Does measurement matter? It’s a query that has plagued humanity for hundreds of years. In the case of turbochargers at an occasion like Gatebil although, greater is at all times higher. And what’s higher than one large turbo? Two, after all.
Throughout my current weekend at Rudskogen Motorsenter in Norway for the largest Gatebil occasion of the Scandinavian summer time, I noticed numerous turbos. Large ones. In pairs. Strapped to diesel engines. So, for my ultimate 2023 Gatebil Rudskogen occasion story, I assumed I’d check out some the wildest compound turbo setups I discovered within the paddock.
Let’s begin with the Bekkevold brothers, Marius and Jonas, whose diesel-powered Mercedes-Benzes are sights to behold after they’re out on monitor doing what they do greatest. Their engine bays have been sights to behold in between circuit classes too.
Let’s start with Marius’s turbo setup, as fitted to the Mercedes-Benz OM648 3.2L straight-six diesel engine in his 1990 W124 sedan. Compound turbo preparations are widespread in OEM diesel turbo purposes, and it’s straightforward to know why they’re carried over into {custom} aftermarket setups like this one.
Very principally talking, in a compound setup a smaller turbo (high-pressure turbo) and a bigger turbo (low-pressure turbo) work in collection. Air feeds into the bigger turbo first, the place it’s compressed after which fed straight into the mouth of the smaller turbo, which in flip feeds into an intercooler after which the engine itself. Because the engine RPMs rise, the bigger turbo spins faster and produces increase, and that’s fed into the smaller turbo as soon as extra. In Marius’s case, the smaller turbo is a slightly massive Holset HX40, which by itself would be laggy. On this state of affairs although, the bigger turbo within the setup – the BorgWarner S476 mounted up high – ensures that the Holset produces increase from low-RPM after which retains making it proper by way of the rev vary.
Different upgrades in Marius’s setup embody Dieselmeken race injectors, a high-pressure stroker pump and a Baldur DSL1 piggyback ECU.
Jonas’s compound turbo setup in his OM648-powered 1985 S123 is comparable, however makes use of Holset HX40 and HX60 turbos and engine administration from Black Smoke Racing.
Each vehicles are pushing someplace round 570whp, and depend on Mercedes-Benz 722.6 automated gearboxes fitted with OF Gear controllers. These standalone controllers sit rather than the 722.6’s manufacturing unit TCU, and permit Marius and Jonas to have full management over their transmissions with handbook shifting and the choice of paddles.
Subsequent up, we’ve got one other diesel Mercedes-Benz. Below the pores and skin it’s a W203, however the exterior resembles a W204 C63 Black Sequence. As soon as once more, it’s OM648 powered. This one’s been constructed up with {custom} solid pistons and H-beam rods, and race-spec cams and valve prepare. ARP fasteners maintain all of it collectively.
The compound turbo setup includes a Holset HX40 and HX60, each custom-modified for elevated increase manufacturing. The result’s a wild 700whp and 1,200Nm.
Final however actually not least is Why Not? Racing’s BMW E61 wagon.
Are you stunned to see one other compound turbo setup on a diesel engine? I didn’t assume so… This time we’ve got a BorgWarner S200 VGT paired with a jumbo Holset HE551V.
After I checked out the again of the wagon, I instantly considered Mad Max for some cause. The 28-litre-capacity cooling system includes a Volkswagen T5 radiator up high and BMW E61 radiator on the backside, plus a 12-row diesel gas cooler. There’s additionally a Davies Craig EWP150 electrical water pump in there someplace…
Diesel-powered, compound-turbo-equipped drift machines are a Scandinavian staple, and so they’ve been a giant a part of Gatebil for a very long time. Bellowing white smoke from their tires and black smoke from their exhaust techniques, they may not be essentially the most environmentally-friendly automobiles, however they certain are enjoyable to have a look at it – whether or not drifting or – as we’ve seen on this publish – parked up within the paddock.
Alen Haseta
Instagram: hazetaa
