[Mk2] [NA] conversion of 1990 MK2 NA to Turbo - is it worth it?

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dinkyboy
Posts: 89
Joined: Sun Apr 02, 2006 1:19 am
Location: Bombay

[Mk2] [NA] conversion of 1990 MK2 NA to Turbo - is it worth it?

Post by dinkyboy »

Friends,

my garage has been recommending that i upgrade my 1990 MK2 to a turbo. i recon this will need a series of mods starting from the air intake and maybe even the clutch etc.. is the effort and the money really worth the performace upgrade..............

what benefits can i expect. if yes then what are the parts that will be required to be upgraded. i dont want to do a compromise job.

Any advise from experts who have done such a job on their cars. it will help.
djpkins
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Location: essex

Re: [Mk2] [NA] conversion of 1990 MK2 NA to Turbo - is it worth it?

Post by djpkins »

You will need to get a turbo model engine, exhaust system, gearbox, rear hubs and driveshafts, also need to do a few modifications to the loom...would be easier to buy a turbocharged car and swap your interior or personalised bits onto it.
The performance difference is huge...quicker, faster, thirstier...lol...louder.
I would only buy an engine or car that I knew to be good or from a very trustworthy source. There are so many components that are needed when doing an engine swap, you really want the whole car or at least a shell with the engine and loom still in it...I just had a quick look...and the cheapest quote for sending a 500kg package to India was......lololol....£1794.18 WTF!!! Cheaper to fly to UK, stay in a hotel, buy a complete runner and drive it back to India...and that would be some trip mate. :thumleft:
In short....buy a turbo car and sell yours. :thumleft:
craig
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Re: [Mk2] [NA] conversion of 1990 MK2 NA to Turbo - is it worth it?

Post by craig »

The performance increase is more than worth it. However it is much easier to just sell up and buy a turbo, but if the car you have is just the way you want it then I'd go for the transplant.

years and years ago, I had a turbo engine conversion done on my rev1 NA and the difference was unbelievable.
dinkyboy
Posts: 89
Joined: Sun Apr 02, 2006 1:19 am
Location: Bombay

Re: [Mk2] [NA] conversion of 1990 MK2 NA to Turbo - is it worth it?

Post by dinkyboy »

unfortunately not many turbos available here. also engine swaps not possible here in mumbai. will have to do with upgrade only.
Super_red
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Re: [Mk2] [NA] conversion of 1990 MK2 NA to Turbo - is it worth it?

Post by Super_red »

dinkyboy wrote:unfortunately not many turbos available here. also engine swaps not possible here in mumbai. will have to do with upgrade only.


Although rebuilding an N/A car as a turbo will be harder you will get a very good performance increase. Go straight for the aftermarket ECU and forged pistons and you'll be way above any car running Toyota parts.

You will ned to import an inlet manifold set (its all alloy though) and get and exhaust manifold either Toyota or after market. Intercooler aswell (afermarket all alloy).

You'll still need very deep pockets but by going straight down this route you'll save all the money people normally spend maxing out the factory engine before upgrading anyway.
dinkyboy
Posts: 89
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Location: Bombay

Re: [Mk2] [NA] conversion of 1990 MK2 NA to Turbo - is it worth it?

Post by dinkyboy »

What about the clutch?
djpkins
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Re: [Mk2] [NA] conversion of 1990 MK2 NA to Turbo - is it worth it?

Post by djpkins »

You can buy a car or an engine still in half a car from Japan....I have had stuff and cars exported to UK.
www.bspex.com are ok...there are quite a few automotive export companies in Japan...and your a lot closer...make sure it's insured against total loss though...I lost one somewhere off the coast of Singapore.
If an engine swap is not feasable where you are...I can't see how your gonna strip your car down and change all the parts you need to change for the conversion...it seems problematic for people here in UK where everything is available and cheap...have you thought about doing the V6 conversion?
dinkyboy
Posts: 89
Joined: Sun Apr 02, 2006 1:19 am
Location: Bombay

Re: [Mk2] [NA] conversion of 1990 MK2 NA to Turbo - is it worth it?

Post by dinkyboy »

djpkins,

no chance of a V6 conversion. i would not trust the mechanics with that. what they intend to do is (a) pistons (b) ECU and a bolt on turbo with an intercooler. they do not plan to change the clutch which they feel should work just fine. nor do they plan to touch the suspension.

i want to do a proper job so i will also (as recomended in the post) change the manifold etc. what i need is help from anyone who has converted his NA into a turbo so that i have a comprehensive list of ALL the parts that need to be changed so that i can import them all at one go and nothing is left out.

would i also need to upgrade the fuel pump, clutch, suspension etc.?

Dinkar
cvega666
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Re: [Mk2] [NA] conversion of 1990 MK2 NA to Turbo - is it worth it?

Post by cvega666 »

unless your car is EPIC in terms of bodywork / suspension / interior, I wouldn't bother with it. Polish it, sort out all the niggly bits and sell it and buy a proper turbo car. Prices of turbos have plummeted and VERY shiny rev3's can be bought for 3.5-4k. But you can find slightly sad ones or with some issues for less than 2 grand!

When it comes to converting, you will need the complete engine+gearbox, wiring loom, ECU, driveshafts, hubs, exhaust and surely some other things that I can't remember.

I was considering this idea but in the end sold my NA after sorting it out and bought a turbo instead.
Current: 2007 Porsche Cayman S
Gone: '94 rev3 NA, '92 rev2 Turbo forged, '07 Civic Type-R
Dale_V
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Re: [Mk2] [NA] conversion of 1990 MK2 NA to Turbo - is it worth it?

Post by Dale_V »

youre going to need turbo, custom oil lines, modify the sump, modify the block, uprated clutch, custom exhaust manifold, new exhaust, piggyback/standalone ecu + mapping, intercooler + custom pipework, uprated pistons (new Head gasket plus all other associated stuff) block borework for the uprated pistons, uprated fuel pump

etc etc etc.

plus time and labour.

its pointless, the headaches all ready been done for you with the 3sgte, source one, have it shipped over and you could have that put in your can and be done with, in 1 day!!

or just buy a turbo mr2 :thumleft:
dinkyboy
Posts: 89
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Location: Bombay

Re: [Mk2] [NA] conversion of 1990 MK2 NA to Turbo - is it worth it?

Post by dinkyboy »

OK i get it. not worth the effort. should buy a turbo car instead. thanks for all the inputs
djpkins
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Location: essex

Re: [Mk2] [NA] conversion of 1990 MK2 NA to Turbo - is it worth it?

Post by djpkins »

Yes...lol...deffianately...standard rev 3...£2k, enjoy getting used to the extra power and then you can have 300bhp and a suspension package for another grand after...or expect to pay £3k - £4k for a mildly tuned one...UK prices...what's the highest octane fuel you can buy where you live matey?
smartdj
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Re: [Mk2] [NA] conversion of 1990 MK2 NA to Turbo - is it worth it?

Post by smartdj »

Rouge motorsport converted my 1990 n/a to a rev 3 turbo. For 3.5k I got a 60kilometer engine box in the best condition money car buy. Loom/ecu/hubs/drive shafts ect ect. Greddy profec11 electronic boost controller. Rsr exmag exhaust/ apex full induction And a FULL service.
I recomend to take it to a mr2 specialist or you going to be throwing money at it daily! Iv done 2.5k sinse my conversion and she hasn't skipped.
Ring rouge and speak to them there point you in the right direction.
smartdj
Posts: 165
Joined: Thu Mar 17, 2011 2:45 pm

Re: [Mk2] [NA] conversion of 1990 MK2 NA to Turbo - is it worth it?

Post by smartdj »

Rouge motorsport converted my 1990 n/a to a rev 3 turbo. For 3.5k I got a 60kilometer engine box in the best condition money car buy. Loom/ecu/hubs/drive shafts ect ect. Greddy profec11 electronic boost controller. Rsr exmag exhaust/ apex full induction And a FULL service.
I recomend to take it to a mr2 specialist or you going to be throwing money at it daily! Iv done 2.5k sinse my conversion and she hasn't skipped.
Ring rouge and speak to them there point you in the right direction.
djpkins
Posts: 2326
Joined: Thu Apr 30, 2009 7:13 am
Location: essex

Re: [Mk2] [NA] conversion of 1990 MK2 NA to Turbo - is it worth it?

Post by djpkins »

For £3.5k you could have this...

http://pistonheads.com/sales/2851914.htm

Just 1 example of how much a hassle and how expenseive the conversion can be, and Rogue are Mr2 specialists with a lot of knowledge...to spend as much as it costs to buy the car your trying to turn yours into...may as well just buy one.
smartdj
Posts: 165
Joined: Thu Mar 17, 2011 2:45 pm

Re: [Mk2] [NA] conversion of 1990 MK2 NA to Turbo - is it worth it?

Post by smartdj »

I forgot to mention after I dropped my car off it was ready in 5 days.

Personaly I only done this conversion because my n/a had so little miles on it plus the fact the shell is in superb condition.
Mr2 turbo is the car I should had bought :)
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