im Axle Specialists

Tuning Tuning the Turbo T-Jet

Currently reading:
Tuning Tuning the Turbo T-Jet

FWD Boy

FWD Boy

New member
Joined
Feb 14, 2010
Messages
44
Points
11
Location
Dartford, Kent
So if either the standard 135bhp or 160bhp SS isnt enough or you just like non standard equipment on your car, what options are open to blown T-Jet engines?

Of course there are quite a few exhausts out there now, Miltek, Supersprint, Ragazzon etc and a few panel filters Green and BMC but what about other mods like Dump valves and bigger intercoolers etc?

Also are there any good Fiat online tuning/parts stores, Ive used Gazzella for parts for my Alfa in the past but they dont have a long list of parts yet for the Abarth 500.
 
Bigger inter-coolers can give more lag as you have to shift more air through them, so in effect makes a longer inlet tract. Trofeo uses standard intercoolers, they work well.

If I was looking to tune the T-jet engine I'd buy a SuperSprint manifold for the Grande Punto SS and then fit the SS turbo to it, then get a bespoke turbo back exhaust system with a 200cell CAT.

Decent drop in filter, Green Cotton have good filtration and flow, or BMC which are preferred by Fiat, you don't get manufacturer backing without being good.

Then re-mapped to suit, 200bhp should be available.

Of course having a aftermarket manifold will make the car sound very different as its the headers that give a car its characteristic sound, but this is often down to having non-equal length headers which the T-jet engine's definitely have, its a very simple log type manifold thats used.

One car thats very noticeably for changing exhaust note is the Subaru flat-four, its 'warble' is down to the very uneven length headers, fit a equal length header manifold and it sounds very similar to any other 4 pot engine.

Dump valves make no differance to performance, but on the Trofeo cars the OEM item vents to atmoshpere, the recir pipe has a small BMC filter on it, sounds nice if thats your thing and keeps the ECU happy.
 
Last edited:
Pony up 7k, take it Germany and the guys at G-tech will hand you back a 270bhp+ monster that looks little different to standard., For 2-3k turbo replace, mapping and a new exhaust will get you 190-210bhp ish, £300 gets a map that will take you to 170bhpish safely or if you don't care that the turbo is likely to explode 180ish. Dependant on the car, how well run in etc......
 
J333EVO said:
Bigger inter-coolers can give more lag as you have to shift more air through them, so in effect makes a longer inlet tract. Trofeo uses standard intercoolers, they work well.

If I was looking to tune the T-jet engine I'd buy a SuperSprint manifold for the Grande Punto SS and then fit the SS turbo to it, then get a bespoke turbo back exhaust system with a 200cell CAT.

Decent drop in filter, Green Cotton have good filtration and flow, or BMC which are preferred by Fiat, you don't get manufacturer backing without being good.

Then re-mapped to suit, 200bhp should be available.

Of course having a aftermarket manifold will make the car sound very different as its the headers that give a car its characteristic sound, but this is often down to having non-equal length headers which the T-jet engine's definitely have, its a very simple log type manifold thats used.

One car thats very noticeably for changing exhaust note is the Subaru flat-four, its 'warble' is down to the very uneven length headers, fit a equal length header manifold and it sounds very similar to any other 4 pot engine.

Dump valves make no differance to performance, but on the Trofeo cars the OEM item vents to atmoshpere, the recir pipe has a small BMC filter on it, sounds nice if thats your thing and keeps the ECU happy.
Click to expand...
IIRC they evened up the headers on the later Subaru's at least on the WRC versions which ruined the noise they made, though the later ones did have the lovely chattering wastegate sound :D



Sadly by that time they'd lost the proper Subaru burble :(
 
If money is no object then almost 400 BHP is possible! But tbh, i would save your money and your warranty and the future resale value of the car and keep the A500 standard. For me where i live on my roads, 135 BHP is adequate. I can image it would be a bit tedious and slow if you live in a big city where there are long straight roads and motorways, but on the twistys around Wales, the A500 in standard form surprises a lot of people in more powerful cars ;)
 
and if you want a quick and easy power upgrade then angel tuning do a remap for about £275 to give you 170bhp and i think 45lb ft torque increase.

probably the easiest route to take with this engine without the cost of mechanical upgrades.

definitely better than handing fiat £2750 for the ss - and you'd be quicker than that anyway (unless spending that sort of money for unnecessary drilled discs, ugly wheels and too-stiff springs floats your boat of course!) :)
 
Last edited:
J333EVO said:
Bigger inter-coolers can give more lag as you have to shift more air through them, so in effect makes a longer inlet tract. Trofeo uses standard intercoolers, they work well.

If I was looking to tune the T-jet engine I'd buy a SuperSprint manifold for the Grande Punto SS and then fit the SS turbo to it, then get a bespoke turbo back exhaust system with a 200cell CAT.

Decent drop in filter, Green Cotton have good filtration and flow, or BMC which are preferred by Fiat, you don't get manufacturer backing without being good.

Then re-mapped to suit, 200bhp should be available.

Of course having a aftermarket manifold will make the car sound very different as its the headers that give a car its characteristic sound, but this is often down to having non-equal length headers which the T-jet engine's definitely have, its a very simple log type manifold thats used.

One car thats very noticeably for changing exhaust note is the Subaru flat-four, its 'warble' is down to the very uneven length headers, fit a equal length header manifold and it sounds very similar to any other 4 pot engine.

Dump valves make no differance to performance, but on the Trofeo cars the OEM item vents to atmoshpere, the recir pipe has a small BMC filter on it, sounds nice if thats your thing and keeps the ECU happy.
Click to expand...

I wasnt aware the A500 had a uneven header layout, funny enough I was reading about changes of Subaru headers on Banazi's Roger Clark Motorsport WRX STi project.

In regards to dump valuves both atmospheric and recirculating I understood that the release of pressure helped the compressor from slowing on release of the throttle.

As for exhausts, Ive checked anything other than cat back requires a remap, but change of exhaust would have course break my warrenty which Id like to keep intact.
 
FWD Boy said:
I wasnt aware the A500 had a uneven header layout, funny enough I was reading about changes of Subaru headers on Banazi's Roger Clark Motorsport WRX STi project.

In regards to dump valuves both atmospheric and recirculating I understood that the release of pressure helped the compressor from slowing on release of the throttle.

As for exhausts, Ive checked anything other than cat back requires a remap, but change of exhaust would have course break my warrenty which Id like to keep intact.
Click to expand...
Most high pressure turbo cars for quite a while have come with recirculating valves or dump valves. The Abarth 500 will already have one so all you'd be doing is making it noisy and sounding a bit chavvish.
 
306maxi said:
Most high pressure turbo cars for quite a while have come with recirculating valves or dump valves. The Abarth 500 will already have one so all you'd be doing is making it noisy and sounding a bit chavvish.
Click to expand...

So are you saying the Abarth already has a recirculating dump valve factory fitted?
 
For future reference you can add the extra .01% if you like ;) Tiny thing and looks like its electronic in nature, sits just to the right of the engine in about the only clear space under the bonnet.
 
BMC do a cheaper plastic version of the pop off filter for about £40 the kit. Doesn't look as nice as the shiny metallic AC version but does the trick, and you aren't going to be driving about with your bonnet open, or at least I hope not :)
 
Sorry been around cars for quite a few years but this is my first venture into the world of turbocharging so there are bound to be the odd random question lol

So anyone got a decent clear pic of the underbonnet veiw of a turbocharged T-Jet either Punto or 500, just so I can be clear where items like the turbo and pipework is, if it can 'even' be seen in the 500 bay lol
 
trofeo car
 

Attachments

  • DSC_5083.JPG
    DSC_5083.JPG
    2.7 MB · Views: 207
Right I see what you meen by the BMC mini filter towards the back of the car. Is that a simple DIY mod to do or is it more than simply removing a pipe and refitting a small filter so the pressure can vent to atmosphere?

Also off to the far side is that the open air box which lines up with the vented bonnet?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

J
  • Question
Technical Turbo issues
Replies
9
Views
585
bugsymike
B
TurleysIndependantTuningS
Tuning Tuning a 1.2l fiat 500, "ghetto style".
2 3 4
Replies
79
Views
2K
TurleysIndependantTuningS
TurleysIndependantTuningS
D
Technical Noise from the back of the car Fiat 500
Replies
11
Views
447
The Panda Nut
The Panda Nut
I
Technical TwinAir Loss of turbo power
Replies
17
Views
1K
resurface
resurface
J
General The earth wire problem
Replies
8
Views
431
Piccolo Nero e Bella
Piccolo Nero e Bella
Back
Top