turbo'd 3800 thoughts.

What are you all figuring into that price for the turbo?

The z7 stattma kit and install from Zzp. Codith, I really want your advisory. Considering how far you've taken your riv... Do you ever wish you would've went straight to turbo or are you happy with the cam and Supercharger?

charlieRobinson wrote:

The z7 stattma kit and install from Zzp. Codith, I really want your advisory. Considering how far you've taken your riv... Do you ever wish you would've went straight to turbo or are you happy with the cam and Supercharger?

I could talk forever about this.. don't have a ton of personal experience with a turbo 3800 though mind you
I'm very happy with the blower build. I really like the transparency of it (positive displacement blower really just makes it seem like a much larger engine and that's it - no 'here comes the boost - hold on to your ass' sensation) and I'm probably in the minority in power enthusiasts. Also much more predictable and manageable thus easier to perform in IMO. Turbo kinda has an agenda of it's own and unless you put a lot into trying to control it like Heavykevy is running into, it can be very cumbersome to try to get launches right and so fourth. You can't really just back off the throttle a bit and control some wheel spin because the turbo doesn't really care about that small difference in throttle angle. I also like having a limit whereas with a turbo you can go anywhere with it if you put enough into it and that can be a really dangerous thing.
I guess you're already figuring a built trans right off the bat and with a turbo it's a must. Turbo torque will obliterate an IS/chain with out even trying. I got away with a lot for a long time with the m90. Aside from that, you are going to have to do some real custom kinda stuff or pay zzp to to get an IC in there for the turbo which is going add to cost for sure. Skipping the IC (turbo) would be retarded (excuse my derogate language) so don't cut that corner. Don't ask me why I think this but I wanna say the turbo downpipe zzp has in their kits is not perfectly compatible with a riv so that could be a fab thing too. If zzp is doing it, I expect the tune should be good and they will cover all the bases to make it work. You still have to do more to make it perform in a practical sense - managing boost for launches, getting a hotter spark for high psi to avoid breaking up at the top, etc. Basically, going turbo is going to be very involved and if it's your only car like me, I don't think I'd recommend it.

That's all I needed to hear/read. Thank you, Codith!

Then the internet river brings me this

Turbo has the potential to make a lot more power. Have you built your new transmission yet? Do that first.

I know a few people who have turbo'd 3800s. You can easily out-flow the MAF and out-boost a standard MAP sensor, and then tuning becomes a real PITA.

hey everyone, the local grand prix forum (oqcgp been a member for a while) classifieds is something I look at every other day just incase anything pops up, anyways long story short there is a guy de-modding his 04 grand prix that has a pt61 intercooled setup with a downpipe, 42.5 injectors, cartuning turbo manifolds, lt1 maf, basically everything that i would need save for some lines and the blower blockoff plate and other odds an ends. but has anyone ever turbod one of these is there space? or is this a pipe dream.

JR3800:
If the price is right, and you want to do it, I'd say go for it.  There is nothing inherently different about the Riv that I can think of to make it not work.  I think things are less cramped under hood than a grand prix.   As far as cost/power, its hard to beat turbo.  Lots of us here have spent way more than a turbo setup would have been to make less. Plus a turbo is a little more forgiving on the transmission.  Make a turbo riv! (Also when its done I need to see it! I live close enough! )

I'd love to twin charge a Riv eventually. Just think of the noise it would make....  

Abaddon wrote:

I'd love to twin charge a Riv eventually. Just think of the noise it would make....  

Especially if you did it with the blow off valve set to recirculate. Get that "whootototoo" noise. Just imagine how that would sound if you still ran the supercharger instead of just getting a block off plate. It would be epic.

There was a twin charged W-body awhile back... Apparently it was all sorts of balls to tune

Karma wrote:

JR3800:
If the price is right, and you want to do it, I'd say go for it.  There is nothing inherently different about the Riv that I can think of to make it not work.  I think things are less cramped under hood than a grand prix.   As far as cost/power, its hard to beat turbo.  Lots of us here have spent way more than a turbo setup would have been to make less. Plus a turbo is a little more forgiving on the transmission.  Make a turbo riv! (Also when its done I need to see it! I live close enough! )

X2 - go for it! There is plenty of room.