9 replies to this topic

[zrblue]

Hi all,

Ive got a mini city, with no ECU, and ive been looking into doing a turbo convertion using MG Metro T parts. Im just curious as to whether a turbo would still run fine without an ECU?

Cheers

[sidney]

the engine just uses a su carb like all other pre injection mini engines, there is no ecu.

the one you may be thinking of is the one fitted to the metros that diddnt run the engine it limited the boost to make the gearbox last longer, you dont need this in a mini.

also try www.turbominis.co.uk

[Turbo Phil]

Basically, no you don't need an ECU of any kind. The Metro Turbo had a unit to limit the boost below 4,000rpm, but this was it's only function & 99% of folks don't fit it.
Fitting a modern ECU such as megajolt will be useful in setting the advance curve correctly, but is not essential, the dizzy can be retained if wanted.

[MRA]

Also the turbo dizzy is specific to the turbo as it works on pressure advance instead of the normal vacuum advance

Regards Martin

[Sprocket]

That would actualy be pressure retard and vacuum advance

[MRA]

Hi Sprocket,

It does indeed, I feel retarded now

Regards Martin

[m1tch]

Sorry to ask this but which carb is best suited for a turbo? Im guessing a carb turbo is a matter of just bolting the carb onto the inlet of the turbo to get the fueling?

[Turbo Phil]

If you're doing a blow through installation {by far the most common} as per Metro. Then the standard Turbo HIF44 is ideal as it's already sealed. The carb goes in the normal place on the inlet manifold & the turbo is before it, hense the term "blow through" as the carb is under pressure.
The other way, & far less common, is a "suck through" installation. The carb is before the Turbo so the carb operates under normal vacuum conditions & doesn't need to be specially sealed, so a normal non Turbo SU can be used.

Edited by Turbo Phil, 25 July 2009 - 01:00 PM.

[m1tch]

Ah ok, I would have thought that a 'suck though' turbo system would have been easier as you just need to bolt an SU carb to the turbo lol Im guessing a weber carb would work with a turbo?

[Turbo Nick]

in suck through yes you can use a weber. it will still probably be more involved than a std metro setup as there was only one suck through kit available from turbo technics and its rare to find.

plus you're always better off going blow through as you'll be limited to low boost/power on suck through just like all these supercharger conversions at the minute, in the future i guarantee you'd want more boost/power and would have to get rid of the suck through and fit a blow through setup.