Jan 14, 2023

Turbos in 2023 for the RB26dett : Nissan Skyline GT-R turbo technology

By Sean Morris January 14, 2023 turbo, turbocharger, Turbolag, Twin turbo

HKS complete engine. Photo via Marcello Biradelli

Turbos are pretty simple machines. They are two fans connected by a shaft. Exhaust energy drives one of the fans, the shaft makes the other fan rotate. Air comes in the center of the housing, and is compressed radially. By adding air to an engine, with additional fuel, you can make more horsepower. More air=more oxygen = more bang. Suck, squish, bang, blow as Mike Kojima would say.

HKS showed their new twin turbo setups in 2021. They tried to have a straighter shot into the turbo and out of the turbo on the exhaust side. Here are a few more pictures of a more complete setup in 2023. The biggest limiting factor on the small twins is the size of the exhaust wheel you can run. The small housings can only take so big a wheel. A wheel of a certain size can only flow so much air. Since the compressor and exhaust are mechanically coupled, when you reach a limit on one side or the other, you are done.

Twin turbo inlet box, and turbo outlets with Wiggens clamps. HKS complete engine. Photo via Marcello Biradelli

I like the heat shields they are using on the turbo exhaust manifolds. We used a similar setup on Nicks R32 back in 2001. The Wiggins clamps setup looks like the old Aussie touring cars.

Artec makes cast single turbo, vband manifolds for the RB engines. In this video from High Performance Academy, they talk about why bigger isn't always better when it comes to pre turbo exhaust manifolds.

Exhaust flow vs exhaust port sizing, turbo inlet, outlet and cylinder capacity and more are all touched on in this interview along with casting vs custom fabrication, materials and a commonly overlooked consideration with aftermarket turbo setups, turbo bracing.

Big thanks to Ben Creswick for sharing his time at GTR Fest and we hope testing with the Inconel manifold applications goes well.