Dumped

17 Jun Dumped

No, nothing’s slammed to the ground today. We’re talking about actual dumping.

Minds out of the gutters, people. We’re talking about a wastegate dump tube. For those not in the know, the wastegate is what controls the pressure of the air going through the turbocharger. When boost hits a certain level, the wastegate opens to allow the excess pressure to vent out. Sometimes, they’re recirculated into the exhaust system to prevent excessive noise and the subsequent roadside visits from Johnny Law. Othertimes, the dump tube (the tube that runs off the wastegate) can be vented directly into the atmosphere. The noise from this route is definitely louder than recirculating it, but it makes for an impressive sound if you’re not expecting it. And not many people will be expecting it from a seemingly NA 318i. Tom’s been working on this one today, and it’s coming out great.

All you need to start is some stainless steel tubing…

…And a wastegate…

…And then a little welding magic will create this:

Featuring — as always — welds that will make the masses weep in awe.

All in all, the 318 build is hauling along. Tuning should commence within a week or so!