What next? HPT 2.3 engine mod ideas needed

[daltar08]

I have a volvo 850 turbo (1996 HPT 2.3) my mods are as follows.

IPD Short ram w/ K&N
Samco intercooler piping
IPD turboback exhaust
Ard Green @ 17psi
Silicon IAC outlet hose

Car is very fun handles well enough for me currently, pretty darn quick. My question is: what, if anything, do i do next for the engine performance aspect of my Volvo. I was thinking MBC but I hear those are dangerous. any suggestions are welcomed. Thank you.

[matthew1]

I have an MBC, but no chip. Seventeen psi is seventeen psi whether it's attained via tune or MBC. Assuming other paramaters are the same. Which they probably aren't, because MBC is just a brute mechanical trick and doesn't remap fuel/air beyond stock maps, for instance. I get fuel cutoff at 17-18 psi.

• Boost guage
• Brakes, brake lines, 302mm caliper and rotor, more big brakes, yet more big brakes
• Tires
• Springs
• Struts
• Sway bars
• Big turbo kit

That's a general order of additional things I'd do.

[matthew1]

My reading comprehension failed me again. Didn't see you need suggestions on just engine enhancements until I re-read your post.

[daltar08]

Regardless of what i said originally your response was incredibly helpful and well put. What's the story with the "turbo kit" and the picture of what i assume are turbo kit-esque parts.

Thank you

[matthew1]

Oh, injectors, before anything else. If the system can't get fuel in to keep up with all the other variables, the engine will be operating "lean", and that's very dangerous. Lean means not enough fuel, thus a lean mix, thus high temperatures.

Gasoline injection cools the engine. When you have a low fuel:air ratio, cylinder temps can skyrocket, and rods or pistons will fail. Rich means your front O2 sensor will die in a few hundred or few thousand miles, and your mpg will suffer. If you have to pick, pick rich.

The Monster Turbo Kit I mentioned above is a product of RZ Design, run by guest Fast Friday author Rye Z. It's not cheap, but the components look to be excellent. He's worked quite a bit recently with Lucky, owner of ARD and creator of your Green tune.

[daltar08]

Ok, so based on my mods list and the fact that i just placed an order for a boost gauge (now able to monitor pressures), what's the best (cost effective) turbo i can upgrade from the stock 96 850 turbo without having to change much of anything else in the engine bay and what kind of gains in performance should i theoretically expect with such a change.

For instance what kind of gains will the 18t give me over the stock 15g

[matthew1]

Is everything Stage 0 or close?
Ignition good?
Spark plugs good?

Note: I'm not on RZ Design or Lucky's payroll . I don't have any deals with either of them to promote their products. I've never gotten any products from them, paid or free, though I might get an ARD tune one day.

Consider my recommendation of the "Monster Turbo Kit" (my phrase) to be a generic recommendation, I'm not specifically advocating for that kit. Maybe there are better kits out there, who knows. I just know Lucky and Rye through the Volvo community and I respect them.

Regarding 15G vs. 18T vs. 19T it's a slippery slope due to their nature. You don't want to do all the homework/buying/installing just for a one-increment upgrade. You want to get more if you're going to all the trouble. When I get to this stage, I'm going 19T.

Keep in mind you'll want to send your ECU back to Lucky to get updated for the larger turbo.

[matthew1]

You don't need larger injectors, I ran my T3/T4E on stock injectors with a careful eye on the wide band, and it was fine at 1 bar.

Orange?

I think the OP has left the building, but it's a good thread. Thanks for your thoughts on 18/19Ts, 850wagont5.