshen it up a touch, then turbo that one?

Yes, will add to the initial cost. Probably less than the possible ongoing cost though.

Shane.

[muzza01]

Can you get the old engine off your mate, slap a set of turbo pistons, 1HDT rods and freshen it up a touch, then turbo that one?

Yes, will add to the initial cost. Probably less than the possible ongoing cost though.

Shane.

No he is swapping engines and trying to sell the wrecked car to a mob up here that chops wagons into utes.

[komaterpillar]

.  You will hear people telling you to intercool so the charge is cooled but then your just making the bang bigger as the air is denser - more bang more heat - more boom




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Actually mate, intercooling is doing the engine a big favour. Every degree you pull out of the intake charge air drops EGT's  by 2-2.5 degrees so if pre-intercooler temps are 140-150 degrees and post intercooler temps are down to 40-50 you've pulled 100 degrees out of the intake charge and you will see a significant drop of 200-250 degrees in EGT's depending on boost and how much the pump has been wound up. At the end of the day keeping EGT's under control is probably going to be your biggest hurdle and will likely be what will kill most aftermarket turbo diesel setups.

my advice if going down the turbo route would be, get the injectors freshened up - new nozzles and reset cracking pressure, get the biggest intercooler you can physically fit in there, look into a bigger radiator, check the condition of your viscous fan, as stated earlier fit good quality EGT,  boost and water temp gauges, and once the kit is fitted up get the injector pump set up on the dyno by a competent diesel workshop - not some twit who keeps winding the rack screw in till its blowing a bit of soot. this is what will crack pistons and burn out exhaust valves.

my 2 cents worth from building my own years ago and cleaning up the aftermath of a few sub standard setups on other peoples rigs

[komaterpillar]

My guess is that those who have had troubles have had the troubles due to lack of maintenance.

agree 100% with this, shorter service intervals are a must

[Aaron Schubert]

I've got a mate who has just done this, and his EGT's seem to run higher than mine (factory turbo diesel). He has had a few overheating issues because of it but is happy overall

Aaron

[FNQBunyip]

I've got a 1HZ spare block here and have plans to build a turbo engine for my old 75 , just have to stop spending all my coin on other bits ...

will follow your progress Muzza .

cheers   

[muzza01]

I rang Ray Hall turbos today. His reputation is 10/10 up here for turbos. He has been operating out of the same place for 35 years just down the road from where I grew up. As of the beginning of this month, he no longer fits turbos due to age and illness. I can't believe I have left my run too late by a couple of weeks.

His spin on the 1HZ is simple, don't get too greedy on the power and try and get this motor too perform higher than its capabilities. Keep that in mind and I won't have any problems.

Got to go and drink  now, I will discuss more later.

[dazzler]

Actually mate, intercooling is doing the engine a big favour.

Yes of course it does. 

However, the air mix is now denser which means more air which means more bang which means more heat.  The 1hz head does not like heat.

So what I was saying is that saying fitting an intercooler will help with keeping it cool is a misnomer because you are actually getting more power from it.  Yep, the air from the turbo compression will be cool due to the intercooler which helps but then that cooler charged air results in more power and more power = more heat.

My comment was only directed at the 1hz (and the 3L and 5L) not diesels in general. 

[DaveR]

I rang Ray Hall turbos today. His reputation is 10/10 up here for turbos. He has been operating out of the same place for 35 years just down the road from where I grew up.

Was he in Anderson St, half way along on the sth side?

[dazzler]

Valid question it is sir, no arguments for me, but, my comment is from the days when I was a mechanic who was either installing the turbos or maintaining the 4wd's. I always without failure found signs  neglect or abuse in engines with aftermarket turbos fitted and a costly failure. The neglect took various forms, sometimes absolute stupidity as well.
However, if it is well cared for, just the way your intended to without the turbo, it will be fine.

My Troopy, yes, high temps under the bonnet for sure, that is why the bull bar sits long way forward and the radiator has been swapped for a bigger type.

Thanks Dave.  I think why I am on the other side of the camp is when my 3L overheated there was nothing wrong with anything in the cooling system and being a diesel mechanic myself I was on top of the cooling system in particular and was running a thermofan as well.

Interestingly mine only cracked the head to the point that it would only open up when towing or on a hot hot day. 

cheers

[Muckinhell]

the 100 series 1hz has lighter pistons compared to the 80 series apparently so they dont take as well to the extra power a turbo puts through them. my best mate after seeing my DTS set up finally had same set up done to his hungy albeit with reduced psi due to the afor mentioned issues. iv had mine turboed,intercooled and 2.5"' system for about 8 years now no worries , and recently had a tune and it goes better than before now.

if i were to look at it again i would deff go a 1hd-ft or fte conversion as they make the power without the harshness and through a wider range i found after driving a factory turbo hungy.