'98 s70 t5 low end torque

Post by **fields 100** » 15 Jun 2011, 19:56

What is the least invasive way to improve low end torque? The turbocharger seems pretty impotent below 2500 RPM. Do oversized downpipe and exaust help the turbine pick up spinning speed faster? Thanks.

Post by **JRL** » 16 Jun 2011, 05:41

Everything helps but if it's an automatic (4 speed) 1st gear is pretty dumbed down
Try shortening your wastegate rod a turn or so, that allows the boost to come on a bit earlier (also allows FULL boost, as much as the ECU tune will allow) and the car DOES feel much better
98s are more easily modded then 99s

I had a 96 850R that positively was a screamer off the line. I could brake torque it and all I would get was tires smoke!
It just had the right combination of tune, light weight etc.

Post by **fields 100** » 16 Jun 2011, 13:11

@ JRL: thanks for advise, what is your take on 2012 S60 T5 , are they better on the low end torque ?

Post by **JRL** » 16 Jun 2011, 13:39

Uh..... yeah!

Post by **fields 100** » 16 Jun 2011, 20:22

JRL wrote:Everything helps but if it's an automatic (4 speed) 1st gear is pretty dumbed down
Try shortening your wastegate rod a turn or so, that allows the boost to come on a bit earlier (also allows FULL boost, as much as the ECU tune will allow) and the car DOES feel much better
98s are more easily modded then 99s

I had a 96 850R that positively was a screamer off the line. I could brake torque it and all I would get was tires smoke!
It just had the right combination of tune, light weight etc.

Thanks for the reply, Jim, have few more questions -How badly this mod will effect the gas milage, must I use a Premium fuel only and will I have the "pleasure" of SEL shining on my face? Also, from the other post, I understand you do not think that using the pressure gauge while adjusting the WG rod is nesessary.

Post by **JRL** » 17 Jun 2011, 07:13

Well, admittedly it does not give you better mileage!
and if you have a lead foot, it probably hurts a bit.
I ahve never used a boost gauge and I have adjusted at least 6 of these on different cars.
If a car is slower than normal I think a gauge should be used to make sure you do not get over enthusiastic, thinking that more turns will help (that does not).
After doing several of these both 4.4 motronics and ME-7 cars I have a pretty good feel about it and in one of my 2000VRs (a few years a go) I actually put it back.
It got too much boost too quickly and this particular car did not like it and drove oddly off the line.
It's just a feel you need to have and admittedly you can turn it much more on a 4.4 (98 and earlier) than an ME-7
I was in a car with it turned 4 turns!
The thing was so touchy off the line we had to turn it back to 2 turns.
Every car is different for all the obviouls reasons you just need to play with it which is whay I always say, never turn it more than one turn at a time.
Go in small increments, you will know (well you should know) what feels right or what doesn't