Mopar is well known for their classic Hemi, but they’re also bringing the goods for their smaller brethren. If you drive a 2003-2005 SRT-4 (or a 2003/2004 PT Cruiser) Mopar Performance has a turbo kit for you. The Stage 1 is the only stage available on the PT Cruiser, but you can get up anything from Stage 1 to Stage 3 on the SRT-4 – not to mention an intercooler sprayer and high-octane mode!
Stage 1 in the PT or SRT-4 will get you about 260 hp in both, with the PT netting 240 ft-lbs of torque and the SRT-4 235 ft-lbs. Stage 1 is basically just a Powertrain Control Module (PCM) upgrade and a set of four replacement fuel injectors that flow 577 cc/min injectors on the 2003 model. Presumably the 2004 and 2005 SRT-4 has the larger injectors already. Stage 2 bumps you up to 265hp/280 ft-lbs, although if you check the Turbo Toys add-on box (adding the intercooler sprayer, dial-a-boost switch, and high-octane mode to run 100+ octane race gas) you’re looking at 278hp/300 ft-lbs.

The Stage 2 kit includes a Stage 2 programmed PCM, four 682cc/min fuel injectors, a wastegate actuator, a 3.0 bar MAP, and a 3.0 bar TIP sensor. Finally, Stage 3 is good for 310hp/325ft-lbs or 355hp/365ft-lbs with the Turbo Toys add-on.

The fine print: you’ll also need Mopar’s cat-back exhaust as well to get those figures ($385). Stage 3 includes a bunch of goodies, including a Stage 3 PCM, TD05HR-15GK2-10cm2 Turbo Unit and Manifold, TiAl (Titanium Aluminide) Turbine Wheel, a high flow fuel pump that flows 180lph at 75psi, a pressure regulated fuel rail with a 4.0 bar regulator and hose kit. If you get the full Stage 3 kit, you’ll also get the 682cc/min fuel injectors, and the 3.0 bar MAP and TIP sensors from the Stage 2 kit. But if you work your way up to the Stage 3, you can get an add-on kit that will add onto the Stage 2 kit that doesn’t include those items.  The new turbo and manifold on the Stage 3 has a 19% larger turbine wheel diameter, and 67% more turbine scroll area all to reduce backpressure and flow more air. The TiAl turbine wheel has less rotational inertia than the standard Inconel steel, which means less turbo lag.

The Turbo Toys add-on is one of the coolest aspects of this kit. You’re looking at an extra $600 to $700 depending on your upgrade stage. It includes the switch housing that you install in the cabin, too, so it looks OEM. The intercooler spray kit includes four spray nozzles that you install on the intercooler itself, and they’re controlled by the three position switch inside. If you set it to Auto, it uses an algorithm in the PCM to monitor vehicle speed, ambient air temp, charge air temp, and throttle position to decide when to spray. This optimizes the results while using as little fluid as necessary.

You activate manual mode by pushing and holding the switch all the way down. This just sprays continuously as long as you have it pressed. The off setting is pretty obvious. The Dial-A-Boost switch manages your boost on demand. It’s a four position thumb wheel that you can adjust to better manage engine output. Position 3 is the highest boost level — optimized for a traction limit with high-grip tires (like racing slicks at the drag strip). Position 2 is the highest boost level as well, but it’s optimized for traction limits with regular OEM tires. Position 1 offers mid-level boost, while Position 0 offers minimal boost – you’d use this if you’re driving in low traction conditions like in the rain, or in snow. 

Finally, the high-octane fuel switch tells the PCM to increase spark advance adjust fuel levels to take advantage of 100+ octane unleaded fuel. It will still use the OEM knock sensor to prevent detonation. If it detects knock, it will revert back to standard levels via a bypass mode.

Pricing will vary from $400 for the Stage 1 kits ($440 for the Automatic transmission PT Cruiser) to $1000 for the Stage 2 ($1600 with Turbo Toys) – all the way up to $3000 for an add-on Stage 3 kit without Turbo Toys — you’ll need the Stage 2 kit as well – or $3500 for the full on Stage 3 kit ($4200 with Turbo Toys). Note that these kits are not street legal – although I imagine you could get away with it for a while.

Also, if you want Turbo Toys, you have to get a kit with them – because you can’t add them on later.

Turbo Upgrade Kits [Mopar Performance]
Street Prices [Google Products]

This entry was posted on Thursday, October 18th, 2007 at 11:22 am and is filed under Turbocharging, Exhaust, Mopar, Engine, Chrysler, Dodge, Performance. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.