A properly sized turbo set to a reasonable level of boost blowing through a large intercooler (just steal one from a diesel, a used stock one should be cheap) should be safe as long as all the supporting mods are done along with it.

 

thank you sid. My truck is a 2005 3valve v-10. I planned on running a remote mount turbo so I should intercooler size should'nt be as critical. Im going to be running a no more than 3lbs of boost while towing.I already know the potent this motor is in n/a form. Now when not towing 5lbs would be my maximum because I want the integrity of the motor to stay in tact for many miles to come, at least thats what I'm hpping.

 

Power is made in a few different ways:

1) Torque (which is directly related to air in the cylinder for combustion, i.e. displacement or boost)

2) RPM (applying that same torque a greater number of times over a given period)

You're going by increasing the torque via boost. This, by definition, means that you will be increasing the cylinder pressures (since pressure applied to the piston is what creates the force). You'll also be seeing an increase in temperatures as a result inside the combustion chamber.

Side effects of this? More heat goes into the exhaust valve, and into the cooling system in general. Spark plug and exhaust valve are the most noted. Hot spots form which can cause detonation, which can burn pistons, valves, etc. Getting hot enough spots will cause pre-ignition, which is far worse, and really destroy your engine. Running your engine very rich can help prevent both of these. I'm sure you know all this, but I'm stating it for review.

You say you want the truck to be reliable under heavy use, yet you also state that you want to increase the amount of power the engine is putting out under those conditions. These two statements contradict eachother in nature. If you take two truly identical engines, and run one at a higher power setting, it won't last as long. Nowhere is this seen more than in aviation, where you can see "derated" engines that last hundreds of hours longer than their standard rating counterparts.

Under towing, you are looking at running the engine at boost for more extended periods of time as you try to accelerate your larger load faster. Even 3 psi boost is still roughly a 20% increase in manifold pressure (atmospheric being around 15 psi). Figuring that 3 psi boost would probably get you somewhere in the 350 hp range (just a guess since I seem to recall the centrifugal blowers advertise about 450 hp from something in the 8-10 psi range), that is a significant increase in power, significant increase in torque, and more importantly a significant increase in cylinder head temperatures and pressures. There is a fundamental relationship between power and longevity. The people who significantly increase the horsepower on their engines without making changes have always suffered reduced longevity as a result. The harder you run the vehicle (and it sounds like you run yours pretty hard), the less time it will take for these things to make themselves known to you.

The V10 is a strong motor, don't get me wrong, but taking a stock engine, bolting a turbocharger to it, even with an appropriate tune, will decrease your reliability. This may be acceptable to you, you might still get another 50-75k out of it before you suffer any significant consequences (which isn't acceptable to me, seeing as I still want to get at least another 100k out of my engine), but if you have it and you use it, it will reduce your reliability.

If you want to do this, the right way would be to pull your engine, get some lower compression forged pistons, and forged rods. While I was at it, I would ceramic coat your piston tops, valves, and combustion chambers. With the engine apart anyway, you could port the heads a bit, which is never bad.

I'm not telling you not to do this - it's your truck and I would love to see the results, especially the dyno numbers and some real world numbers (especially acceleration with the trailer attached), but you asked a question and so I am trying to provide you with an answer. Whether or not you like my answer or choose to follow it is your decision.

 

A turbo V10 sounds like an awesome idea, and it would no doubt make hugh power, but I've had some experiece with a power adder. I had a EFI460 with a supercharger on it. Both the V10 and the 460 are strong, reliable engines, but when you start adding power to an otherwise stock engine, pieces wear out faster. Make sure your transmission is up to the task. Granted,the E4OD transmission I had behind my 460 was doomed from the start, but build up the rest of the truck to handle the extra power from your turboed V10. In the end, my EFI460 had power like a musclecar, but the E4OD lasted like 6 months before it needed a rebuild, the oil pump gave out, and the engine needed the bottom end to be rebuilt. It was fun while it lasted, though. A beefed-up bottom end, and tranny would've been good ideas. Plus, I should've O-ringed the heads. It didn't have any head gasket issues, but I did hear stories about supercharged& turbo engines having such problems. It's your truck, so it's your decision. Good luck with your project. And dyno it and post some horsepower&torque numbers for us when it's completed.

 

Other members here raise very good points about engine reliablitty, and engine output. I for one would recomend rebuilding the bottum end but thats not pratical in tell it's time is due (blown). I would put a bigger trans cooler along with a oil cooler and swap out the old oil pump for a high volume one, then stud your heads with ARP, change your valves to high grade stanless or titanium, while your at it you might as well put new valve springs... and install oil jets shootting towards the bottum of the piston this alone will add a greater life span to your pistons.

That would be my recipie for a "charged" motor
Skoda

 

None of that will be required with the setup he has planned.

 

Man, Sid is the only one reading my post all the way through. I only plan to run 2-3lbs of boost when towing and only 5 when not towing. With a decent size intercooler and a safe tune I think the engine should be fine.

 

What size turbo are you planning on running? When I my 08 I'm planing on doing a 61mm at about 6-8#s.

 

You certainly don't appear to be reading my posts. If you were, you'd note that I was obviously reading yours, and gave you some useful information.

 

Mr. Useful information has spoken and YOU will LISTEN!!!!

 

Why thank you for noticing!

 

We had no problem with the "power" of the stock 05 V10 pulling over 13K of 5th wheel camper all over the country and up some of the steepest grades. It may scream at times but the big block motors are designed to do that. Of course you may do whatever you choose with your motor. But the stock motor will do the job.

 

ok well all i can say is enjoy those hyper pistons,dont detonate and have fun.but coming from a fellow turbo owner to a future one .2-3 psi turns into 5-6..then into higher octane to grab 1-2 more lbs.it doesnt stop.ESPECIALLY when all you need is a boost controller..have you thought about what size turbo?how big you want the hot side?how your going to plumb it?the rear mounts (if thats what you want to run STS) have bad lag issues. i would say if you want a reliable vehicle dont do it. if you want a truck that will suprise people and go damn that v10 has a nice BOV then do it.i ran a TT z06 with 650 rwhp on 8 psi and it was fun and SEMI reliable.would i want to drive it 500 mile round trip no.would i want to drive it to the track YES.your choice

P.S. check out the t76 =)

 

I have personally driven 2 vehicles with an STS system(both tacomas, one stick, other auto) and surprisingly hardly any lag at all! I was considering going this route with a v10 but bought an old beatter stroker instead.(cheaper) But one day I would like to build a twin STS V10! Hopes and dreams are great to have though huh?

 

I have a 1999 Ford F-350 V10 with a kennebell supercharger and water/methanol injection and gearvendors underoverdrive with 4.88 gears i built it to pull it pulls like a mother and when you're not in boost I get 16mpg.