So after having had a bit of time to do some mileage with the new Gturbo i can offer some feedback.
Car and spec previously
Landcruiser 75 series
1998 1HZ, 120xxxkm when fitted to car (along with turbo), has done about 60xxx km since then.
Turbo from petrol 7MG-TE motor (CT-26)
VDO EGT guage with sensor pre-turbo in the manifold
Aftermarket VDO guage for the water temps
Fuel screw wound out to the point where i had max EGT's 570 degrees on WOT and/or high load conditions
35" tyres on diffs with 4.56 gears to bring it back to standard
Boost controller/bleed valve
PWR water to air intercooler
Driving and performance characteristics of car previously
-Max boost 15psi at WOT. Boost seemed to be fairly linear with throttle position on the cruise and during accelleration. I.E. full 15 psi was usually only achieved at high rpms or at 100kmh. 570degrees on the exhaust during high load or lugging conditions.
-15.5l/km regardless of laden or unladen, city or highway.
-Engine temps would climb with sustained high loads. 400 degrees EGT seemed to be the tipping point where the engine makes more heat than the cooling system had capacity to lose.
Fitment
As the Gturbo is based on the CT26, fitment was VERY simple. I was able to directly swap the turbo unit and use all original plumbing except for the turbo cold side intake which was about 10mm diameter larger than previous. I touched no settings on the fuel pump so any consequent testing is at the same fuelling level as before. I removed the boost controller and ran Graeme's supplied wastegate. I fitted the turbo, tested for leaks and cranked over the engine with the fuel solenoid shut down to bring up oil pressure in the bearings. After that i started the engine and warmed it up for a test run.
Driving characteristics after fitment
Holy shit!
The boost characteristics of this compared to the old one are chalk and cheese. Boost starts climing way lower (think 1200 rpm) and climbs a LOT faster to max boost before the wastegate kicks in. Where before the boost climb rate would taper off as redline approached, this one has an almost vertical boost climb rate before snapping off level at 19.5lb boost. It's VERY obvious that the turbo is nowhere near it's efficiency limit as it's boosting hard and it's the wastegate that is limiting further pressure. I think it's capable of way more than it's currently at.
The seat of the pants feel is a lot different too. I have never babied this engine, and very regularly take it to redline (it LOVES it!
). Where before a standing start had a linear (albeit short) first gear accelleration, now i don't even have time to look at the boost guage to tell you where it's boosting from. If you boot it from standstill you literally have to change gears straight away as it's at redline before you know it.
Second gear it's still pulling harder but more reasonable.
Third and fourth feel similar to before but there's obviously still more boost.
At 100km/h on the flat with no wind it used to cruise at about 3-5psi (just holding 100, not accellerating or coasting). Now at 100 it's holding about 10psi.
My cooling issues havn't changed but i feel it's a lot more to do with the nature of the 75 series cooling system and not the internal characteristics of a boosted 1HZ
EGT's are about 40 degrees lower across the board.
In summary -
Pros - This is a MUCH more responsive than the stock CT26 with boost available lower, and seemingly not pushing the efficiency envelope as much as stock does
Cons - More expensive unit to acquire than stock for obvious reasons, so it lends itself to a new turbo fitment since people with an existing turbo may not personally be able to justify the upgrade (till they drive it at least)
As a side note for those with a 1HZ-T in a 75 series........
There's not a lot of room for cooling in these cars. Apart from just having ALL components of the cooling system in top notch there's a few extras to be considered.
I will be modifying the viscous fan clutch to lock up at a lower temperature. And i will also be fitting an external oil cooler for the engine oil to assist with removing heat from within the block. Since even 1HZ's have oil squirters that cool the piston crowns cooler oil will help with piston longevity as well as general cooling.
Since i have recently decided i need to keep the truck for towing, i MAY run a secondary radiator behind the headboard of the tray.