The stock IM and heads aren't efficient past 300 hp, they're barely efficient past 250. But on a budget minded setup a light PnP on the heads and intake mani would make it acceptable.

For the price it would cost for the average person, it would cost too much to be worth it and an SC kit is much more feasible.

For someone with a little knowledge, fabricating/welding skill it can be done much cheaper then an SC kit.


In all honesty it really isn't worth it. Plus the SC kit, coupled with quattro really isn't that bad and 300 hp s fun.

Like I said, Supercharge it, or buy an S4.

Does anyone on this forum have a supercharged 2.8? I had a 90 Ford Thunder Bird Super Coupe it was a 3.8L supercharged motor and i felt so fast, but never ran great at the track, I was wondering if a supercharged 2.8 was the same.

i belive that a supercharged 2.8 should do 13's all day.

personally, id just get an S4

here it is.

http://www.passatworld.com/forums/sh...2&page=1&pp=30

Hmmm, he used T25s (Stock 2nd Gen DSM), that looks like a fun little set-up, props to him.

The problem is that it would cost you over 10k just for turboing when you could do an engine swap (what I am doing trying to get a 4.2L V8 with 300hp for 16k installed thats w/o turbo then throw one on and bam ***** to the wall fast) instead or buy an s4 or something.

The 2.8-liter V6 has a relatively high stock compression ratio of 10.3:1. The engine internals are pretty strong, but the high compression ratio limits the amount of boost you can run. I wouldn’t run more than 4-6 psi on that compression ratio and stock internals with91 octane pump gas. I’d look to find either a “spacer” style head gasket or lower compression pistons to bring compression to 9.0:1 or so. That would allow you to run much higher boost levels. Of course, you’d need custom exhaust manifolds and a custom exhaust system as well. The size and design of the manifolds would be dictated by the size of the turbo that you would be using. If you were to get a turbo.

It defenitly won't cost 10k for someone with mediocre welding skills and some mechanical inclination.

A turbo system is actaully really simple and easy to piece together. An actual custom kit can be made for well under 5k if you source the parts right. The standalone and tuning adds a lot to the price.

As for NEEDing a lower compression, you're wrong. Choose the right turbo and have a good tuner and and you don't need to run high boost to make reliable power, whether or not the bottom end can hold it is a different story. A good tuner and an accurately sized turbo can have both the turbo and motor working in sync and both being reliable and efficient.

You also can't measure psi vs compression ration or power. 4-6 psi on a straight t4 could make 300 hp, while a 60/63 T3 might only make 260 hp on 4-6 psi. Anyone's best bet when building a custom turbo kit, is to make a goal before starting and work to make that goal, more isn't necassarily better either.