RE:LOVE FAB MINI ME EQ for a b16

I am about to pull the trigger and buy a MINI ME EQ for my b16/gt2871r build. I have done some research on the manifold, and I wanted to ask a few questions to you HT folks.



When researching on HT, I heard that the orientation of the turbo on this manifold puts the turbo extremely low to the oil pan, and the turbo has trouble draining oil. The oil return line is hard to position at a steep angle (perpendicular) to the ground/oil pan.


One owner stated that this was causing oil back up in the turbo, and pressure buildup in the turbo, because the oil return line could not keep up with the turbo's oil intake. This caused him to rebuild his turbo.



I heard of oil restrictors in the feed line to the turbo, but that sounds sketchy. <U>Do you have any recommendations so that this oil return problem would not happen with my setup?</U>

I have already sent this same question to Cody at Lovefab.

<U>Does anyone use this manifold?</U>

<U>Does anyone have remedies for this oil return line problem on any turbo that is oriented "low" near the oilpan?</U>

Thanks
Brian

 

ttt

 

You might be able to get some ideas from this thread even though it relates to a D series.
https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=2134230

 

My Lovefab SST had the same issue, I just made a short hard return line out of some big truck brake line with a tube bender and flarer (you can make a lot tighter radius bend than you can with a rubber return hose because the rubber will kink), then ran a short piece of rubber hose straight to the oil pan fitting. Just make sure the return fitting on the pan is very high up to keep it above the level of the oil and that the return line always slants downward and you'll be fine. Mine worked well for years like that.

 

I have this manifold on my d series. It does make the line sit low. I just used an AN fitting for the oil pan and used a barb fitting on the turbo (with worm gear clamp). I also clocked the turbo about 15*. Never had a problem with it backing up.

PM me if you want some pics, ill try to snap some when I can.


Modified by Civicman86 at 2:50 PM 11/16/2007

 

Run a 45Deg. Elbow Hose Barb/Pipe Thread Adapter from earl's. Part number 984410



Then you may have to weld a custom steel 1/2" pipe (we used a 90degree fitting and cut it according to the angle coming from the turbo) on the oil pan then use a high temp rubber oil hose to connect the two. Then just use worm clamps or Earl's hose clamps and call it a day. Good luck trying to use any kind of swivel connect fittings on a set-up like that.

Anyways, that's what I had to do on our last Love-fab Mini-Me set-up we did with a gt35r.