Turbo Charger For Smart

[TeeBone]

Does anybody know where to buy the Turbo Charger?? I was told it could be purchased for about $325.00?? The turbo will increase the horsepower up to 91 hp??

[Evilution]

You can't just fit a turbo charger and expect it to work!
You need the wastegate actuator to work so you need a boost control and a waste control solenoid plus additional pipe work.
You'll need the intercooler or the extra heat will knock off the performance.
You'll need a suitable remap and maybe even swap the pressure sensor over.
You will also need to consider lowering the compression ratio.

[EricV]

TeeBone - Sorry, but not a good idea for the 451. The high compression engine would require so much timing retardation to avoid knock, (or the ECU would do it due to knock), that power results would be minimal and not worth the cost. As Evilution mentioned, it's not just a turbo. Plus, we don't know if the stock ECU on a 451 will understand boost to begin with. If not, you're looking at a piggyback ECU in addition to the stock one, and some fun wiring. Then there are things like a suitable MAP sensor and blow off valve, (ok, optional with a low boost system). Some form of air/fuel ratio meter would be a good idea too.

FWIW, any decent turbo system will produce a 50% power gain pretty easily. 20 Hp gain? That's only a couple of PSI of boost.

Maybe we'll get lucky and see a turbo diesel in '09? MhDiesel is what I really want...

[Smartcarracer]

Eric is 100% correct.

I would like to see a topic on the effects of ceramic wheel bearings on the smart and the improved fuel mileage.

[EricV]

Originally Posted by Smartcarracer

Eric is 100% correct.

I would like to see a topic on the effects of ceramic wheel bearings on the smart and the improved fuel mileage.

Interesting idea. From what I've seen with ceramic bearings on turbos, I think more gains in MPG would result from high pressure/low rolling resistance tires than from ceramic wheel bearings....but dam, the bearings would be something I'd try. :-P Nothing says fun like tearing apart a brand new car.

[smartune]

Originally Posted by EricV

Interesting idea. From what I've seen with ceramic bearings on turbos, I think more gains in MPG would result from high pressure/low rolling resistance tires than from ceramic wheel bearings....but dam, the bearings would be something I'd try. :-P Nothing says fun like tearing apart a brand new car.

If you can stomach the cost....

Ceramic wheels bearing kits for bikes come in at almost $500, you'd see more gain other places.

[EricV]

Originally Posted by smartune

If you can stomach the cost....

Ceramic wheels bearing kits for bikes come in at almost $500, you'd see more gain other places.

Good point. I had to go see how much the costs were, as I didn't know when I posted earlier.

While ceramic bearings are great in some applications, they aren't quite ready for -general use- in things like wheel bearings, (IMHO). In part because most of them lack dust seals and the average car user isn't going to tear down and clean/re-grease them as often as needed in the real world. There are benefits, but for most of use they are minimal in relation to the other things we can more easily, (and cheaply!), change.

Any mod for performance, be it for increased mileage or increased performance has to be weighed by cost for me. $$/mpg or $$/Hp. If it's not cost effective, (compared to other potential mods that offer similar gains), or won't actually pay for itself in fuel savings you have to ask yourself if you're just going for 'bling'. Not to say that's always a bad thing. :-P