2.5 diesel custom manifold and turbo ?

[grandpa_spec]

Thinking about making a custom manifold and putting a different turbo on, is it possible to get it tuned once this.done ?

[Adrian D]

Do you have the drive-by-wire injection pump?

If you want more power look around for people who reflash VW TDI's, as they have the same style pump. A guy here with a 98 XJ is having his ECU reflashed by a local VW tuner.

If you don't want more power I see no sense in doing a custom manifold and a bigger turbo. With a larger manifold and a turbo sized similar or bigger than stock I expect a reduction in turbo spool (small manifold tubes = quicker spooling turbo).

The stock manifold is actually pretty nicely cast, with no rough edges and ridges. At least pre-updates are like this.

[glend]

Isn't that engine the old VM push rod design? It might be easier to put in a second hand VM 2.8 from a wrecked KJ and then get the ECU flash from GDE. They have turbo upgrades for that engine as well.

[layback40]

You had a box that improved performance.
The VM runs over 20 psi boost as it is. If you over do it, all you will do is blow heads.
There is not much room for squeezing more out of it.
Maybe you could adapt a bigger motor. Maybe a CRD or a V6.

[murray]

http://www.ausjeepoffroad.com/forum/...ight=dump+pipe
there were pics thereonce

[murray]

http://www.ausjeepoffroad.com/forum/...1&d=1252973340

[Adrian D]

Originally Posted by layback40

You had a box that improved performance.
The VM runs over 20 psi boost as it is. If you over do it, all you will do is blow heads.
There is not much room for squeezing more out of it.
Maybe you could adapt a bigger motor. Maybe a CRD or a V6.

Hold on, it runs 14-15 PSI bone stock, at least 3 different cars have shown that. Mudmonster also had a report on the stock boost. The power box won't affect boost since it's regulated by the wastegate.

I have pics of both pre and post update down pipes on my home PC, I will post them up. Big difference between pre and post update.

Peugeot 1.9's are running the same power per displacement as the VM (same compression ratio IIRC, still an IDI diesel) and there are some that push over 180Hp tuned. I'm confident that more can be squeezed out of the VM safely if care is taken to improve the intake, exhaust and ditch the silly turbo in favor of a VNT. The block is very strong, the heads need attention.

Just as testament to how bad the exhaust system is, after I removed the muffler the temperature needle stopped creeping up on long inclines in the summer. Plenty of places to improve IMO