Dinan turbo installation

[Devinder]

I'm helping Raj install a Dinan turbo on his 535i. It looks like the biggest issue is going to be fitting a down pipe with the limited clearance to the firewall. Any ideas on how to make a down pipe? I have a full shop so fabrication is not an issue. The space is so small that I cant even fit a 2.5" pipe in the there, much less an elbow (or even part of an elbow). Hopefully someone has pictures of a Dinan downpipe made for an E28.

Some pictures of our mock-up this weekend:

[FastFiver]

Buy a manifold from Todd?

Ouch... looks like you need to make a matching flange and then weld a pipe at a 60deg angle down to bypass the body...


or you could take a hammer to the body, too...

[Boru]

You need to "cheat" a tight radius 2.5" elbow, meaning, cut the elbow at a diagonal.

[turbodan]

I'd "Dinan" the firewall in a little bit, like they did to Z8 to fit thier headers. No biggie.

[Devinder]

I agree, a TCD manifold would be better, but living in California has it's costs.

I've got a matching flange in 1/4" steel. The problem is that I can't fit a 2.5" pipe in there at any angle -- Doesn't matter how I cut it. The clearance from the lower part of the turbo outlet to the firewall is 2.25". I think I need to take the insulation off and see how much more room I can get in there. I like the idea about denting it too.

Sweeney,

The tightest 2.5" elbow I can find is one with a 2.5" radius at McMaster Carr. It's schedule 40 so it's pretty thick and it's in pipe size so not quite 2.5". Is that the one you're thinking of? The smallest radius I can find in exhaust tubing is 4". Do you have a source you like for weld els?

Thanks

Devinder

[T_C_D]

http://www.mye28.com/viewtopic.php?t=35 ... highlight=

I have a brand new 3" downpipe for sale for the e28 chassis.

Todd

[Boru]

I agree, a TCD manifold would be better, but living in California has it's costs.

I've got a matching flange in 1/4" steel. The problem is that I can't fit a 2.5" pipe in there at any angle -- Doesn't matter how I cut it. The clearance from the lower part of the turbo outlet to the firewall is 2.25". I think I need to take the insulation off and see how much more room I can get in there. I like the idea about denting it too.

Sweeney,

The tightest 2.5" elbow I can find is one with a 2.5" radius at McMaster Carr. It's schedule 40 so it's pretty thick and it's in pipe size so not quite 2.5". Is that the one you're thinking of? The smallest radius I can find in exhaust tubing is 4". Do you have a source you like for weld els?

Thanks

Devinder

Weld els are far to thick. I'd use a 2.5"clr 2.5" mandrel bend unless you snag that down pipe from Todd.
You could also machine "Dinan" into a TCD manifold for the CARB Nazis

[canyoncarver]

since it belongs to raj " i moved to monterey and forgot my socal friends" car..........
id say why not just notch the floor pan ? less issues than reducing downpipe diameter, and the only one who would gripe is the passenger....

[Devinder]

passenger? someone's been in his car?

Jim, it's worse than that. Where is lives now, there is no internet, no women, ... and he just put a light bar and gun rack on his truck. He's a changed man.

Todd, from that picture it doesn't look like it will fit but maybe I'm wrong. The CAD drawing below is made from a template that I cut when we mocked up the turbo (1/2 scale when printed on 8.5x11 paper). The blue is the turbo outlet and the red is the firewall. Ignore my attempts to fit various bends in there. If that pipe will fit and you're willing to sell it, I think Raj should buy it. He needs to buy other turbo stuff from you anyway.

http://www.devinder.com/misc/Dinan_turb ... ayout1.pdf

I'm going to call him now and tell him to drive into town, get on the internets, and check this post.

Thanks guys,

Devinder

[Raj]

have a brand new 3" downpipe for sale for the e28 chassis.

Todd, I need to give you a call. Can I reach you tomorrow (Tuesday) at the 614 number listed on the website?

since it belongs to raj " i moved to monterey and forgot my socal friends" car..........
id say why not just notch the floor pan ? less issues than reducing downpipe diameter, and the only one who would gripe is the passenger....

lol, why not? I might not have kept in contact with the SoCal guys, but I have left you at least two messages at Autobahn in the last few months, so you can't say I haven't tried. Are you (and any of the other old skool SoCal guys) coming up for the Historic Races this year?

Jim, it's worse than that. Where is lives now, there is no internet, no women, ... and he just put a light bar and gun rack on his truck. He's a changed man.

lol, allow me to make some minor corrections to that statement. There are plenty of women where I live in Monterey, but they are mostly just moo-cows where I work (Central Valley). Also, the gun rack & light bar aren't installed yet, but in due time...

[T_C_D]

Todd, I need to give you a call. Can I reach you tomorrow (Tuesday) at the 614 number listed on the website?

614-734-1422

Summer hours 0630-1530 EST

[russc]

I believe also that Dinan used a large hammer on the firewall on my car for more room.

RussC

[turbodan]

I believe also that Dinan used a large hammer on the firewall on my car for more room.

RussC

That sounds better to me than choking the turbine with a cheated, sharply bent downpipe. At least in a case where its going to be one or the other.

[Jeremy]

Since Dinan went through all the trouble of getting their own manifold cast, you'd have thought they'd design one that . . . y'know . . . fit the application?

Why'd they place the turbo so far back in the engine compartment, anybody know? I seem to remember seeing an answer to this somewhere, but can't recall what it was. Since they did design this manifold, there's got to be some kind of reasoning. Was the manifold originally designed around a different chassis perhaps?

Jeremy

[wkohler]

Since Dinan went through all the trouble of getting their own manifold cast, you'd have thought they'd design one that . . . y'know . . . fit the application?

Why'd they place the turbo so far back in the engine compartment, anybody know? I seem to remember seeing an answer to this somewhere, but can't recall what it was. Since they did design this manifold, there's got to be some kind of reasoning. Was the manifold originally designed around a different chassis perhaps?

Jeremy

Maybe the e24? Everything seems bigger on those cars.

[Boru]

Maybe the e24? Everything seems bigger on those cars.

Nope, same issues in the E24.

[wkohler]

Maybe the e24? Everything seems bigger on those cars.

Nope, same issues in the E24.

Hmmm. Well, at least I learned something.

[misha]

you mean raj is finnaly going to have the turbo kit installed. I remember hearing about his car and potential setup before i even owned my car, from ryan. I figured after he blew his motor that the turbo stuff was going to be relatively quick, but i dont know him personaly.

cool stuff though.

misha

[russc]

Nope,
The kit was designed around a '85 E28. I don't know the answer either.

RussC

Maybe the e24? Everything seems bigger on those cars.

Nope, same issues in the E24.

[canyoncarver]

lol, why not? I might not have kept in contact with the SoCal guys, but I have left you at least two messages at Autobahn in the last few months, so you can't say I haven't tried. Are you (and any of the other old skool SoCal guys) coming up for the Historic Races this year?

raj.....autobahn never relayed that youd called. gimme a buzz on my cell (619) 767-8704.
ill be up friday night thru sunday for the historics. got any room available..?