Convert TD04-13t to vband mount
 

Has any one tried to convert a regular flanged turbo to a v-band setup? It looks like it should be doable for the Subaru TD04-13t.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1333225553

Why? The 3 bolt Subaru flange is not prettiest or easiest to make a manifold for and reading on this forum people sing the praises of v-band set ups.

I think if I put in a lathe it will be a straight forward job to cut a v-band groove instead of the triangle flange.

(Even if it goes horribly wrong it cost only 30$ http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2510201057...84.m1423.l2649)

Any thoughts welcomed.

Do you have a 4 jaw chuck in your lathe?

I'd be more inclined to put the turbine housing in a vice and interpolate a circle with a mill. That's just me though. A CNC mill is probably harder to get a hold of than a lathe in Slovakia

ATP turbo does it to housings for T25's and sells them. So yes, it's possible. Now as for doing it on a lathe, make sure you're protected from when it flys off due to being extremely unstable while spinning. I would suggest trying to find a mill instead.

Thanks for the advice/concern but I plan on putting the hot side only in the lathe, not the whole turbo! The exhaust housing is easily and securely clamped in a 4 jaw chuck as it has 2 parallel face flanges and good clamp points on the other 2 sides. A few strips of copper, moderate rpm, and it should be OK. It weighs about 1.5 kg and when set up correctly I would be v.surprised if it budges.

I may use a mill to lop off some of the excess material first but I think finishing the job in a lathe makes the most sense due to my available tooling. (It is much easier to cut custom v-band profiles using a knife tool in a lathe than to go looking for custom end mills.)

Yeah, I guess I was just thinking about a weld prep on the mill for a v-band flange, but if you're machining the flange right into it, I'd want a lathe too. I'd probably hack saw off the flange, face it, and go from there. Although facing the flange off instead would give you that little extra bit of material you might need.

delete

sturovo, did you pull this off? I was looking at a cheap MSM manifold and turbo I have had laying around and was wondering if I could stick it on a rotary table on the mill, properly index it and cut v-band flanges on the manifold and hotside.

The mill my brother got here recently would be just big enough to fit a miata sized manifold. I would be scared to spin something as big as the manifold on a lathe. My lathe only has a 12" swing so I would be pushing it.

I might start by just making a few V-band flanges for the exhaust piping. If I can make the proper flanges, it should be possible to do the manifold as long as I can get it mounted on a rotary table properly. CNC would make it much easier, but you still need to mount the odd shape of the manifold to the table. Too bad the turbo flange is not perpendicular or parallel to the head like some manifolds are. The MSM manifold is at a funky angle so that t turbo and manifold occupy rougly same space as a NB exhaust header and ties to the same/similar downpipe with the same flange location.

I suspect he died from blunt force trauma after the turbine housing flew out of his lathe.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1339828404
I kind of went off this idea as proper OEM turbo flange set ups last for ever. Vbands probably make sense for track cars but the benefits on a DD would be minimal. I am currently making a manifold with a standard subaru 3 bolt flange and depending on how that works I will decide about the vband.

If I can can get my hands on a rotary table for cheap I will give it a try and report back.

You guys have way too much time on your hands!